So I’m sitting in Panera, at a small table by a window, laced with rain. I just finished my bread bowl of soup and am munching happily on a gala apple and sipping a water with lemon. My laptop is up and I’m listening to “Over The Rhine” on my headphones. I’m tappin’ my toes, wishin’ I were wearing black flamenco shoes with dahlias in my hair, dancing in the arms of a Tall Dark and Handsome on a dimly lit wood floor.
Two tables down, a guy with curly brown hair and glasses has sat down, facing me, with a muffin and orange juice. It’s his wooden-hook umbrella that catches my eye. I also like orange juice.
He looks up and catches me staring at him. I quickly look at the picture of a bagel just over his right shoulder and pretend I’m deep in meditation. Then I return to typing my email, and smile, because I just made a joke that he’d love, if he heard it.
The Urge to Groove has made its way to my hips. Squirming could be misinterpreted. I stop.
I take a break from typing and stare out at the raindrops exploding on the asphalt. I grab my water cup and take a sip… and a quick peek over the rim of my cup. Yep, he’s watching me. I drop my eyes and lower my glass. Give the lemon a swirl. Look back up. Oh — now it’s his turn to look away.
So now what? I look unapproachable because of the headphones and no reason to leave them…
Ahhh… my water is empty.
I take out my headphones, grab my cup and saunter towards the soda fountain, which just happens to be behind him. As I pass, I look him in the eye and give him an encouraging grin.
When I get back, he’s leaning on his elbows over an empty glass with residual pulp and a crumpled muffin wrapper. I sit down and leave the headphones out.
He comes over.
“If you’re done with that, I’d be happy to take it for you…”
Yeah Right.
That story was real right up until the “So now what?” After that, he took his trash and cute umbrella, walked to the nearest trash bin and left Panera.
It could have been so beautiful…
Oh well. At least I still have Karin and Linford and by golly, I am on a roll.
Caitlin
