Finally, David was in the right line. He grinned as he stepped up to the cash register, the barista behind it beaming back at him with an incandescent smile capable of brightening the entire coffee shop.
“Double Americano?” She arched her brow.
He couldn’t remember if it was what he had planned to order, but it was what he was ordering then.
“You remembered.”
“What size?”
“Small.” He glanced at her nametag so she wouldn’t think it was weird that he already knew her name.
“Lizzy, is it?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Cream or sugar?”
“No, just black. Is it short for Elizabeth?”
“Eliza, actually.” She punched in his order.
“Oh, that’s…they’re…nice names. Both of them.” Good grief, is that all I can think to say? He had never struggled to flirt before.
“Thanks.” She smiled teasingly. “Your name?”
“David.” He had his chance to say something – anything – to her. But what could he say? That he was secretly infatuated with her without knowing anything about her? That was creepy. And desperate.
“That’ll be $3.53,” she said, smiling politely.
He stuck his card in the reader and kept his eyes glued to it as if it held some clue for what to say next. He could tell her that her smile brightened his day, or that he liked to watch her from across the dining area, that he couldn’t keep his eyes off her whenever she was around.
Creepy - all desperate and creepy. He took his card and waited for his drink silently, refusing to struggle through another awkward conversation with her. He sighed and took his drink as she handed it to him, deciding to drink it on his walk instead of sitting at a table and mourning his botched opportunity. Hopefully, he would get another chance and wouldn’t act so stupid next time.
He weaved through pedestrians too focused on their routes to notice him. Sure, he had missed a chance to talk with Lizzy, but he had plenty of reason to be excited. He was working on a personal training certification course and moving along much faster than he had expected, considering how little extra time he had. He gladly filled every spare moment with studying – it was more of a passion than a chore. Someday he would want to dive deeper and boost his credentials, but right now, he would focus on the present. He had a long road ahead of him, and he would dig in his heels and do it. On the other side was a fulfilling career of helping people find themselves and be their healthiest. The thought delighted him in ways he had never experienced before.
He spotted a street performer as he turned the corner of Thompson on his way home after work that evening and stopped to watch her. She held three balls in one hand and stood on a piece of plywood precariously perched on a large, rolling tube. It would hurt if she fell. The dog behind her moved into position and readied himself, his piercing blue eyes focused on the balls in her hand. Those blue eyes – he had seen them before. He took out his phone and scrolled through his text messages with Em. Sure enough, it was the same dog as the one in the picture she sent.
He looked around him, his eyes darting between the buildings, street signs, and his phone. It was even the same street corner. Was it possible they were so close? Could he have been passing her on the street all along? He crouched down and snapped a picture of the duo – not nearly as good as the one she had taken, but good enough to highlight their similarities. He sent it to her.
Recognize this? You’ve been discovered.
He forgot about the performer and kept walking, watching his phone for a reply. However, it wasn’t until after dinner, halfway through an online lesson, that he got an answer.
You got me. I walk by there often.
No resistance? Her defenses were falling.
I think we’ve crossed a line here. I know too much, no going back now.
I guess so. How have you been?
Good. Great, actually. Preparing for a new job. Leased a smaller apartment. Change is in the air.
Sounds exciting. And you’re happy?
Yeah, I think so.
Then I’m happy for you. I hope it works out better than you ever imagined.
She was happy for him. He was happy for him, too. Whatever this was, it felt a lot like friendship, and he was overwhelmed with the desire to meet her. But it was too soon. She might have admitted to being close by, but he would give it time and hope to convince her he was as trustworthy in person as he seemed over the phone.
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