“My mom and Stella’s mom come from the same island in Greece so we hung out a lot as kids. Stella and I aren’t your typical Montreal Greek kids, I have very few friends that are Greek and the ones I do know are from work, it drives my mother and hers crazy. They want us both to “settle down” I air quoted the last part “so they came together and set us up. It was horrible, the guys were losers and all Stella and I did was make fun of them all night.” I took a sip from my drink, “but I guess hers didn’t mind her jabs.”
He leaned into the table with his arms crossed. “And yours?”
I shrugged “I don’t know, nor do I care.”
He eyed me carefully I could feel the tension rising as a good two minutes passed. Was I even breathing? I raised my eyes from the table and he was still staring.
“And what is it that you want?” He asked his voice now low and curt. I continued to gaze at him. His blue eyes making all the air escape my lungs.
“I don’t know.” I said meekly, “if I did then maybe I wouldn’t be alone.”
The sad revelation hitting me hard, when was it that I wanted to have someone? I never needed nor wanted anyone but his one question shot me to my core. What was it I wanted now? I know I wanted my man to come but fuck I never thought he would, why would he?
“I’m glad you’re alone.” His statement snapped me back.
“What?” I asked. He picked up his coffee and swirled his coffee around his cup before he drank the last drop.
“How old are you Alexia?” He asked as he placed the coffee cup down
“Old, why?” I asked.
“Always sarcastic I see.” His eyes squinted.
“Twenty six.” I finally relented.
“You?” Tit for tat.
“Old enough.” He said softly.
“Seriously you’re not going to tell me?” He laughed at me.
“You’re not from around here are you?” I asked his face shot up.
“No, I’m not.” I nodded
“Well?” I waited.
“New York.” He answered.
“Seriously? What part of New York?” He gave me a crooked smile.
“I understand why you chose archeology as your major you seem quite passionate about it.” Did he just flip it on me? What the fuck? “Is it the same reason why you like to travel? You said you wanted to live. What did you mean by that?” He asked.
“When I travel and see the world, I realize how small and sheltered we all are. The world is immense but at the same time so small. How can anyone say they have lived if they haven’t seen any part of it, or at least experienced it?” He sat taking my response in.
“Thailand?” He asked and I smiled.
“I’m a sucker for good cheap Thai food.” I finished my ice mocha and gestured that we leave.
I waved goodbye to Stella.
“Hey girl before you go…” She ran to me “summer’s coming. Do you think you can do some shifts for me, help give me some time off?” She was giving me her best puppy I lost my bone look.
“Yeah it’s fine, just not Mondays and Tuesdays ok, I’ll come after work from the bistro, just let me know when.”
Lukas held the door open for me and we stepped out to the sidewalk.
“So thank you for an unexpected fun day.” I muttered. He seriously towered over me.
He looked down at me “You’re welcome.” His blue eyes smiling.
“I’ll see you on Thursday?” I asked not wanting to seem weird about all this.
He nodded “Thursday.”
I smiled again and waved walking away from him. Please be looking, please be looking, my silent mantra was answered when Stella called me on my Iphone.
“Stella?”
“Oh my god, he’s so watching you walk away right now!” Inner flips, check. Inner happy dance, check. “Don’t swing your hips that much. You’ll end up knocking out half the people on the street!” She said bluntly.
“Bye Stella!” What’s playing on my iPod? MGMT’s Electric Feeling, a good song for right now.
This Charming Man
Thursday came and I was filling in Roxi on what had happened to me on Tuesday not that I was gossiping because I don’t but Kaci was so excited she let it slip to Roxi and the info was all wrong.
“Okay so let me get this straight, some blond bimbo bitch said what to you?” I loved Roxi. I swear the girl was so protective of me it just made me feel so loved.
“And you didn’t rip her hair out?” Roxi’s eyes were almost coming out of her head. “Where’s the bitch now, you’ll see whose standing last!” She was tapping her nail hard on the counter. I was laughing so hard that I didn’t hear the door’s little bell go off.