The Wait

If I’m not mistaking, the last time I was on a date was maybe 3 years ago, around summertime. I wanted to say spring but that’s because I was sprung… I-was-sprung. It wasn’t my first date, but it felt like it. He did everything so effortlessly, as if he was homeschooled by his mom and every term, he had to take her made-up course titled How to treat a woman 101, which he aced of course, obviously. Or… maybe he was just really good at wooing any woman he pursued.

Fast forward to 3 years later and I still remember every detail of my last date as if it happened yesterday, it still feels like yesterday. I can still recall what he wore, the fact that he looked like a whole appetizer in a simple long sleeve black fitted button up dress shirt. Wake up!! I told myself. Give THIS man a chance. You’ve been wanting to go on a date for 3 years now, he might be a different person, but you need to give him a chance. I tried to convince myself. Right after that thought, I caught myself Looking up at the clock on the brick wall; I hope he doesn’t think I’m watching the time, I pondered. To be honest; I was. It’s now 7:30 pm and we’ve been in this room that feels like the walls are closing in… was it? Not in a scary way but in a way, that’s making me think our mutual friend knew us way too well. Everything was planned down to the very t.

“and for the lady?” the server whose existence I completely ignored interrupted my thought.

“Oh ahm, I mmm” I said as I used my finger to run through the list on the drink menu mumbling through the names I could not pronounce.

“ooooo” I said intriguingly.

“What is it?” he asked. His voice vibrated my entire being, making me question his existence. God surely did touch his vocal cords because my ears erected just like the hair on my arms, giving way to cold bumps…... and now I’m sure my lady parts have reared themselves, protruding through my blouse… and-the-date-has-begun.

Clearing my throat and answering nervously I replied,

“I think I’m going to go with a glass of Merlot”

“Merlot…pronounced Muhlow” he corrected in a way that absorbed my attention, just like I’ve heard people say this wine does with your taste buds.

“Get us a bottle” he approved looking at the server.

After the server left to get the wine my eyes found rest and amusement at the center of the table, where flames came from 2 small candles, as if I’ve never seen candles on fire before.

Why was I so nervous, and since this is a blind date, when is it safe to ask him his name since my friend played me and forgot to tell me his name. Or was it my job to ask?

Look I wasn’t really down to go on a date right now, sooo I asked very few questions. Call me stupid but I just didn’t bother.

“Do you remember me?” He asked.

Taking my gaze off the candle I looked up slowly, taking in his every feature.

How are his lips so perfect? Sluggishly making my way up to his brown eyes… Few seconds and I was lost in them.

“So… do you?” he questioned, raising one eyebrow

“mmm, well… ahmm, do I remember you?” I asked myself outload.

While thinking to myself, why the fudge would I not remember you if I knew you? I don’t even know your name, I thought…

Ask him his name now! I told myself.

Wait, Wait a minute. If this is a blind date, why is he asking me if I remembered him, if this is our first-time meeting… well it obviously isn’t.

“I can’t say that I do” I answered. Taking my eyes off him, I immediately regret rubbing my left eye, forgetting I had make-up on. Nothing came off on my finger so maybe my make-up was fine.

“We haven’t seen each other in so long I figured you wouldn’t”

“So long? How long? What?”

“Yea we met a while back” He said using the knife to cut into a medium-well piece of steak on his plate.

“You should eat” he said motioning at the plate I didn’t notice was in front of me. As I looked down at my plate, I found my mouth salivating at a steaming hot Cajun dinner with the chicken breast placed perfectly on top of it’s companion the half rack BBQ ribs which was situated right beside some coleslaw and my all-time favorite potato salad. My freaking favorite dish. To be honest I had no idea when this food appeared on this table or when I even ordered…

What-the-hell is happening???

“Okay… let me help you out a little, you were with some friends on the patio of a certain restaurant few years ago talking to them about how heart broken you were and I…” he stopped abruptly. I, I what, why the heck did he need to put that piece of steak in his mouth then and there……. In the middle of his sentence? Who does that, why would he do that? Perfect time for me to notice the silence in the room and maybe my heart rate elevating bit by bit.

Insert (sound of heart beating)

Why? Why? Why? I asked myself. Okay our mutual friend obviously told him what my favorite dish was and without a doubt told him what I paid attention to during dinner because he is doing it so well. Like the type of well that seems on purpose, with intent, yup that’s it.

I’m leaving.

Looking up at him as his temples carried their own beat making his veins quite visible while his chewing became its own percussion instrument… now acing my physical examination for attraction. The upper body that is.

“I was your server few years ago at a restaurant, I heard you and I made a promise to myself that I would find you when the time is right”, he said with confidence. Not sure how I should react my jaw pretty much dropped on my plate, not really but you get the idea. Totally not how I saw myself reacting but whatever. The night went on and our conversation started to flow freely like the wine being poured into our glasses each time. At the end of our date he walked me to my car that was parked on the street, right in front of the restaurant.

“By the way…” He said.

“I’m the owner of this restaurant and I chose this spot for our first date”. Silently I stood, looking up at the sign with the bolded letters of the restaurant titled Yours. As our night came to an end, we slowly started to say our goodbyes when he took a step closer, making my body feel like a deer in headlights. Calmly he reached in for a hug, making me mark his smell even more.

Leaning in and whispering in my ear he said, “by the way, my name is Love… and I’ll see you soon”

Immediately I woke up.

This wine was obviously too good I thought to myself looking at the bottle of Merlot that was now more than half empty I believe.

“What a dream!” I murmured, as I sat up in bed.

THE END