The set up
There he was, sitting alone, quietly reading, his dark curly hair swept to the side. I could recognize those stupid oval glasses anywhere.
“This can’t be real” I whispered to myself. As I lifted my phone and texted John, who I was supposed to meet this afternoon for a quick coffee and a one way ticket to his bed.
“Where are you?” I typed and pushed send. And just like the world muffled around me I heard the ominous ding from Toms phone across the patio. The upturn of his head to find me let me know yep wrong place wrong time.
“Fuck” I exhaled. Then made my way to him.
“Is this seat taken?” I slid up beside him and smiled coyly embarrassed to say much more.
“No.” Tom smiled, surprise lit up his brown eyes. Putting down my things behind the chair, the smell of his cologne hit me like a memory train of body’s entangled in silky white sheets. Redirecting my train of thought he broke the silence,
“I’m John” he said, and stuck his hand out to shake mine. Without a flinch I threw my hand out there and grabbed his, “Scarlet.” Holding on a bit too long he was starring into my soul, I broke the grip and looked away.
“So” he said with a grin.
“What do you do for a living?” Almost like he was holding back a joke, one I was not in on.
“What are you playing at Tom?”
At this point his arrogance was just creeping under my skin too close for comfort.
He let out a huge belly laugh, “I have no idea what you’re talking about scarlet.”
“This is ridiculous!” I exclaimed. “I told Shannon to find me a nice guy to grab a quick coffee and get a quick fuck, not to relive all the drama. Apparently I was not clear when I asked her to set me up.”
“Woah, woah, woah, that’s not fair.” He paused and removed his glasses.
“I never said we couldn’t fuck” an all too familiar smile spread across his face, and a laugh escaped my frustrated self.
“Fuck you” I managed to get out.
I then stood up quickly and grabbed my belongings and turned to leave.
“Well let’s go then”