I wasn’t one of those men who laughed if shit wasn’t funny.
I was the man who would glare at you in warning to shut the hell up.
Nor was I the type of man to hang out in local bars once business was concluded. I was the man who avoided public places like this, preferring to drink alone.
I was the man who, on paper, had it all but, would give it up in a second for just a moment’s happiness. Sadly, I’ve yet to achieve it and focused on making money instead.
Success, I had decided a long time ago, would be the closest I’d ever get to any kind of peace.
Maybe it was pathetic to have given up on love like I had, but no woman has accepted me as I am.
For who I am and what I do.
It was as if they had a checklist and I constantly fell short.
Because of that I no longer bothered. God’s honest, I haven’t been laid in three years and the longer I went, the less I missed it. However, I had just finished having a drink with my best friend and business partner when a woman and her date sat at the table behind me. I couldn’t remember the last time any female had me doing a double-take. Even if I had only noticed her out of the corner of my eye. Actually, I had noticed her mane of hair. It was gloriously curly and everywhere. She had so much that it hid the face beneath.
But she wasn’t my date so I did my best to tune her out.
And I had been reaching for my coat when I heard her make a joke either her date didn’t find funny or didn’t catch.
Personally, I found it fucking refreshing and instead of leaving, ordered myself another drink.
And as the date went on, I found myself ordering more just so I had an excuse to hear her voice.
Over the next hour, I struggled with a wave of possessiveness and struggled to not to toss the fool from his seat and take his place.
With a steady amount of scotch in my veins, believe me, I was up for caveman tactics.
Her date was an idiot, she, however, was either desperate or humoring him. Because no way any woman would endure this asshole just for a free meal. This guy was a swipe-right cautionary tale and the main reason I didn’t fuck with online dating. You never know what in the hell you’re going to get.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Fuck, her voice though. It was so God damn arousing, I was dying for the chance to see what the rest of her looked like. At this point, unless she looked like a zombie with one good eye, I was buzzed enough to admit, I might be in love.
But the longer I sat with my back to her, it was becoming nearly impossible to keep my laughter silent.
Her one-liners were so on point, I was gripping the bar trying to hold it in. The bartender was right there with me too and it bothered me that he could see her and I couldn’t.
When she gave him the final zinger my shoulders went from shaking to full on body racking. I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my stool. The date in question stormed off and the customers cheered her on. Then she did the sexiest fucking thing by bowing to her admirers.
Righting myself, I was about to go back to obscurity when she calls out, “Do you think he’ll call me for a repeat?”
Over the years, I’ve heard people say we have these defining moments that alter our existence.
I knew this to be mine because when I turned to face her, everything fell into place.
Peace replaced chaos; hope replaced doubt; fascination replaced weariness.
She was…happiness. She was also outgoing and fearless.
This woman was going to change my life and I’d give up my soul for just a sliver of her time.
And fear.
So much fucking fear.
Because I knew I was staring at the love of my life.
The woman who would bring more joy into my world than a man like me dreamt possible.
From her tiny hands to her head full of curly highlights that fell to the small of her back, her delicate wrists to her flawless skin, she undid me. I was male, I was human, therefore her low riding tank top that showcased her cleavage was very much appreciated. And while she was small, she was strong. Strength and courage radiated from her.
She was also the most expressive creature I had ever seen.
With her big green eyes that were daring me to go for it. To take what I wanted even if she wasn’t sure it was a good idea.
In a random Detroit bar on a Friday night, I grabbed my jacket placing it over the chair across from hers.
And then I did something I never do.
I sat and I smiled.