LISA

OF ALL OF THE PLACES HE COULD HAVE BEEN in the entire world, he had to be in the same place as me. Not only that but he worked for the same company as Jamie.  What did it mean? Was it fate? Were we expecting to see each other again?

It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Not that he’s a bad guy, not that I knew, but I only went out that night because I was looking for a one night stand. I have a child to think about, and the worst thing I could have done right now was introduce a man to her that I didn’t even really know. I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, I just wanted one night. One night to go crazy, be free and with no expectations and that’s what we had. Yet, here we were, having lunch together.

“So Lisa, may I ask what you do for a living?”

“Me? Oh, I’m a receptionist for a consulting firm.”

“Do you enjoy receptioning?”

“That’s not even a real word.” I laughed. “Enough of the small talk. Why did you ask me to lunch?”

“Can’t I ask you out for a harmless lunch?”

“No. Now answer the question.”

“Curiosity then.”

“Curiosity? You’re curious about me?”

“Yes. I’m curious about you. You are a fascinating creature Ms. Lisa….”

“Just Lisa like I said.” I avoided the question because I didn’t want him to use his riches to do something like hiring a private investigator to find out that I had a daughter. Not that it mattered because it was none of his business, but I wanted to go through extra precautions.

“Like Cher.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So, tell me more. Tell me what were you doing in a bar like that, picking up a gentleman like myself? Do you make it a habit of picking up strange men, shag and then saying goodbye without a care in the world?”

“No, I don’t make it a habit of picking up strange men. I’m far too busy handling my personal responsibilities. I just ended up with some extra free time and realized it had been a long time since I was in a bar and so I went to have a few drinks.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes, what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, just found it peculiar that you didn’t have a gals night or something. Which leads me to believe that you were looking to shag someone and if that’s the case, why were you if you don’t do this often as you claim?”

“What is this, 20 questions? I had free time, I wanted to get out and do something on my own. I met you, we fucked.  End of story. There’s no meaning behind anything. I had a good time. You had a good time. That’s it.” I explained.

“Do you honestly believe anything that just came out of your mouth, because I sure don’t?”

“You know what, you can go to hell. Take me back to the office.” I stood up from the table, tossing my napkin onto the tabletop.

“Wait, Lisa. Please sit down. I apologize, I didn’t mean anything by it, really.”

“Bullshit.”

“I promise I didn’t.”

“You look like the kind of guy who breaks a lot of promises and hearts too, I might add.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t know. I figure, since we’re making assumptions about each other, I might as well have my turn and do it to you.”

“Go right ahead, I deserve it. What do you think you know about me?”

“Well, from what Jamie has said about you and from what I remember about our night together. You look like someone who is incapable of committing to anything, who thinks way too much of himself more than he actually has a reason to, and you’re completely self-obsessed. I’m even willing to bet that you’ve never taken anything seriously enough for anything or anyone to be important to you.”

“Hmm, quite the observations but that’s where you’re wrong.”

****

CALLUM

“HOW AM I WRONG, CALLUM?” she asked.

She certainly was a feisty one, and I kind of loved that about her. She was headstrong too, but she had something to hide. I’m not sure what it was, but there was something she was holding back that she used the feistiness that she exuded as a defense mechanism. She seemed like the kind of woman who always made sarcastic remarks to distract away from the fact that she was afraid of wanting something or someone only to be let down when she needed them the most.

These were merely observations, but a small part of me was convinced that I knew what I was talking about. Unfortunately, I couldn’t spend as much time with her as I would have liked because we both had personal responsibilities that were far too important to take the time to identify a date/time to meet up again.

“I would describe myself with these descriptive words: sexy, handsome, fit, intelligent, creative and suave.”

“Ha! I figured you would say that. All compliments but no truth.”

“Do you deny it?”

“Deny what?”

“Can you honestly sit there and tell me that I am not handsome, intelligent, and suave? Or how about fit? I can show you how fit I am.” I started to loosen my collar, and I reached the buttons on my shirt and started to open them one by one.

Lisa put her hands up swiftly and leaned over the table to stop me, “Okay! Stop! If I agree with you, will you stop trying to take your clothes off?”

“Yes.” I grinned. She was so easy to fluster and make speechless, and I rather enjoyed doing it to her.

“Okay, I agree with you.”

“No, say it.”

“Callum…”

“Say it, or I will unbuckle my pants.”

“Liar.” She eyed me.

“Think so?” I questioned, my eyes raised. To prove my point, I stood up and started to unbuckle my belt.

“Okay! You are incredibly sexy, talented, and smart and you have the body of a Greek God!” Lisa shouted loud enough for other patrons to look questioningly at her.

I smiled at having the upper hand and sat back down, placing the cloth napkin over my lap. “Now that we’ve established the fact that you are completely attracted to me, how about you allow me to take you out on an actual date.”

“I am not attracted to you.”

“So is that a yes or a no?”

“What’s in it for me?” she questioned and placed her napkin on her lap and took a long sip of her iced tea.

“The pleasure you’ll receive from the company of a great conversationalist.” I loved my wit.

“Conversation, huh? Is that all?”

“Do you want more than just a conversation? Should I add round 2 to the stipulations?”

“No. Conversation is good. If I agree to a date, will you just go away?”

“Not only will you have an amazing time but I will also ‘go away’ as you put it.”

“Alright. Deal. Can we order now, I don’t want to sit here with you any longer than I have to.”

“Of course, what will you be having?”