Lily was breaking all of the rules
today, and it felt good. It wasn't the restaurant. It felt familiar
enough, although she couldn't say why. A pony-tailed blond turned
her attention from the bar and spotted Lily at the corner table, in
the shadow of the pulled blind. The waitress smiled lightly then
lifted one finger - “I'll be right with you” - as if she
recognized Lily.
The door swung open at the far end
of Jimmy's Grill and a black raincoat pushed through into the dim
entry, followed by a gentleman in a grey suit. They were greeted
instantly by the blond waitress and she waited while the gentleman
helped his girl with her coat, pointing to a row of hooks along the
wall. She guided them to a table two down from Lily. He pulled out
a chair for his girl and she slid in. Her ruby-painted lips,
matching the flirtatious dress, peeled into an intoxicating smile.
He slid in across from her, taking in her aura.
Lily's eyes flitted from the
pretty couple to the doorway. Her fingernails tapped nervously on
the smooth surface of the water glass, the ice cubes skipping to the
beat. She immediately noticed her nails. She'd forgotten to paint
them. Even after Lily had plucked the bottle of nail polish from
Monday's drawer. Even after she'd taken time to preen just like
Monday would have, she'd still forgotten to do her nails.
Monday was the fashionista; hair
gewgaws and lovely jewelry, perfumes and pretty clothes came
naturally to her and Lily was jealous of that. But Aaron hadn't
asked Monday on this date, he'd asked Lily. She pulled a compact
from her purse and flipped it open, inspecting her reflection; plain
but comely enough.
The door swung open again and Lily
sat up straighter, tucking the compact away, shewing vanity with it.
It was Aaron. He shook the rain from his shoes and glanced around
the restaurant spotting Lily in her corner. He was smiling. She
smiled back; she could do this.
“Sorry if I kept you waiting.
It's coming down pretty hard out there.” He pulled a hand through
damp brown locks, dropping into the seat across the table. “Have
you ordered yet?”
“No.” The word stuck in her
throat like a ball of chewing gum.
“Can I get y'all something to
drink to start with?” Ponytail arrived on cue. “A lime
Margarita, frozen, two straws?” She was looking down at Lily, one
eye-brow raised, pen and pad poised.
“House wine, please. Merlot.”
“Aah, changing it up tonight,
are we?” Ponytail grinned. “Spontaneity is good once in a
while, I suppose. And for you?” She was looking at Aaron, her
eyes scanning his upper body like a catalogue model scout.
“Budweiser, please. With a
glass.”
“Sure thing, hon.” And she
was gone.
“You come here a lot?” Aaron
swirled a paper coaster around in circles with his fingers.
“No. I've never been here
before. She must have me confused with someone else.”
An awkward silence converged, then
Aaron jumped into comfortable workplace small talk.
“What do you think about
Cassandra?” he started in. “Think she's gonna get canned for
posting that stuff on Facebook about the boss?”
“Huh! I rather doubt Len has
any notion of what Facebook is, let alone how to use it. I'd have
never done it, though.” Lily sipped from her glass, alleviating
the dryness building in her throat. She glanced at the couple nearby
wondering how they made it look so easy. “I don't think it's right
to trash people on such a ubiquitous forum. The coffee room is one
thing, but the internet?”
“Yeah. I don't like the ass
either but I think she crossed a line there. All it will take is
someone to open their big mouth and she's done for.”
Ponytail returned with the drinks
and took their order. Lily checked to see what the pretty lady
ordered, then ordered the same. The lazy preamble continued and Lily
felt more at ease. Maybe she could do this. Her eyes jumped back to
the couple nearby, as much as good judgement allowed. This was her
very first date, which at twenty-four, was nothing to be proud of.
She needed coaching. The gentleman at the other table reached out
and ran his hand up the lady's right arm; she didn't pull away.
Dinner was excellent. Lily
covered her empty plate with the napkin from her lap. Conversation
had gone well so far in her estimation. Aaron was rarely short on
ambling monologue and thus far he was pretty content with her
monosyllabic responses. Ponytail arrived with the bill and they both
reached for it, Aaron's hand brushing Lily's. She pulled away.
“Mind if I get this one?” His
eyes were playful, and hopeful.
Lily shook her head and broke
contact with his probing gaze.
“That's a beautiful ring you're
wearing.” He reached across the table and ran a thumb across its
faux ruby surface. “An old beau?” His eyes were teasing now and
he slid his fingers under hers.
Heat rushed to Lily's face and she
tried to penetrate the blind's translucent barrier to the street
lights outside. Her heart raced madly; Aaron's fingers moved gently
under hers. She didn't want T.J. to find them - not now, not here.
But she knew Aaron had crossed a line and she could sense T.J. close,
too close.
“Just who do you think you are?”
Lily's hand flew off the table, spilling the last of her wine. It
poured onto her lap, propagating a blood-red stain along her thigh.
Aaron stood, napkin in hand,
rounding the table to her side. She pushed him away allowing emotion
to erupt further.
“Don't touch me. Just get away
from me.” Her voice dropped; Aaron pulled away, confused.
The couple at the other table were
fully immersed in the fiasco, eyes large and questioning. Lily stood
abruptly, fumbled for Monday's purse and stormed from the restaurant.
To be continued...
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