It all started when I caught a glimpse of her blue eyes and grin from across the bar, sitting on her stool and twirling her drink. She had blonde hair, which lit up like a rainbow from the lighting, wore a strapless purple top, tight leather skirt and black heels while watching beginners attempt to play pool. As I casually stroll over, racking my brain to break the ice. My eyes are drawn to the paw charm hanging from her necklace that she doesn't stop fiddling with.
"Hello there, I'm Lucas, mind if I join you?" I ask, standing next to her, gesturing at the empty stool next to her.
She spins around, resting her back and elbows on the bar to watch the pool tables and answers, "If you'd like". She points an open hand toward the seat. "I'm Maria, nice to meet you, do you like pool?"
I nod to her and respond, "yeah, but it's been a while, want to play a game or two?" I get up, checking my pocket for ones, finding a few.
"Sure, I don't have anywhere to be for a couple hours." Maria says, getting up, strutting toward a table, and picking out cues. "I'll break the first game if you rack it."
After racking the balls and her breaking to start, the first game, except for the conversation, is underwhelming, from missed shots and multiple scratches. Both of us took time to get the rust out and warmed up for a rematch.
While she is getting the balls ready for game two, I ask, "Do you have any pets back home?", referencing the paw pendant swinging from her neck. "I have a dog and a cat, Nigel and Felix. I'm more of a dog person but cats are feisty, little assholes."
She stopped what she was doing and turned to look at me, "I have a kitten at home named Leah, I have been thinking about a dog too, want to make this interesting? If you beat me, I'll let you meet her, but if I win,
You take me to meet your pets, Dinner included."
"Sounds like a deal" I answer and fire the cue into the triangle of balls, scattering them around the table and sinking the three, "I guess I'm solid." The game carries on for about ten minutes back and forth with both of us getting to the eight ball at the same time, she calls a bank shot into the corner pocket that just misses and I clean up the table and tap the black ball in to win the game. "I'm thinking something with fish, cats like fish" I say as it goes in the pocket. Maria has a smug look on her face, almost like she meant to miss.
"Fish for dinner then?" She asks, "How about this weekend? Here's my number, don't lose it. I'll text you the address later. See you soon."
"You too." I respond, she turns, walks toward and out the door.
** Saturday Evening **
After a few days of messaging and chatting, Maria finally texted the address to me. It's in a larger apartment building just out of the city, on a quiet street surrounded by higher end vehicles. The room is number 805, one of the top floor suites. I wonder what she does for a living as I walk up to the main door and proceed through it to the elevator.
When I reach the red door, there is a large gold 805 plaque on it with a sign below that reads "Please Knock". So, I knocked and a few seconds later, Maria opened the door.
"I see you made it here fine, hope it wasn't a hassle." She says after opening the door. She has a long, low cut black dress on with matching heeled boots and her hair tied back. "You look nice, come in." I'm wearing a dark blue button up shirt tucked into my dress pants.
After dinner is done and as we are walking the dishes to the kitchen, I ask, "I haven't seen your cat, is she shy? Most cats are shy and skittish of visitors." She sets down her plate in the sink and I do the same.
"Oh, Leah isn't shy, she's just back in her room, she is well behaved" Maria says before calling for her. "Leah sweetie! Come here, we have a guest!" She yells down the hallway, "she'll be here in a moment".
About a minute or so later, I hear a door creak open behind me and a woman crawls in on her hands and knees. "Oh, there you are Leah, come meet Lucas," Maria says, turning her head to see my reaction.
My eyes are huge, "I was expecting a house cat, not a person" I say, still slightly confused about what I just watched.
"I said I had a kitten at home, not a cat, and she is my pet. Is that a problem?" Maria asks me. "Do you not like her, Lucas? Are you alright with this Leah? She asks me then Leah.
Leah nods her head in approval, she is wearing a small, black, string bikini which doesn't cover much, her legs are covered by thigh length black socks, a black mask that holds her brown hair back under the cat ears on top of her head, a little black collar around her next with a tiny bell, and a long tail extending from between her legs. She purred looking at us.
"Would you like to join us, Lucas?" Maria asked. "I'll have Leah get the room ready and get some stuff out for you." She gets up and walks across the room and pets Leah on the head before turning to hear my answer.