Authors note -- here's a romantic one for ya. As they say, 'this one's for the ladies'. It may be too flowery or pukey for some. Don't say I didn't warn you.
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It had been almost four whole years since he had seen her. He noticed her long before she noticed him. Which was a good thing, seeing as how he had no idea how she would react. It had been a long time. Maybe too long.
Definitely too long, he thought as he approached her across the restaurant. He thought she was sitting alone, but as he got closer he saw another plate across from her, and at her side a baby basket. She cooed at the androgynous infant, pursing her purple-tinged lips and fluttering her lashes.
He grabbed a seat, sitting still and knowing she wouldn't notice him. He watched her with the child, and felt something old and familiar kicking around inside his chest. Her hair was much longer now, red and silky smooth and hanging down over her shoulders. She still had the same freckles, meaning she would always have a youngish look to her.
The girl he had broken up with was now a woman with a baby, and whatever it was he was feeling rolled over into nervousness. Could he even talk to her? What would he say?
Another woman approached the table. She picked up the baby basket, kissed her friend on the cheek, and left money for the bill. She had to go, she said. He rubbed his hands together under the table, and watched the second woman leave.
His former girlfriend was rifling through her purse, preparing to leave. He dove into the moment and slid into the booth across from her.
"Hi," he smiled a genuine smile, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Oh," she replied, dropping her purse. "I⦠well, isn't this just⦠hi yourself, stranger."
"They don't come much stranger than me," he said, falling back on a line he used to use back when he knew her. "It's great to see you."
"Yeah," she nodded slowly, as if she was still deciding. "Yes, it's good to see you too." She nodded her head a little faster.
The contents of her purse had spilled out across the table. He helped her pick them all up, pausing to wipe ketchup off of a calculator. As he cleaned, he saw that the goop had gotten into the keypad.
"I think it's broken," he said to her, and helped her finish up.
"I mostly just use it to calculate tips, anyway," she shrugged, tossing it into the glass ashtray. "I'm going, actually. Can't stay too much longer."
"That's too bad," he said to her. A moment of clarity came over him then, as he realized if she walked out he might not see her again. That was quickly followed by a sinking feeling, and the knowledge that he couldn't let that happen. "Seeing you here makes me remember how much I've missed you, babe."
"Don't call me that," she said, standing up. But her cheeks her touched with color, pink fading into red. "That was a long time ago. I'm with someone now."
"Married? Kids?"
"No. No."
"It wasn't that long ago."
She turned to go.
"Wait," he said, more sharply than he would have liked. "You mean you never think of me?"
"It's not that. It's justβ¦"
"Listen, babe," I said, pressing a piece of paper into her hand. "I'm here for a couple more days, then I'm going back home. Out of town. You don't want to see me, that's your call. But if you do, then I would really like to see you, too. So, think about it, okay?"
She left, taking his note with her.
He was lying on the queen-sized bed, naked save his hideous green boxer shorts, watching bad porno movies on the hotel PPV channel. He touched himself, watching the women on the screen but thinking about the woman from his past. The stroking grew faster and more furious, and he slowly began to tune out the tv altogether.
And then the phone rang.
He knew it was her before he picked it up.
"Hi, babe," he answered.
"You cocky son of a bitch," she laughed. "How did you know it was me?"
"Because I'm a cocky son of a bitch. In the good way."
She laughed again.
"Are you busy tonight?" she asked him.
"I'm hoping to be."
"What's going on?"
"I'm hoping you'll come over, and then I'll be busy catching up with you."
"Catching up? Is that what you call it now?"
"Funny girl. I'm not that easy, you know," he played coy. She was the only woman I could ever play coy with.
"Bullshit," she said. "What room are you in?"
He told her. She said it would take her an hour to get there. He said make it two.
She knocked softly on the door. Cautiously.
"Hold on a sec, babe," he called out, and took a last look around the room. He had gotten a lot done in two hours;
Eighty unscented votive candles blazed from every available flat surface. The pale aqua walls of the hotel fluttered in the flickering candlelight, looking very much like thick panes of glass holding back a flood of seawater. All the candle flames made the room a little warm, so he had adjusted the air conditioner. The blast of the air made the flames dance and jump all the more. He looked at his bare chest in the mirror and saw the shadows drifting across it. He smiled β he always did look better in shadow.
He opened the door for her, now naked save for a pair of light, thin silk boxers. They were dark, deep red, and looked good against the paleness of his thighs.