It was convention season, and my company had sent me to yet another vendor show. I was in a large ballroom filled with hundreds of people and it seemed like just as many vendors. I walked from table to table, weaving through the throng of people, glancing over the products each offered. As I was glancing over the products, the vendors were glancing me over, trying to see what I had to offer. Their eyes frequently settled on my chest.
I didn't mind their glances. I was used it. I developed early, and my whole life I've had to deal with men and women undressing me with their eyes. Coupling this fact with my dark skin, eyes and hair, I tended to be eye candy for a lot of people.
"Rebecca!" I heard someone call from behind me. I turned around and was face to face with Michael Shannon. Michael and I had grown up together. We met when we were six and attended the same school up until we graduated. We lost contact after that.
Michael was breathtaking. He was about a head taller than me, tan, lean and extremely muscular. He had the same dark brown eyes that I remembered from when I saw him five years ago. I couldn't help but stare at him.
"I thought that was you!" he exclaimed, seeming as shocked to see me as I was to see him. "You haven't changed a bit. You look the same as you did when we graduated high school. Although, I think you may have gotten prettier."
I blushed. "Michael! How are you?"
"I'm good. I'm just in town for a couple of days for this convention. I guess you are too." He smiled. "I thought I saw you and wanted to come over say hi. How are you?"
"I'm great. Man, I can't believe it's really you. It seems like it's been so long."
"Yeah, it does. Hey, I've got to check out a few more vendors. Why don't you meet me for drinks in the lobby in an hour. We can catch up," he suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," I replied.
***
Michael and I were sitting at a secluded table in the hotel's bar. We chatted about work. I found out that he had graduated with a degree in architecture and had just been hired at a small firm in Boston. I told him that I had been working as a project manager at a construction company in Chicago. We chatted about life. When he told me he was single, I did a mental victory dance.
The waiter came by and dropped off our next round of drinks. Looking at the full martini glass on the table made me aware of how full my bladder was.
I excused myself to the bathroom. When I stood up, I smacked right into a waiter holding a tray full of food. I slipped and fell hard on my butt, all of the food on the tray landing on me. Michael stood up quickly made his way to my side.
"Are you okay?" he asked, helping me to my feet. The waiter was behind him, apologizing profusely.
"My room is just upstairs. Come on let's go get you cleaned up. You're a mess."
I could only imagine what I looked like. I agreed and followed him to his room.
***