Kirsten had surprised herself that night at Zebo's. She was only there for a meal and drinks with her best friend Kate, and even then nearly cancelled.
Chatting with Kate was nice, but she was tiring of her best friend's constantly nagging her to "get laid". Kate never seemed to have that problem thought Kirsten, just she could never hold onto the man she had. Oops, that was a little bitchy.
That's why the guy at the other end of the bar caught Kirsten's attention.
Now and then he would glance over at her, not in a sleazy way at all. And he did have a nice smile; but he had his own date, a wife probably, Kirsten thought.
At that moment, Kate's phone rung, jolting Kirsten out of her mild daydream.
"Oh fuck!" gasped Kate. "Ok I'll be home in 10 minutes."
"Sorry girlfriend," explained Kate. "Babysitter sick, gotta go."
A regular occurrence and Kirsten was quite ok with her friend leaving her at the bar.
"Off you go Kate," she replied. "I'll just finish my drink and be outta here myself."
With her friend gone, Kate reflected on her love life. Zebo's bar, a good place to do that she thought, ironically.
At 32, she had never had that maternal instinct, or been worried about being stuck on the shelf. She was mildly attractive, but not the sort men hit on at bars, thank goodness.
Her old fashioned looks and dress sense had a part to play in that. Her long hair was nearly always tied up in a bun, and she never exposed any of her ample cleavage.
But also, her own personal rule; never going home with a guy she just met. Kirsten wondered if that message was somehow conveyed to guys. She only attracted guys that wanted to date her, go to a movie and the like.
A good thing, surely? Kirsten had decided if guys wanted to fuck her, they would have to get to know her first.
But now and then she did wonder what it would be like. To do something outrageous, dangerous even; by her standards at least!
Just then, the guy from the other end of the bar appeared in front of her. Kirsten realized she was staring at him, like some self aware idiot teenager.
"This is a little embarrassing," said the man. "And I know it's a huge cliché, but can I buy you a drink?"
Kirsten ran her eye over the stranger briefly. Tall, well groomed and moderately handsome, she concluded.
About to decline his offer, Kirsten surprised herself.
"Sure," she said. "Why not? But I'm on orange juice, thanks."
The man visibly blushed, and stammered, "Well, I'm Jamie. Be right back."
"And I'm Kirsten," she replied and flashed a seductive smile. "I'll be waiting."
Jamie returned with the drinks and squeezed in beside Kirsten. The booth they were in was reasonably private she thought. So, what now she wondered?
Kirsten wondered if she should tell Jamie up front that she didn't allow herself to be "picked up" by guys.
But instead she thought, let's just let this play out.
