I'd only popped in for a quick drink and some quiet on my way home. I'd sat in the booth in a secluded part of the bar to avoid too much unwelcome attention. This couple came and sat at the table across from me. I was happy to people-watch whilst enjoying my beer and glancing at the paper so I stayed.
The guy, some pretty boy, expensive hair, flash clothes, toned, sat with his back almost to me whilst his girl sat facing me. Whilst he was everything you'd look for in the glossy pages of a magazine she was far more plain. Not in a bad way. In fact, as I studied her from afar it was clear that she was pretty, in fact, beautiful even.
As I surreptitiously listened I picked up that her name was lily. Lily was redhaired, deep, beautiful red. Her skin was pale and gently freckled, smooth and untainted with makeup. I couldn't imagine what this English rose was doing with such a fancy boy but there she was.
And she was big.
Lily was a big and beautiful woman, maybe mid-twenties and filled her shapely body perfectly. And her man was just ignoring her. In fact, as I could see from his phone he was actively searching for an upgrade. As she spoke about her hopes and dreams, her difficult day and her thoughts on their upcoming holiday he swiped left and right on girl after girl.
Whilst this beauty sat confiding in him and enjoying a huge ice-cream sundae to share he was finding a way out of their relationship. I began to think that he was probably already on his way out with several of these girls anyway and had become so blasΓ© about what he was doing that he could do it with his lady with people looking on.
Lily didn't deserve that.
It was simply delicious to watch her eat the cold ice-cream, contemplative and so, so pretty.
I folded my paper and finished my drink. I got up and spoke.
"Lily, that's your name, right?"
She nodded, her man looked up from his phone confused.
"You are the most beautiful lady to walk in here in months. You are as beautiful as an angel and as sweet as any candy, but your man has sat here through all of your outpouring and sharing finding girls to meet when you're not looking. He's been merrily swiping left and right on girls far less beautiful than you and you don't deserve that. I couldn't help but notice the pleasure you took in feasting on that ice-cream despite this guy not even bothering to indulge with you.
"I would love to give you a better option right now. You're welcome to stay with this guy who, I'm sure, provides for you and brings you flowers when you remind him that he should, but there is an empty seat in my car which I would be honoured to have filled by your beauty"
It was cheesy and weak but it's all I could think of in my anger at this guy. I began to walk away slowly knowing that if I looked back all hell would break loose.
I heard a chair move across the wooden floor. I didn't want to look back. I didn't want to know if it was Lily or her guy. Then I felt a delicate hand slide into mine as Lily drew up beside me.
"Thank you."
She wasn't crying or even angry, but she was ready to leave and I continued to walk with her to my car. I walked her to the passenger seat, opened the door for her and stood in front of her. She stood just an inch or so shorter than me, beautiful green eyes and thin pale lips. She looked into my eyes, flung her arms around my neck and hugged me. I felt her soft body press against mine as she forced me back against the car. She drew back and kissed me, gently at first then with more passion and conviction.
"Take me to your home," she said.
"Are you sure? We've only just ..."