Sarah was at the bar when they first came in, sipping a glass of white wine, relaxing.
The couple almost seemed out of place, or at least they did together. She was tall, very tall, almost 6 feet. With impossibly long legs made longer by her 3 inch Louboutin pumps. She had a model's build. Slender hips, tiny breasts, and high cheekbones, framed by long, silky black hair. Her black pencil skirt and fitted white blouse accentuated all she had to offer.
She definitely stood out. Everyone noticed. Everyone looked. Sarah included.
What made her stand out even more was the man she was with. He seemed out of place with her, like he didn't belong. Not that he was ugly or anything of the sort, it was just that he was no match for her. With her in heels, he was at least six inches shorter, dressed in khaki shorts and a polo that didn't seem to mesh with her style. He seemed more suited for a tennis match than a date with her.
Sarah watched as they walked across the bar. He was a step behind, moving fast, like he was perpetually trying to catch up. As they got to their table, he moved behind her and pulled out her chair. She sat down without even acknowledging him. You could tell it was how she expected to be treated.
Right then, Sarah's friend returned from the restroom. He saw them too. He sat back down and watched. Just like Sarah. To some, he might have been mistaken for Sarah's boyfriend, but he wasn't. He was just there, because she wanted him to be.
Sarah looked at her friend next to her, watching him stare, smiling as she did. His trance was broken when he felt her eyes upon him, like somehow he wasn't allowed to watch.
The man in polo moved alone to the bar. The tall woman sat at the table alone. She knew everyone was watching her. She wanted them to look.
As the man in the polo returned to the table, he acted as if he was her waiter. He brought back a single glass of wine, and slid over a napkin and placed it on the table before her. He paused as he stood next to her, waiting.
Finally she took a sip. After she did, she looked at him briefly, nodding slightly.
He sat down awkwardly beside her, seemingly at a loss without a drink of his own. He seemed nervous, fidgety. Where as she seemed completely calm and in control. He knew people were watching. He knew people were looking at him and looking at her wondering.
Sarah looked too. She couldn't help it.
As the couple sat at their table, they rarely spoke. The man was clearly uncomfortable, shifting constantly in his seat. At one point she admonished him, clearly telling him to sit still as she reached her arm across his lap, holding him there. As she did, her hands dropped and slid across his knees. It was then that Sarah first noticed. Why she hadn't noticed before then she had no idea.
But on the man's knees were band-aids. There was one for each knee, big, square, and conspicuous.