Posh cafes, I can take them or leave them. Venues don't usually do it for me, I'm more into the clientele. So as I walked in, I was scanning the occupants, rather than the decor, looking more for someone to sit with, than for a comfortable corner. A quick look around, because it's best to know where you're headed before you set off. Be a hawk, and leave the fluttering to butterflies.
By a window there was a woman on her own, her hair a halo in the early evening backlight. 30's, blonde, slender, feminine business dress. Alone. Alone for a reason though? Maybe her posture, legs crossed and half turned towards the window, hinted that that was what she had chosen. Or did the outside light, shining on the pages, make it easier to read? She'd been there for at least a half wine glass, so plenty of time to have been approached. But she was alone, and eyes glued to the page, not returning my eye contact. But fortune favours the brave, I reminded myself, as I went over. Sauntering, I didn't want to arrive like the cavalry.
She didn't look up, so I had a moment to take things in. Despite the glass in her hand, a bottle of water on her table was not unusual, but the two others in her bag were. I'm like that, I notice things, and these piqued my curiosity. All three bottles lacked their labels, and were filled to the brim. With tap water, maybe?
In situations like this, you always need an ice breaker, and this seemed as good as any.
"Do you drink a lot of water then?"
She looked up, a quizzical expression on her face.
"I'm sorry...."
"Do you drink a lot of water then?"
"No more than anyone else, I imagine."
"You seem to have a lot with you, that's all."
"They're not for me. They're for the one I'm going to meet."
"You expecting him to be thirsty then?"
"Oh, I do hope not. But just in case, I have water for him."
She was enigmatic, but perfectly friendly. And attractive too, which was why I'd started this conversation, though I now felt I was getting out of my depth. Still, sink or swim.....
"May I sit here?"
"Be my guest." She had an enchanting smile. And I was still very curious about her water.
"I wouldn't be taking someone's seat?" I questioned. "Only before, you mentioned meeting somebody..."
"Oh, there's no date or anything. It's just in case I do meet someone." She paused. I waited. "I do seem to meet people often..."
Looking like she did, that didn't surprise me. "You've met me."
She smiled at this. "Yes, I have, haven't I?"