-5-
The next few weeks flew by incredibly fast. Brie returned from London, and between her bed and Dee's, my sex life was wonderfully full at the moment. Thanksgiving was around the corner, yet another day to deal with the 'when-is-Lynn-going-to-find-Mr. Right' drama that is my family.
Walking into the mail center, my 'mystery blond' was at the standup table, sorting her mail. We had seen each other a few times since that Saturday afternoon, a couple of weeks back, nodding or saying a polite 'hi' to each other in passing.
"Milly's." I heard from behind me as I retrieved my mail. Turning towards her, I said, "Excuse me?" looking between her and my mail.
"I've been driving myself crazy-and that's a short trip-trying to figure out why so seem so familiar to me. It was at Milly's, a couple of weeks ago; that's where I saw you, why I thought I knew you," looking up from her mail, a bright smile on her face directed at me.
Walking over to the table, but across from her, I put my mail down. "Don't feel alone; I've been trying to place you as well since I saw you in here the first time." Extending my hand in greeting, I introduced myself, adding, "And yes, it was in Milly's; I was with a girlfriend and I also saw you, briefly, but your face must have stayed with me."
"I'm Natalie, but please call me Nat," taking my hand in greeting, softly squeezing it, as opposed to 'shaking' it, "I'm surprised you remember me, we didn't talk, did we?"
"No, just two ships passing in the night," I joked, and she laughed with me, her green eyes smiling.
"I haven't seen you back there since then, why?" she asked as she looked at her mail, as I was.
"Been incredibly busy; thought about going by myself a couple of times but just haven't gotten around to it," I said, stacking my 'keeper' mail and pushing the junk into the can next to the table.
"I was thinking about dropping in there tonight if you'd like to join me, my gal-pal bailed out on me tonight and I hate going out alone." She said, dumping her own trash mail into the can.
"So, I'm your backup date, huh? I jokingly said, snickering a bit
"Yep, I guess so," laughing, "so do you want to join me for a couple of cocktails and a bit of people-watching?"
I chewed my lip a bit, deciding; what the hell, I thought, it sure beat my planned evening of doing laundry.
"What the hell, what time?"
She'd drive, and pick me up behind my place, at the garage entry at eight; that'd work, give me time to shower and relax a bit.
Nat is a little package; she's no more than 5'4", I'd say, and maybe 110 lbs. Her blond hair is shoulder length and frames her face nicely, I'd say. Her age? I'd guess her to be between the late twenties and early thirties.
Those were the thoughts bouncing around my head as I toweled dry from my shower when the phone rang; running naked to my bedroom, I grabbed it on the fourth ring.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hi, it's me, Nat-we had exchanged numbers-looks like we have to come up with a plan B," I heard her say, "Milly's is closed until the Monday after Thanksgiving for remodeling."
"Damned inconsiderate bastards," I joked.
"Bitches, actually," she corrected me, "Milly's is owned by Milly and Jackie, a couple of older butches."
"Bitches? Or Butches? Make up your mind," I joked.
"Well, they're all Butch who can be bitches, at times," she said.
"Got it. So's what's plan B?"
"Like movies?"
"Yeah, though my tastes tend to run towards the 'Indie' films," I said.
"Cool, there's a new bill starting at the Art Cinema tomorrow night, want to check it out?"
Confused, I sought clarification, "I thought you were talking about tonight."
"No, tonight I thought we'd grab a couple of 'pops' at another place I know since Milly's is closed."
"So the movies?" even more confused.
"Oh, tomorrow night? Sorry, that's a different date, a second date."
"Oh." I said.
The other place was a west side bistro in the arts district, called 'Lez's'. Yes, the name says it all. It was upscale, had a DJ working the small dance area, offered nibble fare and lots of beers. Nat and I chose a 'tall table' in the bar area, away from the dance area.
Toasting each other with our drinks, we both took a long pull.
"So, my story, huh?" Nat said when she put down her glass.
She had heard my 'story' on the drive over, when I answered her question about my orientation. She agreed with me that my newness means I'm at the exploration stage, personally. She also agreed with me that the fact I haven't really questioned the continuation of my explorations is very telling.
"You'll know," she said, "and you'll either accept the truth about yourself, or spend your life trying to hide it, but
you will know