Coffee Date
1399 Words
Lorenzo;
Staring at her in the daylight had me marveling. I thought she was beautiful, but she is flawless. Thanks to the daylight, I could see details I missed earlier. The faint freckles scattered across her nose, her healthy, silky brown hair, her cute, bow-shaped pink lips, and how light reflected in her beautiful amber-green eyes. She is breathtaking.
I sat across from her in a cozy coffee shop not far from the hotel we spent the night at and watched as she studied the business card I gave her. She had asked for a way to be sure I wasn’t a creep, and I didn’t know if it would cut it, but I gave her the only form of ID I had.
“So, you work at a real estate company? “She questioned, and I nodded.
“One of the best in New York, “I replied, and she raised a brow.
“What? “I question before sipping my coffee, and she shrugs.
“I don’t know. You just… You don’t look like a real estate agent. “She replies, and I’m amazed.
“Is there a particular way we’re to look? “I question, and she shrugs again before drinking some of her coffee.
“I guess not. “She replies, and I watch her.
“You’re just too hot to… “She began but stopped. She looked up at me and I could see her turning red. She immediately picks up her cup of coffee and diverts all her attention to it as she starts drinking. Causing me to smile.
“What do you do? “I then asked, and she looked at me from above the frame of her glasses. She gently drops her cup and drags the sleeves of her sweater, so her palms are covered. Leaving just four of her fingers out on each hand.
“I’m… currently unemployed. I was working as a substitute teacher, but well, that was just a temporary thing. Aside from that, I’m a failed writer. A pretty adventurous life if you ask me.
It’s one of the reasons I want to get away. To be with my family and not think about my problems at least for a while. “She says, and I can hear the pain in her voice even though she is trying to hide it.
“I can understand that. My dad is a pain in the ass sometimes, but he’s family. My happy place. When everything gets too loud, it’s good to know that he’ll always be there for me. Always have my back. It makes me feel less alone. “I reply, and she smiles at me.
“You really should get a girlfriend. “She says, and I laugh.
“I’ve got you. “I tease, and I see her cheeks pick up a shade of pink. I love how she can’t hide her blush.
“Erm… So,” She begins, and I adjust in my seat and lean closer.
“Yes. About the plan. What’s the backstory? How did we meet? ”I question as I pull out my phone to take notes, and I watch Becky tap her chin.
“Uh, a book club? No, too nerdy. Oh! We met at a cooking class! ”She says, and I raise an eyebrow.
“I can’t cook. ”I state, and she swings a hand dismissively.
“Neither can I. That’s the point. We bonded over burning everything. You’re the guy who thought adding ketchup to spaghetti was gourmet, and I’m the one who set the kitchen on fire trying to make toast. ”She says as she adjusts her glasses, and I nod thoughtfully.
“Hmm. What a power couple. “I tease, and she laughs.
“Right. We’re gonna have the cutest love story. “She says, and I freeze.
“No, I… I didn’t mean we… “She begins, with her cheeks once again picking a pigment, and I smile.
“Cooking class it is, then. How long have we been ‘together’? ”I say to save her, and she lets out a breath.
“Six months. That’s believable, right? ”She replies, and I nod.
“Works for me,”
“Now. What’s your favorite fake pet name for me? ”I question, and she rolls her eyes.
“Let’s not get carried away, Mr. ”She says, folding her hands under her breasts, and I feign innocent shock.
“If we’re going to sell this act, we need nicknames. “I state, and she sighs.
“Fine then. Babe will do. “She says, and I scrunch my face up.
“Cringe… But will do… Till I can come up with something better. “I reply, and she rolls her eyes for the one hundredth time before leaning back into her chair.
“Whatever. “She says, and I smile.
“Okay. Is there anything in particular I should know about your family? ”I question, and she thinks for a bit.
“Oh! So, there’s this one person you need to watch out for. My cousin Sabrina. ”She says, and I raise my brow.
“Sabrina? ”I question, and she nods.
“Yeah. She’s… a lot. Former Miss Universe, insanely beautiful, proud as a peacock, and completely unbearable.
For some reason, she’s always going up against me like we’re in a freaking contest. She will do everything she can to find a loophole in our story and embarrass me. So, there can be no cracks in our act. ”She says, and I stare blankly.
“Oh, she sounds like a charmer. ”I reply, and she scoffs.
“She’s the devil in a designer dress, ”Becky replies rather seriously, and I noted how the mention of this person gravely affected her mood.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let her rain on our parade. You just focus on keeping that biting wit of yours intact. ”I say, and I’m glad to see one of those bright smiles return to her face.
“You know, for a fake boyfriend, you’re surprisingly not so bad. ”She says, and I smirk.
“And for a fake girlfriend, ”I begin, and she looks up at me expectantly.
“you’re not half bad either. ”I add, and a blush once again attacks her cheeks.
********
As we walked down the snowy, Christmas-decorated street, the cold air stung my cheeks, but it didn’t matter. My attention was fixed on Becky. How her hair swayed as she walked, how her petite self walked briskly beside me like she was in a walking race, and me subconsciously trying to keep up, her beautiful strawberry scent that had not faltered since last night, and her endless banter.
“I just thought about something. Everything has to look natural. The way we interact in front of them, talk about each other and even hold hands. It shouldn’t be awkward. We have to put up a spot-on performance. My grandma has binoculars for eyes. “She says, and without stopping to think it through, I slip my hand into hers, and lock our fingers.
“Like this? “ I ask, and she looks up at me flustered and her steps faltering a bit. Her skin was soft, and warm against the cold. Making it hard to ignore how much I wanted to keep holding on
“Y…Yeah. That… That’s good. “She says nodding before quickly looking away, and I smile.
She’s cute.
I try to ignore how natural it all feels, but that is very difficult. I am usually bored around women. I haven’t found anyone who has been able to hold my attention like Becky, and I don’t know if to be worried about the fact that Becky keeps me so engrossed.
There is this pull she has over me, and it makes me wonder what the coming week with her will be like. I really hope that, after all these holiday adventures, she doesn’t shut me out. I’d like to get to know her better. Not just because we’re acting to be a couple, but because there could be a chance that it would actually work... That she might be my Christmas present this year. A present I hope to be able to cherish for as long as she lets me.
- Writer
