Just for a moment

Almost Ruining the first date

*Amelia*

Even though I went to bed late last night, I wake up early this morning, feeling so excited that I can't go back to sleep. I'm going on a date.

I debate whether to text Linda and tell her, but I kind of want to make sure this actually leads to something first. I don't want to get my friends' hopes up or have to hear about it constantly if it turns out bad.

What if he turns out to be a total jerk, or maybe he has some big flaw I didn't notice in the darkened bar? What if he doesn’t show up at all?

I shower and try to have some breakfast, but I can't really eat anything. My nerves are getting the best of me. I haven't been on a date in forever.

Regarding clothes, I don't really have a choice… I’m going straight to work afterward. I put on my work clothes: a fitted black skirt that just reaches my knees and a white button-down shirt.

I pull my hair into a ponytail and put on some light makeup. This is how I usually look for work, and if my everyday look isn’t good enough, then he is not worth my time.

On the train, I start regretting that I said yes. There has to be something wrong with him, and even if there isn’t, what’s the point? He’s going home soon, to the other side of the world.

As I walk towards the clock, I almost hope he isn’t there. It would make things so much easier, and I wouldn’t have to make any hard choices.

But I spot him right away. He’s hard to miss due to his height. He’s leaning against a column, wearing fitted jeans, a gray long-sleeved T-shirt, and a backwards cap.

I have told myself he couldn’t possibly be as gorgeous as I remembered; the alcohol and dim light had to have blurred my vision. But now, seeing him in broad daylight and as sober as I can get, I realize he’s even better looking than I remembered.

Suddenly, I feel a wave of panic. I can’t do this; I’m not ready. I’m about to turn and walk away when he spots me. “Ami?”

“Oh, hi Cory.” I walk towards him instead. He flashes me a beautiful smile, and suddenly I feel almost at ease. What was I panicking about?

When we reach each other, he hugs me, his voice warm against my ear. “I hope you slept well.”

“Yeah, I didn't get a lot of hours, but I slept pretty well. What about you?” I feel myself relaxing even more.

He offers me his arm, and I accept. “I slept like a baby. Joel told me to say hi; he’s filming today.”

“Thank you! You have to give him a hug from me. What movie is he shooting here?” I can’t help but ask.

We walk out of the grand station. “Actually, I don’t know much about it; it’s kind of secret, but it’s something historical.”

“Did you have any plans for where to eat?” I glance up at him, and in the sunlight, I notice the green in his eyes.

He stops at a pedestrian crossing. “Well, I’ve only been here three days, so I don’t know many places, but I spotted a café over on that corner when we arrived.”

“I know that one! They have great food, and it’s a nice place to sit, so that sounds like a great idea,” I say.

We walk to the café and get a table in the back next to the window. It gives us some privacy to talk, and we can watch people passing by. He gallantly pulls out my chair.

“Those legs… aren’t they getting in the way a lot?” I smile teasingly at him as he tries to fold them to fit under the small café table without taking up my space.

He grins. “Well, sometimes, especially in planes and other small places like under café tables. But I’ve been told it’s inappropriate to sit with them spread too wide.”

“Oh, I thought that only applied to women. For my sake, you can sit however you like,” I say, looking at the menu.

He sighs and relaxes a great deal, not having to worry about how to sit. “Thank you. I don’t know why they make café tables so small.”

I glance over at him while he is looking at the menu and regret just a bit that I told him to sit however he liked. He has his ankles crossed, and his knees falling to the side as wide as they can go, making his jeans strain on his thighs and across his crotch. It's a bit distracting.

“Ami? Ami, are you still here?” Suddenly, I realize he has been talking to me while I was trying to figure out if it’s a fold in the fabric or something else.

I look up, my face going red. Oh s**t, I just got caught staring at his crotch. “Uh, yes? I guess I was just getting lost on a rabbit trail.”

“I seem to require your assistance, as the menu is only in Danish and unfortunately, my language skills are not that great,” he says with a smile, pretending not to know what I was looking at.

I get up and walk around the table to stand behind him, starting to point out the different food options for him, but I have to lean over him a lot and keep bumping my knees into his thigh.

“See, those damn long legs are in the way again,” I say, grinning, before stepping over his leg and sitting down on his right thigh.

He looks at me with surprise, but then smiles at me… one of those smiles that makes me melt. “Well, hello there.”

“I hope it’s okay that I sit here; it’s just so much easier.” I bite my lip, looking at him, his eyes like melted chocolate locked onto mine.

I feel his arm snake around my back, his big hand resting at my hip, making my mind run wild about what else he could do with those big hands and long fingers. “It’s fine with me; you weigh next to nothing.”

His touch doesn’t feel groping at all… more protective… but it still leaves a burning feeling on my skin through my clothes and sends little tingling jolts through me as I read the menu to him.

“That was everything,” I say reluctantly, not wanting to get back to my own seat. It’s nice sitting here, and I can smell his cologne; it makes my head spin just a bit. He smells warm, masculine, and a bit spicy.

But I can’t just stay, and I probably wouldn’t be able to concentrate on eating, so I get up and walk back to my own seat.

The waitress comes over to take our order, and I can’t help but keep my eyes on Cory the entire time.

When she comes back with our food, I can't keep my mouth shut anymore. “I think our waitress kind of likes you.”

“Oh? And why do you think that?” He looks after the waitress, confusion in his eyes; she is standing at the counter batting her eyelashes at him.

I glance at the young girl and then look at Cory with one eyebrow raised. “Well, besides the fact that she is practically eye-f*****g you right this moment, she kept touching your arm when she was down here.”

“I didn’t notice at all, but I haven’t done anything besides being friendly,” he says, looking at me like he is afraid I will be angry with him.

I smile. He had actually been flirting slightly with the waitress, but it doesn’t seem like he realizes it himself, and I’m willing to let it slide. “Well, it isn’t your fault that you’re charming.”

“I just hope the waitress isn’t the only one affected, then,” he says with a mischievous grin, and I have to look down at my food and try to calm my racing heart.

Time goes by way too fast. I find him easy and fun to talk to, like we’ve known each other for a long time, and I haven’t laughed this much in a long time.

I go to the bathroom, and when I walk back out, I spot Cory at the counter. He is scribbling something on a piece of paper, sliding it across the tabletop with a smile to the giggling waitress.

My heart sinks. Typical men. He had seemed too perfect; of course, there had to be a catch.

“What is it, Ami?” he says, looking surprised when I almost rip my bag from his hand. He had brought it with him from the table.

I don’t answer but just walk out the door. I don’t get far before he grabs my arm and forces me to face him. “What the f**k, Ami? What just happened?”

“Well, excuse me, but did you just slip that waitress your number? While still on a date with me? That’s fast, I gotta say.” My voice is nearing a yell, anger bubbling up as tears sting my eyes.

He actually laughs but then gets serious again. “Oh, darling Ami, I must say I’m a little concerned that you would think so lowly of me. I would never do such a thing, not even if I had no further interest in my date. The card machine was down, and she had to use an old-fashioned sliding one, so I had to sign it.” He looks me directly in the eyes.

I feel stupid. Well, now I’ve definitely ruined all chances by acting like a jealous girlfriend on the first date. Why does Daniel keep ruining my life long after he is gone from it?

I look up at him. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like that. I guess I’ve just had some bad experiences in that area, but it’s not fair to take it out on you.”

“It’s okay, Ami. I can see how it could easily be taken the wrong way.” He catches a strand of my hair between two fingers; they graze my skin as he brushes it behind my ear, and a small gasp escapes me.

I don’t know what to say or do. I’m embarrassed about the way I behaved and would understand if this was also the last date.

He grabs my hand and looks at me. “Can I walk you down to your workplace?”

“Sure. I really didn’t scare you off before, by acting like that?” I start walking down the street, his hand in mine.

He chuckles and sends me a knowing glance. “Believe me, I’m not easy to scare. I’ve seen much worse.”

“This is where I work.” Five minutes later, we’re standing outside the restaurant.

He looks at me, swallowing. “I was wondering if I could take you out on a real date, maybe next time you have the evening off?”

“I have the entire day off the day after tomorrow, Monday that would be. Is that okay?” I say, trying to hold back my smile so I don’t look crazy.

He doesn’t hold back his smile. “If you give me your number, then I’ll let you know about the time and place when I’ve made reservations.”

I wait while he gets his phone out, then give him my number so he can save it.

“Well, I gotta go now. See you Monday then.” I don’t really know whether to hug him or not.

But he just pulls me into his arms, making my head swim, and it doesn’t help when he kisses my cheek softly, leaving a burning spot behind. “I can't wait. Have a nice day at work.”

I watch him walk down the street, biting my lip before going inside. Today, work won’t feel that bad.