Bright City Lights

Chapter 2-2

When I arrived at the café, I saw Rob sitting in the back where I’d been the day before. He looked up as I made my way down to his table. His smile made my knees give in a little and I hoped I wouldn’t fall over and make a fool out of myself. He stood up to greet me.

“I hear you’re paying for my coffees now?” I said as nonchalantly as I could while trying to will away the red color from my cheeks. Playing it cool wasn’t really my strong suit. He smiled, a dreamy smile that I’d seen so many times before. But I wasn’t prepared for the impact it had in real life.

“Seemed like you were in a rush yesterday. You left this.” He held my green scarf in his hands. There they were, those sinewy, muscular arms I’d fantasized about so many times, right in front of me.

All I could manage was “Thank you.”

“Do you wanna sit down?” He gestured to the empty chair at his table. I sat and pulled out my purse.

“How much do I owe you?”

“It’s all right.” He chuckled and ran his hand through his brown hair. Susan winked at me from behind the bar.

“Can I at least buy you a coffee or something as a thank you?” I asked. He agreed, and as I came up to the bar, Susan grinned cheekily at me. “You know he’s looking at your a*s right now!”

“Susan, stop it! I can’t concentrate if you say things like that! Give me two coffees, make mine the usual and give him something you think he’ll like.” Now that I was in a safe distance from him, getting control over my nerves and cheeks, there was no way I was going back to ask him how he liked his coffee.

“Why do you need to concentrate? Just swim away in the sea of his eyes and be sure to share all the gossip with me later!” She pointed her finger at me while still grinning. I tried to sternly glare at her, but we both burst out laughing.

“Susan, stop it. I’m spoken for already!”

She handed me the coffees and leaned over the counter and whispered, “I don’t think he cares.”

“I don’t think you care!” I hissed while balancing the two hot coffees. I went back to the table, feeling surreal for sure, maybe a little bit giddy, but I was going to enjoy it while it lasted. He didn’t even know me, yet he was giving me more attention than my boyfriend did at the moment. Flirting was harmless, right?

As I put down his coffee, he looked up at me, unfolding his arms from where they had lain crossed over his body, not defensively, more in a shy way.

“I’m Rob, by the way.”

“Anna.” I smiled.

“You asked me about the book I was reading yesterday.” He ran a hand over his five o’clock shadow. I never really liked men with beards until now, and it wasn’t a real beard, just a hint of one.

“Yeah, I thought it was weird a guy would read that book.” I couldn’t look him in the eyes while saying that, or I’d burst with laughter. Did he know I was the author? If he didn’t that made me feel wicked, tricking him like that.

“Have you read it?” he asked me before taking a sip of his coffee. Damn it, he wasn’t afraid to make eye contact, but I was. His gaze made me slightly uncomfortable. Like I didn’t quite trust myself when I looked into his eyes. They were more blue than gray today, and seemed interested in figuring me out.

“Yeah, I’ve read it,” I said, suppressing a giggle.

“And what did you think of Martin?” He observed me with such an honest face. I couldn’t tell who was fooling who now. Did he really not know?

We talked for a while about the characters in the book, and from the way he talked it was now clear to me he didn’t know who I was. He seemed so relaxed, so at ease with himself. He obviously thought I didn’t know who he was either. A sad thought struck me during our conversation. How come I never laughed this much around James? With Rob, whom I only knew from magazines and movies, which meant I really didn’t know him at all, I giggled constantly. He seemed to find me as amusing as I found him. He felt so familiar, yet so new and unknown, and my arms and legs tingled with something delightful. Or it could be I was only laughing because of nerves.

I didn’t want to end the magic of this flowing and carefree conversation. If I got up, it would vanish and be gone forever. But it was nearly lunchtime and I had errands to run before meeting Maria to iron out the details of the new contract.

I glanced at my watch. “I’m sorry but I have to go, I’m meeting someone at Covent Garden and I have to go to Lush, but it’s been great talking with you.”

He looked at me puzzled. “Lush? Sounds naughty!” He laughed a flirty yet insecure laugh. The way it was a little too loud gave him away. Good to know I wasn’t alone in the land of insecurity.

“No, it’s just to buy soap, not naughty at all.” My cheeks burned.

He stared me right in the eye. “I don’t know, soap can be naughty…” Then thumbed his lips and winked at me. We both chuckled, this time more at ease. As I gathered my laptop and phone, he got up too, and handed me a small white card.

“It was... um... nice to meet you, Anna, if you want to… um… you know... talk again someday…”

“Thanks, well… see you.” It was the best response I could come up with. I left the table and this time I remembered to pay Susan. She wasn’t available, so I left some bills under a coffee cup she had behind the counter. It was an arrangement we had because lunch was always super busy, with Susan running around to get everyone’s orders, and I never stayed longer than breakfast. It was a rule I had because I was afraid I’d grow attached to my chair, and I didn’t come to London to stay in a café all day. All good writers knew, you had to dive into the world and experience it, so you’d have something to write about. So, breakfast was at Susan’s, lunch at home, and I spent my afternoons in parks, shops, and museums. I walked out into the fresh air and argued with myself if I should just take one glimpse at Rob through the window. I dared a glimpse and saw him looking at me too. He gave a little wave. My body tingled all over—it was like being sixteen and sneaking a peek on my first crush. I smiled and waved back, then hurried as fast as my legs could carry me towards the Tube, grinning like an i***t the whole way.

James was in a considerably better mood when I got home. He’d even washed and shaved and was arranging his old LPs on the empty shelves in the living room.

“Hey, babes!” he called, smiling at me over his shoulder. I knew it! It was just a phase and my good old James was back! He got up and gave me a hug and a kiss. “Do you have any plans for lunch tomorrow? I was thinking we could meet up for a picnic in Hyde Park?”

He knew how much I loved Hyde Park, especially in springtime. What’s not to love? We don’t have those giant parks back home that can swallow you up and make you forget you’re in a big city. We don’t have those cute gray squirrels that will eat from your hand, either. I loved to stroll along the Serpentine and watch the water and the birds. Or feed the squirrels nuts while watching people walking their dogs, roller blading, or just walking hand in hand with their loved ones. I could spend hours there, so James knew my answer already.

“I’d love to.”

I told him Susan had invited us to her birthday tomorrow evening, and surprisingly he seemed up for it.

“Cool, I’d like to meet your new friend.” he said.

I couldn’t wait for tomorrow. First work at my corner in the café, then a Hyde Park picnic, and then shopping in Selfridges on Oxford Street for something to wear at the birthday party, and a present for Susan. Spending the evening with her would be fun. Life was good; it seemed like everything was coming together.