10
Cole
Iwake up starving. After searching my fridge for something that looks appetizing and coming up empty-handed, I pull out my phone to check if anything nearby is open today. If all else fails, I’ll grab some fast food. I know I have food here since I just went to the store yesterday, but I was craving a real breakfast and not the usual waffle or bagel I grab on the way to work. Luckily, Google pulls up a new restaurant nearby that serves brunch and is indeed open today. My stomach grumbles at the thought of blueberry pancakes smothered in butter and syrup.
I’m wearing a pair of grey Nike sweatpants with a plain black t-shirt as I enter the café and it wasn’t enough to keep warm outside in the frigid cold. I don’t look my best right now so I really hope I don’t run into anyone I know. I’m probably the only idiot trying to eat at a restaurant on a holiday. That’s what I think until I enter the café and gasp at the number of people that are here today. The long line is enough to put me off and send me on my way to grab some fast food. That is, until I catch sight of something that makes me consider staying for more than just the delicious pancakes.
Danny’s head lifts up, and his gaze meets mine; I almost feel breathless for a moment. He really is beautiful, and he has no idea either. His adorable nervous smile sends a small amount of warmth through me. His friend turns to see what his attention is on, and as soon as she spots me, her eyes are beaming. She waves me over to their table, and I don’t move at first, but when Danny smiles at me again, I can’t seem to reach their table fast enough.
After squeezing in tightly beside him, I open my menu with my elbow sticking out in hopes of grazing his. His eyes meet mine again, and when I wink at him, his cheeks redden. Fuck, he’s adorable. My mind falls back to the stranger from last night, and a rush of guilt hits me in the gut. I have no idea what I’m guilty of. There is nothing going on between Danny and me; we barely know each other. I can’t help but feel a bit of sadness at the revelation.
Danny and I both order the blueberry pancakes, and Vivian orders half the menu. Danny chuckles. "She’s one of those people who eats like a linebacker but still manages to remain a size two." He says that with a hint of annoyance in his voice, and Vivian pushes out her stomach. “Oh whatever, look at this gut. Does this look like I’m not paying for my eating habits?”
He takes a bite of his pancakes before responding, “Oh please, Vivian, anyone can make it look like a gut when they force their stomach out like that, especially after they just ate. I’m sure all that beer you inhaled yesterday contributed to that bloat also.”
She sticks her tongue out at him before taking another drink of her mimosa. I don’t want to so much as look at alcohol right now, and here she is just throwing it back effortlessly like it’s a Capri Sun. Danny shakes his head. "Don't forget you are the one who drove here, you lush."
She waves him off. "Relax, I'm only having two and last time I checked, you're more than capable of driving my car."
The way the two of them keep making jabs at each other nearly sends me to the floor laughing and Danny’s smiles make my breath catch in my throat. I can’t believe I almost turned around and left. If I hadn’t spotted Danny when I did, then I would have. I enjoy the conversation and laughs the three of us share. I turn to Danny, desperate to know all there is to know about him. "So, what is it you do for a living, Danny?"
He dabs his mouth with a napkin and blushes, trying to hide behind the small piece of crumpled paper. "I'm a published Author and I do some Indie stuff too."
I lift a brow. "Oh, what do you write?"
His blush moves from his face, down to his neck and I'm curious to see how far it goes. "Romance."
I smile. "That's awesome. Where could I find your work?"
He shakes his head. "No way. There are some things friends shouldn't share and one of those things is pen names."
I frown. "I'd share mine with you if I had one."
He laughs. "You would have to have one to share first."
I don’t want to hold back anymore. It’s now or never. I’m going to ask Danny out, and if he says no, no big deal. I’ll just walk with my head low in shame every time we pass each other in the hallway.
I kind of hope by the way he keeps eyeing me at brunch and flirting with me back and forth that his answer will be yes. He reaches for the tab, but I gently pull it from his hand. “It’s on me. Consider it thanks for saving me the hassle of standing in that awful never-ending line.”
I can tell he wants to fight me some more but instead pulls his hand back and thanks me. He’s about to stand from the table once the lady brings me back my card. I stand up when he does and grab him by the arm before he can walk away.
“Hey, Danny, I was wondering if you would maybe want to see a movie sometime or go to dinner. You know, whichever you prefer.”
His eyes grow wide as if I caught him off guard. I’m sure I made it clear how interested in him I am, and I’m just glad he isn’t trying to hide his face from me anymore. He pulls away from my grasp and bites his bottom lip. Something about the way he does it sends a thrill through me and then I remember the guy at the party doing the exact same thing. But it can’t be—there’s no way. I would know if it was him, wouldn’t I?
Danny now has a curious expression on his face as if he said something and I missed it. Then it dawns on me that I probably did when I went back to a memory from last night. “Did you hear me? Did you disappear somewhere for a minute?”
“I really didn’t get much sleep, so maybe I’m starting to fall asleep standing up,” I say with a chuckle.
His worrying expression becomes more relaxed. “I said yes. Yes, I’ll, um… go see a movie with you or dinner or whatever.”
I smile with excitement. “Awesome. Well, here, give me your number, and I’ll text you.”
He hands me his phone, and I enter my number into his contacts. “There, now text me so I have yours.”
My phone pings, and a message appears saying, Hey. I add the number with his name to my contact list. “There, now I can bug you all I want.”
He laughs. “Wow, we haven’t even started texting each other yet, and I’m already considering blocking you.”
Vivian is just standing there, looking at us with amusement on her face. I forgot she was there until she loudly clears her throat to get our attention that is only reserved for each other at the moment. We part ways after saying goodbye for the fifth time, and I almost want to come up with some other way to stall him and to keep him where I am, but I let him leave the cafe with his friend.
Once back in the comfort of my home, I watch a few episodes of Scrubs before grabbing my phone to check if I have any missed calls or messages. I have a few messages from my family wishing me a happy New Year. Then one from Paul.
Paul:Hey, man. Ever figure out who that sexy stranger in the blue and gold mask was?
My eyes go wide when it occurs to me that I must have told him when I was drunk, and he didn’t forget the way I clearly did.
I text him back, telling him no such luck, and he sends back a sad face emoji. I consider texting Danny, but I don’t want to come off as too eager. I stare at his name for a long time before setting my phone back down on the coffee table. I go back to watching television until I eventually fall asleep on the couch.
