AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your guy is sitting on the left today,” he says in a voice that is barely audible over the noise of the train. I have to lean closer so I can hear him. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Look in the direction of ten o’clock,” he says impatiently, clearly done with my cluelessness.
Oh!
I slowly peer past Ryan.
Bingo!
There he is.
Dreamy subway guy, in all his glory. He has his usual notebook in hand, and he’s scribbling in it, pen moving so quickly that it’s almost a blur. I once got a quick peek over his shoulder and found out he was scribbling down recipes and listing ingredients. Maybe he’s a chef, or maybe he’s just writing a shopping list. I’m not sure.
What I am is intrigued.
And attracted.
So fucking attracted.
I first saw him three weeks ago, and he’s been a fixture in my mornings ever since.
He stood out immediately. The subway car had been filled with people, so there was nowhere to sit. He’d been holding on to one of the metal handrails, listening to something through his headphones.
He’s six feet of utter perfection. His dark hair is just a little bit long and artfully messy, like he’s used to sliding his fingers through it a couple of times after waking up and then leaving it as it is. His eyes are so blue that I can easily see their color, even though on most days we are separated by a few seats and an aisle. They’re fringed by long, dark lashes. His jaw is covered in stubble, and his chin has a slight cleft.
He looks impossibly cool in his leather jacket and black jeans. Way out of my league, too. Not that he notices me. There’s no league to speak of, if I’m being honest with myself. Still, a guy can dream.
The morning after I first saw him, I’d stepped onto the train at the same time. I’d been anxious as hell, even though the chances that the man would be on that same train again were minuscule. I did my best not to get my hopes up, which is to say I was bargaining like there was no tomorrow with some unnamed power throughout the whole twenty-four hours that separated my train rides. I didn’t even remember what-all I promised to give if I could just run into my subway guy again. Most likely my firstborn, among other things. As one does. I’m sure I won’t regret it at all in the future. The first child is like a practice kid anyway.
The point is it paid off. He wasn’t there the next morning, but the one after that? He was there.
Some weeks I see him three times, some weeks four. He’s never there two days in a row, but there hasn’t been a gap longer than two days, either.
And it’s nice and all, but what I didn’t bank on is the fact that I’m a major coward, and even after three weeks I can’t seem to find it in me to actually go and talk to him.
Ryan glances at me from the corner of his eye.
“Why don’t you just go and talk to him?” he asks quietly, as if reading my thoughts.
“What? No! I can’t just go up to him and…” My voice trails off. I’m not sure how to finish that sentence, which is clearly a sign that I’m such a coward that I shouldn’t be crushing on anybody.
“What’s the plan, then?” Ryan asks. “Just creepily stalk him for the rest of his days?”
“I don’t stalk,” I say indignantly. “I appreciate.”
“That’s what all the perverts say.”
I roll my eyes.
“Come on,” Ryan says, turning serious. “You haven’t been interested in anybody in a long time. If this guy catches your eye, maybe give it a shot?”
“But—”
“No. No buts. I know Oliver screwed you over—”
My eyes widen, and I start shaking my head.
“Do not speak the name of the devil,” I hiss.
He rolls his eyes.
