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We both had buffalo wings and I had a cup of coffee with Irish cream afterwards to make up for my horrendous day. I didn't usually drink at lunch, but this day was an exception in every way. I was barely half a cup in before I brought up the guy I'd seen at the gas station. "Hey, you live around here, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“There is a rinkey gas station about ten miles back. Have you ever gone in there?"
Sharon took a sip from her martini, refusing to be outdone by me. "I think I know what you're talking about. I try to stay away from that area. There’s stories about people that come up missing in that part of the woods.”
“What do you mean, missing?” I asked as I thought about the big, burly man who leaned over w
ith a toothpick in his mouth and looked at me like he would eat me for a snack.
“It’s just an old folk tale, but still I’m scary as shit,” she laughed. “Why do you ask about that gas station?"
"Oh, no reason. I wanted to call you earlier to let you know I was running late, but my phone died. I had to buy a charger and I went in there."
"I was wondering why you hadn't called. Wow, you've been through some of everything today."
"You have no idea."
"So what happened at the gas station? Did one of those toothless assholes catcall you or something?"
I laughed. "No, it was nothing like that. I ran into this guy. And I do mean literally ran into him. He was a white guy, in his mid-twenties, hazel eyes, a beard, I think it's called a chin strap. He was wearing a plain tee and jeans and a blue baseball cap. Looked like he’d been working in a ditch because he was dirty. I was wondering if you knew who he was?"
"Considering you looked long enough to describe him to a police sketch artist maybe you should have asked his name."
I sighed. Maybe I should have. But I couldn't have. Not in front of all those guys who were staring me down. I had to get out of there. If I stayed, there was no telling what might have happened. But what if I never saw him again? I hated that prospect. I could come up with another reason to go into the shop, but did I really want to do that?
I took another sip of my drink.
“Yeah, maybe I should have asked.”
I let it go at that. We finish our lunch, while catching up on each other’s week. It wasn’t long before Sharon had to leave, so she could get back to work. I left as well, deciding to ride back by the gas station in hopes of seeing Mr. Hazel Eyes.
Chapter Four
Channing
Seventeen. That's how many days in a row I showed up to Moss Tavern wishing, hoping and waiting. Every single one of those days I silently kicked myself for not following her out to her car and asking for her number then and there. I didn’t want the guys to see me going after a black woman. It went against everything that I was brought up to believe. Not being able to find her again seemed like a fitting punishment for my cowardice.
Then on day seventeen the most amazing thing happened. She walked through the door. At first, I didn't even realize she'd entered. I had given up hope of seeing her again, now my daily lunches at the tavern had simply become ritual. But she stopped in her tracks when she saw me which made me look up. My gaze landed on her big brown eyes and she smiled before looking over at a back booth and heading to it. Just like the last time, she wore a suit which made me think she was on her lunch break, but this time her dark curls rested on her shoulders when the last time her hair was up and in bun. I wondered what it would feel like to run my fingers through her hair. I hoped I'd get the opportunity to find out.
In the booth was another regular, a blonde who had lunch at the tavern Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I'd held back a laugh. I'd seen this woman time and time again as I waited for her friend. If only I'd known I could have simply asked for her friend's number, or had her pass mine on. The irony of how close I'd been this entire time wasn't lost on me. And to think, I thought I'd never see her again.
When she reached the table, she must have said something about me because her friend looked directly at me while asking, "Who, him?"
She slapped her blond friend's arm and they both pretended not to be interested in me. But I kept catching one or the other glance over at me when they thought I wasn't looking.
When my future woman got up and headed towards the restroom, I took this as my opportunity. I caught up to her right before she reached the door of the restroom. I stepped in front of her blocking her path and wearing my charming grin.
Her face would tell me everything I needed to know. If she seemed irritated, I knew I didn't stand a chance. But instead her lips pursed into a smile. She liked me. All I had to do was not saying anything stupid and I'd probably be able to get her number. "Hi, I'm Channing. What's your name?"
"Kemara."
"Kemara." I tested the name on my lips, and I liked it. "That's a lovely name."
"Thank you. Channing isn't bad either."
She was so cute, I wanted to lean in and kiss her then and there, but that would definitely screw up any momentum I had. So I only fantasized about her thick ruby lips as I asked, "So, I was just thinking maybe we could hang some time. Think I could get your number?"
