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Oh, Sam. You tricked me. And surprisingly, I had no arguments against it. I wasn’t the least bit angry at Sam either. More like pleased about it. Frankly, I did need some time to divert from the million thoughts clouding my mind.
“I love burgers,” was my answer to Sam’s unsolicited invite.
Sam grinned as he opened the door to the diner for me. “After you, sunshine.”
The diner wasn’t too big and it had retro aesthetics everywhere. Chequered flooring, pink cushion seats and turquoise tables, neon lights all around, vintage posters as wallpaper, playing retro music and filled with the unmistakable, heavenly smell of fries.
The only empty table was between the groups of rowdy teenagers flocked in here, so we directed to the vacant bar instead.
“I feel old and overdressed in here,” I told Sam in a hushed voice.
“You sure caught a few pairs of eyes.”
One look behind me at the boys elbowing one another as a signal to ‘look at that bird’ made me grimace. “They’re fifteen.”
“I’m not.”
One look at Sam transformed my grimace into the broadest smile. It was undeniably comforting to receive Sam’s compliments.
As I removed my mustard coat, I watched Sam’s eyes blatantly scanning me from head to toe. Even though I purposely opted to conceal most of my flesh beneath fabric, Sam still perceived how my white silk blouse and cigarette pants hugged all the right curves of my petite frame.
He took my coat and draped it on the back of the stool that he slid out for me. “Looking very sexy tonight, Lucille.”
I sat down and waited for him to settle on the stool beside me. “Listen, Sam, I know you prefer bold, so I’ll just spit it out as it is. I don’t want you to read anything into me accepting to be here with you. It’s just strictly a night out to mingle and chill a bit.”
Apparently not too bold for him. He barely flinched.
“You think my intention is to deviously turn this into a date? Wrong. If I wanted you to be my date, I would have taken you to the best restaurant close to my apartment just in case I wanted an after-date.”
“Too bold, Mr Webb.”
And he winked at me again for the second time in a span of a few minutes.
I sure loved his eyes but that wink could have vaporized me if I allowed it to. Oh and that talk. I never heard him speak with any of that virility.
Sam picked up the menu and passed it to me as a young server approached us.
“A double bacon burger for me.” Sam blurted his order.
I quickly skim through the menu. “Chicken burger, double the fries please.”
“And one beer for me. You?”
I better steer clear of any alcohol tonight.
Sam noticed my hesitation. “Just one. Promise.”
“Okay. Beer for me too.”
The young man left with our order.
Sam swivelled on the squeaking stool towards me. His lopsided smirk was on full display. “So, I wonder what crazy thing you’ll do when the alcohol hits home this time.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to kiss you.”
Well done, Lucy. Excellent way to keep this not-a-date amicable. The last timethatwas mentioned – or more like, repeated – Sam clearly announced his intentions. I preferred not to revisit that conversation.
The server brought the two beer bottles. Sam picked one.
