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Winniecomes by every so often, but she was just at the office a few days ago and usually only stops by once or twice a week.Itbeing the second time in a few days was a little odd to me, soIwanted to check in.
Georgia’sbody inches closer to mine while she gazes at everything surrounding us.Italways amazed me how she could live so long here, in this small town, yet still see the beauty of it every single time we walk out the doors of the office.Thesun is starting to set, casting the perfect orange glow ontoGeorgia’sface, andIfind myself mesmerized by her beauty.
WhoamIkidding?There’snever a moment when she isn’t beautiful.Therewas one time over the winter that she had to call off because she was really sick.Imanaged to get out early, since the winter months are a little slower than others, and grabbed her some soup.Evenwhen she opened the door, wrapped up in a blanket with her hair piled high on her head and a tissue right under her nose,Icouldn’t see anyone as more beautiful than her.
Thisisn’t somethingI’dever tell her, even thoughI’msure she knows where my head lies when it comes to her.Atleast, she makes it seem like she does.Itcould be me conjuring it with the hope that she’ll one day see the kind of manIam.
Wereach the bistro down the road, andIopen the door for her with a soft smile to let her walk ahead of me.
Oncewe get seated at our favorite booth — the one that faces the entire strip of shops along the main road — she nibbles on her bottom lip.I’vecome to understandGeorgia’shabits well, especially since we’ve become good friends while she’s worked for me, and nibbling her lip is always something she does when she’s nervous.
Itap my fingers rhythmically against the table, eyeing her curiously. “What’sup?”
Sheshakes her head. “Nothing, somethingWinniementioned to me earlier.”
Iraise an eyebrow. “Well, now you have to tell me.”
Georgiachuckles nervously, which is so unlike her, and her cheeks flame up. “Nopoint in doing that, seeing asI’mnot listening to anything she says.”
“Well,Ihave all night.”Whichis true.There’sno wife or kids to go home to, even though part of me always wishes there was, andIalready closed the office for the day.Ihave nothing but time, andI’dlove nothing more than to use that time on the woman in front of me.
“It’ssilly, don’t worry about it.”
“Comeon,Georgia.Thisis our safe place, right?”That’swhat we always call it.Ifwe’ve had a rough day, or want to get something off our chests, this is where we do it and we swear it won’t be mentioned again.Therehave been times whenIneeded the release because of some patients, and she’s been happy to sit across from me and be that for me.
Georgialets out a resigned sigh and nods slowly.Shereaches into her purse, pulling out a thick envelope, and slides it across the table for me.AsIopen it, she groans out loud, catching the attention of the few people sitting inside with us. “Shewants me to find a date for her wedding.Probablyjust trying to play matchmaker.”
“So, find one.”
Shescoffs. “Yeah, right, as if anyone would want to go with me.”
Thatcomment has my nostrils flaring and my fists clenched tightly at my sides. “Don’tsay things like that to me.”
Georgiacocks her head to the side, studying me, and she shakes her head. “Itdoesn’t matter, becauseI’mnot doing it.”Thenshe glances up at me. “Unless… maybe you’d go with me?”
Me, go to her best friend's wedding, as her date?Itseems like a dream come true, butIcan’t make myself look too excited about the prospect of it.
Instead,Ilean back into the booth and cross my arms over my chest. “Areyou sure about that?”Notonly has she been strictly adamant about our platonic friendship, but she’s never mentioned the wedding to me before.
“Idon’t know,” she groans, slamming her forehead on the table with a loudthwack.Agroup of people give her the evil eye, but turn their gaze whenIglare at them in return.
Ireach over, lifting her head from the table with a soft smile. “I’dbe honored to accompany you to the wedding.Whenis it?”
“Uh, a month from now?”
It’snot much time, butIshould be able to get myself into the tux shop and rent one for the big day.I’llneed to make sureIlook my best, impress her somehow into being more with me.Givingme a chance thatI’veso desperately wanted all this time.
Inod at her. “Lookslike you got yourself a date.”
Whenwe finally finish our food, the two of us walk in opposite directions as we head home for the night.Shewaves goodbye before turning the corner and disappearing from my view, and the only thingIcan think about is what she’ll look like on the day of the wedding.
* * *
Whenmy alarm clock blares an hour earlier than normal,Irush out of bed and throw on something quick before stuffing my work attire into a separate bag.I’llhead to the tux shop before the office opens, get everything situated with that, then get into work.Itwill be a little extra on my to-do list, butI’lljust end up changing into my other clothes whenIget to the office.
I’mpretty sure my first appointment of the day isn’t until nine or ten in the morning anyway, which is an hour or two after the clinic opens in the first place.I’llhave plenty of time to look at all my tux options and figure out what will look best withGeorgia.Consideringshe’s in the wedding,I’llgo with something simple — like a white, black, or gray vest.
Ipull my car up to the curb outside the tux shop, then hurry through the doors and come up to a counter where an older man sits.Heglances at me, pushing his glasses down his nose a little. “CanIhelp you?”
