Evening Promises

one.

His fingers slid over the edges of the novel he'd been focused on for the past three days as he flipped to the following page-inviting his loose curls to revert from the pristine state they're in to fall just below his warm cocoa-colored eyes. He removes his fingers from the addictive Stephen King novel to run them through his soft brown layers of hair as the repeated sigh escapes his lips from the growing frustration.

My eyes wander to the hair tie around my wrist; If I offer it to him, he'll enjoy the next 10 minutes devouring the last of his double espresso and steamed bagel-sandwich peacefully, and if I don't, he'll spend the rest of his free time struggling to keep his hair from blocking his view. If I settle with exploring my generosity, that would mean having an actual conversation with the new guy I always admire from afar. He'd notice I've been gazing at him, and he'd probably look at me strangely and take off.

"I have a few hair ties if you'd like one?" The unfamiliar pale voice sounds out, causing me to lift my head and make the sight of a brunette girl leaned over his table with a vast smirk, coating her full lips. I feel my lips pucker in distaste from the view of her obvious flirtation.

He lifts his head-meeting her eye status, and his lips twitch into a friendly smile but soon fades at how closely she's leaned into him, "I'm fine, thank you." he utters, giving no thought in declining her invitation and going back to the concentrating on his novel.

My heart jumps, and her thin brows fall into an arch at his surprising dull interest in her longing for care. She stands in shock before adjusting her boobs and sitting right across from him. He notices her adjustments and lets out a final sigh before setting his book beside him and giving her his undivided attention.

"It looks like you have a heavy guard up, and I find that worth falling for; how about I give you my number, and you think about that hair tie." She sucks on her front teeth and pulls out a piece of paper before jotting down various numbers and handing them to the guy while smirking heartedly.

He takes ahold of the paper and examines it before looking back at her and bursting into small fits of laughter. Her brows furrow again, and her smirk dissolves into a pucker.

I feel my jaws clench as I force myself to keep my laugher in a while my cheeks burn at the sight of his purity, his odd neck veins popping, and his eyes shut tight from the free entertainment.

He calms himself down before clearing his throat to speak, "you want me to think about the hair tie, then call you?" He was painfully earnest with his question, yet his laughter threatened to emerge again.

She nodded without any other words, and he shook his head as a few extra chuckles escaped his moisturized lips, "I appreciate the dedication in your offer, but I'll have to decline. Thank you for making my morning, though." he gives her a genuine smile before going back to his breakfast and book.

She looks at him, alarmed for a few seconds before she stands depressingly defeated, with her head held low. She walks right out of the shop, avoiding going back to her seat.

I smile to myself at how civil he declined her way of asking; now I can give him my tie before another helpless girl comes fawning over him. He sets his book beside him and goes searching down into his black sporting bag, pulling out a small hair tie, and smiles proudly to himself.

He checks the watch on his wrist before smoothly tying his band around his flowing, soft shoulder-length hair. His flexed muscles come to show on the second tie around of the hair. He leaves his small bun to sit low at the back of his head while the limited stubborn hairs in the front continue to fall in his face, but instead of pushing them away, he takes one in his hands and wraps it around his finger, providing it with a fashionably loose wave.

My mind drifts while I appreciate his actions, the minor things that pop out more than anything—cleaning his crumbs off the booth, tossing out his trash, and even putting the book stamp back into the book, unlike the other visitors who'd leave the bookmark on the table or deep in the booth somewhere.

Everything about him was enchanting, from head to toe, and the simple attire he had, along with the ring wrapped around his ring finger. My heart nearly stops at the sight of his ring; of course, he's married, or he's getting married since there wasn't a ring in the picture last week. It was easy to turn down that gorgeous girl because he was faithful to a potentially already elegant fiance.

"Are you okay? I'm ready to order" I feel myself jerk up as a tall man stands before me; I remove my hands from my chin and sit upright, giving him a slight smile.

"My apologies, mister; what can I get for you?" I ask as politely as credible while my insides roam with humiliation; how hadn't I noticed how long he'd been there? While the man continues his order, I point my eyes narrowly behind the man to see what the unidentified guy has been doing while I'd been drowning in his charm.

He stares back at me, causing my eyes to grow wide and my heartbeat to quicken; he flashes me the brightest smile, his eyes shining bright as the daylight drowns the entire shop. Without a second thought, I turn away to stop the growing unfamiliar feeling in my stomach and stop my heart from jumping out of my chest.

Has he been looking at me this entire time? He hadn't noticed me admiring him all these days; what makes now different from the last?. I wasn't exactly prepared for the day he would catch me looking his way, especially for it to be today of all days.

To calm my mind and physical being of his irresistible gaze, I turn my back his way and make the tall guy's coffee while I control my breathing. I have to prepare myself, today hasn't been as busy as the lasts, and once this man leaves, the Unidentified guy will probably look my way again. I can't use a customer to hide myself this time, so I'll have to face him, wishing I was in any other predicament.

After finishing the order and biding the gentleman a fair well, I glance back at the booth, and he's nowhere to be seen, his area completely spotless like he hadn't been here at all. I catch sight of something in the corner of my eye, a piece of paper falling out the opening of the Stephen King novel set before me.

Without hesitation, I slide the book in front of me and pull out the piece of paper; a number scribbled out sits on it, and In the corner, the words turn over is written out, and I turn it within a blink of an eye, eager to know what it says. Reading aloud what is writing on the paper, I suddenly can't seem to catch my breath at what's written.

'Don't be shy. I was staring too.'