Katie's Cafe

6

For the next few weeks, I speak to Tom almost every single morning like clockwork when he calls into the cafe for his regular black coffee on the way to work.

I've found myself looking forward to our little flirtatious chats whenever he comes in, and Hannah seems to enjoy winding me up about it even more afterwards.

"Professor Loverman has entered the building," she nudges me with her elbow when she notices him.

"Good morning, Tom. Coffee to go?"

"Yes please, but I was wondering if I could possibly have a moment of your time first? In private perhaps?"

"Go ahead," Hannah says, practically shoving me out of the way to take my place behind the counter, so I'll go and talk to him.

"So what can I help you with?" I ask now we're out of earshot, so Hannah can't eavesdrop on us like I know she wants to.

"I was actually hoping that perhaps you would consider letting me buy you dinner this evening?"

"What, like a date?"

"Yes".

"Why?" I ask, genuinely surprised, even though Hannah had spent weeks telling me this was going to happen.

"Well, to put it simply, I'm asking because I like you and I really enjoy your company".

I seriously can't believe he's actually asked me out when it's almost become a long running joke of Hannah's. She might genuinely faint when she finds out about this.

"I'm so sorry Tom, but I've actually already made plans for tonight".

"Another time then?" he looks so disappointed that I'm tempted to change my mind for a split second.

"That would be nice," I smile weakly before heading back over to the counter where Hannah passes him his coffee.

"What did he want?" she asks, eagerly awaiting the gossip once he's gone.

"He just asked me out on a date," I tell her, still in disbelief about it myself.

"Please tell me you said yes?"

"I couldn't. He wanted to take me out to dinner tonight".

"Oh right, tonight is no good for you," she understands where I needed to go and that it can't wait.

"Maybe some other time though," I smile because she looks disappointed on my behalf.

I know she still worries all the time about me being left here all alone once she's off living her life at uni but right now I needed to stay focused.

From what I can tell the next man I needed to find was only going to be back in London for two nights at the most and he will be a tough one to snare.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After work I get ready, my face and hair already done to perfection with Hannah's help when I arrive at the latest bar, wearing the most seductive red dress I own.

It's really crowded already, and I don't know the layout of this place at all because it only opened recently.

I start looking around with various men's eyes ogling me while I make my way across the dance floor. Most of the time spent dodging careless tipsy women and stupid horny men.

A certain man catches my eye once I finally reach the bar and order my orange juice. He's currently chatting up some leggy blonde, but I can't quite see his right hand from this angle.

I really need the woman he's with to move out of the way so I can look at him properly and check to see if he has that ugly tattoo.

I make my move, edging ever closer to the two of them before I 'accidentally' bump into her so she spills her cocktail down the front of her unflattering dress.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I fake an apology.

"You stupid bitch! Do you know how much this dress cost?"

"£59.99 by any chance? The price tag is showing, so I suppose you probably won't be able to return it tomorrow now, right?"

"Fuck you!" she storms off angrily across the dance floor, barging people out of the way when she does.

"Sorry if I upset your girlfriend," I talk to the man now she's gone.

"I'd just met her actually, but thanks for getting rid of her for me anyway. I was seconds away from throwing a drink over her myself to be honest," he chuckles.

"Was she not your type then?"

"I prefer my woman a little less vapid".

"Is that so?"

I glance down at his right hand to confirm that this is in fact the man I was in here looking for. It is.

"Are you here alone then?" he asks me.

"I'm waiting for someone, but it looks like they've stood me up," I lie to him in order to get sympathy, because men usually respond to the damsel in distress act.

"You could always stay here and talk to me until they arrive? I'm sure we could both do with the company".

"How sweet of you. I'm just going to nip to the bathroom. Will you wait here for me?"

"No problem".

I quickly go to the ladies room and text Hannah to let her know I've gotten here safely, so she's not entirely worried sick until I get home.

To be on the safe side I never take my contract mobile out with me. I just buy a cheap little disposable one that I always throw away afterwards.

When I come out of the bathroom I'm shocked that I happen to be met by a familiar face coming out of the men's room opposite to the ladies one.

"Tom?"

He was the last person that I would expect to see in a place like this.

"Sara? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. I thought you said bars and clubs weren't your scene?"

"Some of the men from work offered to take me out for a drink, and I was too polite to say no. What about you?"

I had to think of something fast because I'd already told him that I had plans tonight. This was really awkward.

"Well, I was supposed to meet up here with an old friend from school, but they've just text to let me know they can't make it now," I lie quickly.

"That's a shame. So where are you headed to now then?"

"Home to bed, I guess".

"If you don't mind, it's getting late and I was about to leave anyway, so can I walk you to the nearest taxi office?"

"Ummm?"

I look across the bar towards the man who was supposed to be waiting for me to come back, only to see him flirting with another woman already. Honestly, I'm hardly surprised.

"Sure, let's go," I completely abandon my plan for a reason I can't even figure out.

"Great. I'll just go over and let my colleagues know I'm heading home now then".

"Okay. I'll go wait outside for you".

What the hell am I even doing?

I never normally deviate from the plan like this, but the opportunity to spend time with Tom outside of work seems like too tempting an offer to pass up on.