I hate it when they keep moving stuff around. When it comes to things like fish or produce, I find better quality at the local health food chain store. But the produce department here seems to like to move things around from week to week, I guess to create a more seasonally appropriate display. But I'm a pragmatic woman, and I like to find things in the same place.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for dates."
"Aren't we all?" came the reply in a distinctly female voice. I looked around. The person to who I'd asked was, or so I thought, a boy, maybe in high school, working his first job, sneakers, jeans, a baggy t-shirt under his apron, a ball cap, restocking the onions. But there was no one else around.
"I'm sorry?" He turned around — rather, she turned around — to look at me. Glancing down my frame and back up to my face, she smiles and says,
"I'm not doing anything Saturday night." Now I always like to flirt mildly with the staff because I can throw them off — too easily. It's fun for both me and them. And sometimes, like in a restaurant, I can score a better table or an extra appetizer. But it's rare when one, especially a young one, beats me at my own game.
Regaining my composure, I said,
"No. Medjool dates."
"Follow me." She leads me over to a display of berries that were in season, and pointed to the dates on the lower shelf. No signage — how could I have missed them? She smiles, and apologizes for her earlier comment, saying,
"I have a habit of just speaking my mind."
"Not an entirely bad quality."
"But it gets me into trouble sometimes." She was cute. About five and a half tall. No discernible make-up, no manicured nails, a very wholesome face, with boyish clothes and personality to match. A tomboy. I don't know why, but I've always had a place in my heart for tomboys.
"Well I find it a welcome change from the stale personalities I often find working in retail."
"Thanks. I'm Toni." she says extending her hand. With a name like that, she really is a tomboy! Taking her hand,
"I'm Janet." I am charmed, and I think I hold her hand just a little too long. She breaks the pause with a,
"Hope to see you again." On the drive home, I'm thinking about her. Crazy. I'm more than twice her age. Just a harmless flirtation. And once home with my wife, it completely leaves my mind.
———————-
Some weeks later, I'm shopping again at the same store.
"Janet!" I hear, as I'm browsing the cheeses.
"I thought you worked in produce, uh, ..."
"Toni. And we get to move around. I like that; learning new things."
"Toni, right. And learning is always a good thing. I mentor a group of university students, and I always love to find someone hungry to learn. Somehow that piques her interest.
"Say, I'm going on break in a sec. Wanna grab a coffee?" Very forward, given our age difference.
"Uh, sure."
"Great. There's a coffee roasterie half a block south. Five minutes?" Man, what am I doing?
"I'll throw the groceries in the car and see you there." Walking into the roasterie, I find her already ordering. I step up and tell the cashier that I'll cover hers and mine.
"Thanks", she says.
"Really." She's still cute. Maybe cuter than before. Her dark, brown hair is short. Really short. It wasn't too many years ago that mine was longer than hers is now. And her dark brown eyes just pull me right in.
"So why the coffee date?"
"Oh, nothing really. I just liked that you take an interest in students. I'm a senior, majoring in biology. Thinking of a master's in genetics."
"Ambitious."
"I love it. And, I dunno, something about you struck me. You're kinda cool. So I thought I'd like to know this girl." What? I'm cool? A woman old enough to be her mother? We talk about her studies, and her life. Parents divorced. Money problems. But she was sharp enough to get a full ride scholarship. Work at the health food store is a combination of a desire for a little spending money and to live off campus. She says she loves the outdoors. So do I. And on. And on. She notices the time and says she has to get back to work. Standing up, she squeezes my hand, thanks me again for the coffee, and she's gone. Driving home, she's on my mind again. But this time, she stays on my mind, even after having a nice dinner with my wife. I have a good life, love my wife, and I believe she loves me. But things just aren't the same, just not as I thought they would be. OK, I'll admit, the sex has faded. We haven't been intimate for years. So that night, I'm still thinking of Toni as I fall asleep.
———————————
A couple of weeks later yes, I'm looking for her as I'm wandering the store I find her working cashier.
"Can't stay away from me?" She's flirting again.
"No, I'm hooked," I fire back.
"Say, I'm off in a few hours. Wanna grab a beer?"
"Love to."
——————————
We're at a dive she suggested close to the university. Typical college crowd. Yet, she's acting like she seems out of place. Hell, I seem out of place. She's changed out of her trademark baggie t-shirt, and is wearing a snug tank top. Nice. She's slim at the waist, tight little butt, but her bust line is clearly her dominant measurement. Nicely shaped too, round, firm, with her nipples slightly poking out. She notices me looking and smiles. We drinking some wimpy beer; they have nothing special here.
"So, you often throw yourself at older women? I'm sorry, that wasn't nice."
"Hey, you're speaking your mind. You said it's a good quality. No harm. Besides, I like the mental and emotional maturity of an older woman. Older anyone, actually. I connect more with my professors than my own damn classmates. And people my age? They're so immature. They want girls to be, well, girly, with makeup, tight skirts, and stiletto heels. Screw that! Why can't they accept us as we are? They don't ever get all dolled up. They can be slobs."
"So you'd rather spend time with me?"
"Damn right. You're intelligent, but you're not judgmental. And you give a shit about kids like me trying to get ahead of all of those losers. And you're kinda cute."
"The other day, you said I was 'kinda cool'?"
"Both."
"So why did you suggest this place if it's not your crowd?"
"No car and it's walking distance for me. You know some place better?"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-one. What's it matter?"
"Then let's go someplace to grab a cocktail." She beams.
"Wait, aren't I under dressed?" I smile and shake my head 'no'.
A/N- I think k can do one more two more parts to this story if y'all want it.
Excuse mistakes
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