Missed Connections

Chapter 8 - Liquid Courage

I grab my messenger bad, drape it over my shoulder, and head towards the door.  Once I've locked up, I stand for a moment on the stoop of the shop.  "It's nice being more on your level.  Makes me feel like I can finally call some of the shots."

Louis widens his eyes.  "Oh, really?  What make you think I'd let you do that?" Oh sweet Christmas!  His eyes are so blue.  His teasing only makes them brighter, despite the dim light cascading from the street light.

"Because I'm not the tourist here, and if you don't let me, you won't learn about the best hole-in-the-wall pub this side of Yonge Street".

"Then I'd better be on me best behaviour."

"And if you're really good, I might even let you walk me home," I say as I jump of the step, aggressively ruffle his hair, and start running off down the street.  I hear him laugh from behind me, and footsteps that suggest he is in pursuit.  He catches up before too long, grabbing me from behind.  We laugh, especially when we noticed the strange looks we've garnered from some uptight bitches sitting on a nearby patio.  They start when Louis straightens up, taking in his good looks.  The boy notices, grabs my hand and deliberately entwines my fingers with his, topping it off with a kiss.  The girls gawk, and Louis shrugs in a sarcastically saccharine way, and I beam.

I keep a hold of his hand and walk towards the next intersection.  "Alright, mister, you don't get to use me as a pawn in your posturing," I say jokingly and start to pull my hand away.  Louis tugs my fingers back in to his, rubbing the palm of my hand with his fingers. 

"Don't be cheeky, luv.  I may have been taking the piss a bit in front of those girls, but I really do want to keep touching you."

My stomach flip-flops and all the blood in my body seems to hit my basement floor. Speechless, I hope make my scarlet cheeks and goofy grin speak encouragement rather that awkward impression of the Cheshire cat!

"Um," I say shyly, "this is us." I hold the door open and follow him in to my local.  I make a beeline for the bar. "Double of Jack on the rocks...and whatever the gentleman is having".

Louis raises his eyebrow, but if he is impressed or repulsed by my choice of drink, his expression doesn't give it away.  He grabs a pint of Guiness, we pay for our drinks and we head towards my favourite table at the back of the bar.  We sip our drinks as we chat.  Louis asks about how I landed in Toronto, and what I am taking in school; I learn that he never pursued University, something that he sort of regrets.  Conversation flows easily, but I am preoccupied the entire time, thinking about the online ad I placed and what he must really think about it.

Emboldened after half a glass of bourbon, I finally blurt out "Ok, I have to tell you, I never thought I would ever been one of these girls who try to connect with randoms on the internet. So, I can't believe you found my Craigslist ad and that we got to meet." Stop rambling!

I look up and see Louis looking at me all agog, pint suspended midway between the table and his mouth.

"What ad?"