72. That's how many minutes I've been waiting for Brandon to show up. 30 minutes of waiting to be seated, 42 minutes of telling the waitress you needed more time each time she asked if I was ready to order. The elderly couples sitting here at the restaurant look at me apologetically, the ones my age are snickering. I smoothed down my black silk slip dress, and tucked a piece of hair, that had come out from my messy bun, behind my ear. 8. That's how many times I've called him. 14. That's how many messages I've sent. 3. That's how many years we've been together. 6. That's how many times he's done this. 4. That's how many times in just the past month. 2. That's how many of my friends I found out yesterday that he slept with. Tonight is the night I was going to break it off with him, and once again he hasn't shown. Like every other time, I hope that he's just late. But as the clock hits 12 that marks 8 'o clock, I decide maybe it's time to leave.
As I'm taking the baby blue cardigan off the back of my chair, someone runs up from the door and places his hands on the chair opposite of me. Running a hand through his curly dark brown hair as if he were sweating, though there isn't a drop on his forehead, and panting like he's out of breath, a man I've never seen before exclaims rather loudly, "I'm sorry I'm so late, babe, the traffic getting here was crazy, you wouldn't believe it." I'm standing there in a bit of shock while he walks towards me and places a hand on my shoulder, getting me to sit back on the chair, before giving me a light kiss on the cheek after whispering, "I'm Lucas, just go with it, okay? The guy who stood you up must be a total douche."
He sits on the chair on the opposite side of the table and smiles a perfect two rows of whites at me, I can't help but smile back. "You look amazing," he states.
I take in his look, a simple white collared shirt and black slacks, his hair messy in a put together way, stubble growing out just the slightest, and soft green eyes behind long thick lashes. "So do you," I say without hesitation.
"I know you're probably a little weirded out, but my friends and I were standing in line for the past 45 minutes and I noticed you were just sitting here. We were going to just go eat somewhere else because the wait for this place is crazy, but I saw you were starting to leave so I thought maybe I could just keep you company since you've been here so long anyway. I didn't mean that in a rude way, I just. You know, I think I'm talking too much, I didn't catch your name?"
I smiled a bit at his rambling, "Thea."
"Wow, that's a really pretty name. So was this supposed to be a blind date, or a long term thing?"
"Long term. 3 years."
"Dang. Asshole?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Complete."
"High School sweethearts?"
I nodded. "Since the end of my junior year."
"Was he always this bad?"
"No," I trailed off. Thinking of how Brandon and I started, I was a nerd in high school, he was starting wide receiver. It was like some fairytale romance I would read about, he needed an English tutor, I was top of the class, and things kind of just feel into place. But time went on, I grew up, he didn't. He was a football coach back at our high school, and I just finished my second year of college. We'd been distant since the beginning of last summer, I refused to move in with him because I wanted to be more available for each other before we moved into that stage of our relationship.
"You okay?" Lucas suddenly asked.
I blinked and looked up at him, "Yeah, sorry. Let's just say him and I should have ended a while ago, I just didn't have the guts to do it. I was supposed to break up with him tonight, but he's a no show, so."
"Ah," he nodded, "you're a face to face, no BS kind of person."
"I would hope so; communication, when you solely rely on electronics, sucks."
"I wholeheartedly agree. So, college?"
"Yes, second year, education, at Boymount. You?"
"I don't think I've ever seen you on campus. Also at Boymount, third year, going for my BA in political science right now."
"I hate politics."
"So do I."
"Then why political science?"
"A lot of people hate politics, I think the only thing that can change that is a good politician, don't you?"
I stared at him, I don't think I would have ever expected that of this random guy. "Yeah, I do."
He smiled, just as the waitress arrived to take our order.
"What can I get you?" She asked happily, finally able to do her job.
After nearly 2 hours of good food, great laughs, mini arguments on politics and other subjects, the waitress came back with our check. Lucas refused to let me pay, and since I've paid for most meals in the past 3 years of Brandon and I's relationship, I let him go after a pointless attempt in paying. We both sat up from our chairs, he helped me put my cardigan on, and offered his arm as we walked out of the restaurant.
"Did you drive here, or do you need a ride back to your boyfriend's?"
"I drove, and I live on my own." I said, reading the real question behind his words.
He nodded with a slight smile, "I'm not sure if you're going to go through with your plan on breaking it off with this Brandon guy, but if you do, I'd love to take you out on a real date sometime." He said hesitantly, but straightforward.
I giggled and wrote my number on the back of one of the business cards kept outside of the restaurant doors. "Call me?" I asked as I started backing away towards where I parked my car.
"Definitely." He said. I smiled and turned around, walking a few feet before reaching my car, opening the driver's side door, and getting in. I looked back to where he was standing, and noticed he waited until I got in the car before walking away.
Right as I was about to start the car, an all too familiar ringtone began to play from my phone, I checked the time, 9:56, and laughed to myself. Bianca, one of my coworkers from a summer job I took last summer, probably just left his house. I was told he had a tendency to invite her over on Friday nights, from what Bianca's ex-boyfriend told me. I picked up.
"Hey baby, I'm so sorry for missing tonight, the football boys wanted to treat us coaches to some pizza as a thanks for a great end of the season."
"I know I've been stupid for the past year, Brandon, not realizing you were sleeping with old coworkers and good friends, but I know that football season is in the fall, so please don't think me a complete idiot. I've packed all the things you've left at my place, they're outside your door, so I know you haven't left."
The other side of the line was dead silent, until, "I'm sorry Thea, I didn't want you to find out this way."
"I think you actually didn't want me to find out at all. Honestly, Brandon, it's better this way, we haven't been good for each other since high school ended anyway. I'm grateful for all the things you've taught me, the good memories we have are great, but from here on out, let's just go our separate ways yeah?"
"I really am sorry."
"So am I," I said before my phone notified me I was getting another call from an unknown number. I hung up with Brandon and answered the call, "Hello?"
"So, about that date?"
