~ Black Lace ~ (l.h.)

3. Broken Plates and First Impressions

The restaurant is busy, as usual for a Friday night. We wait in line to be seated as my eyes scan the black uniformed waiters for the blond boy from a week ago. I catch sight of him finally, serving drinks to a couple of elderly people. My heartbeat speeds up in anticipation. It’s kind of barbaric but I like to think of it as the way a cheetah feels before it chases down an antelope.

“Table for four?” The hostess smiles at us and Calum nods. She leads us away from the line and guides us into the restaurant. To my dismay and growing frustration, the hostess leads us away from the tables that my target appears to be working. She ends up seating us about as far from him as seems humanly possible. I groan loudly once she’s gone, my annoyance spiking.

I’m sitting beside Laurel with Calum across from me and Ashton across from her and they all look at me worriedly, scanning the building for the mysterious boy.

“Where is he?” Laurel says in a not-very-hushed whisper. I put my head down on the table and point across the restaurant.

“He’s the tall blond one on the other side of the freaking planet.” I say pitifully. It would have been so easy if he had been our waiter. Just wink and order something in a seductive voice and I would have him by the—

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” Laurel says. “So you can’t pick him up seated comfortably while enjoying your dinner. So what? You dragged the three of us out here—”

“I came voluntarily!” Calum pipes up but Laurel ignores him.

          “—so you better make it worth it!” I look up and give her a small smile to let her know I feel better. She continues, “And if you completely fuck it up and make a giant fool of yourself, we’ll be right here to laugh at you! It’ll be the most supportive laughter you’ve ever heard.” She innocently pats my back and then takes a long sip of her ice water.

I decide to wait until after we eat to make my move because I don’t want to leave hungry if something happens—good or bad.

We eat and keep light conversation through dinner, but I’m perpetually distracted. Every time I see the bob of that boy’s blond head, my eyes are immediately drawn to him. I try not to make it obvious but I’m pretty sure all my friends know that my attention is elsewhere. By the time everyone is finishing up, every movement coming and going from the kitchen makes me look up.

I sit up straight and take a deep breath. I nod at my friends and make specific eye contact with Laurel before I stand up, excusing myself to go to the “bathroom”.

I remove my sweater that was covering my exposed shoulders and a bit of cleavage and set it down on the booth.

“You look…” I glance at Calum whose eyes are glued to me.

“Hot!” Laurel finishes for him. She gives me a shove. “Now go before you miss your chance!”

I make my way across the restaurant, my eyes trained on the boy who is moving unacceptably quickly towards the kitchen with a heavy looking tray in his hands. I miss him as he enters and I’m forced to casually walk past the door, trying to look like I’m moving with purpose. Once I’m past the doors, I hear them swing open behind me and out of the corner of my eye, see the boy again. I spin around blindly. I’m not going to miss him this time! I think to myself. But instead of fixing him with my sexiest smile and undoubtedly ensnaring him, I misjudge the distance between us and crash into him and the hot plate piled high with food that he’s holding.