Friday:
6:05 AM
Hit snooze.
6:15 AM
Roll over and hit snooze one more time.
6:25 AM
Eyes blinking awake, Samantha grimaces, cringing inwardly at the day ahead, and cheering the fact that it's Friday anyway. Then it all comes tumbling back in vivid recall and she sits bolt upright, as one prominent image is unshakable: a wolf.
6:27 AM
She starts the shower water, waits for it to heat up and chews the inside of her cheek. Noon tomorrow. What was she thinking, agreeing to meet up with a total stranger?
6:42 AM
She has dressed, run a brush through her hair and is impatiently waiting by the coffee pot. Should she cancel? How would she? She didn't get his phone number or anything. She would never just not show up...damn integrity...but of course if she stood him up it would make running into him so much worse...fine, she resolved. We'll meet at noon, have the quickest cup of coffee known to man and then dash.
7:03 AM
Bagel in hand, she set her coffee to go cup in the cup holder of her car, and got ready for her hour long commute. She wondered how she could arrange for this meeting tomorrow to be short, and wracked her imagination for plausible Saturday obligations or engagements to tell Lucas. She started her car and then sighed, remembering belatedly that she needed to put gas in the car. She was going to be at least 10 minutes late. She debated calling to let someone know, but then decided to wait and see how long the line was at the pump.
7:14 AM
Three cars deep, she gave a quick call to the office, expecting to leave a message. To her surprise, Gina picked up. "Hi Gina, I didn't expect you to pick up! It's Sam, I'm running about ten or fifteen minutes behind." Gina chuckled and said "No problem, I'll let them know to start the meeting topics you don't need to run first." "Thanks, hon. Now let's hope traffic isn't worse than usual..."
7:43 AM
Gridlock, but so far no more than usual. She was still distracted. Should she pretend she has a date? Tickets to a matinee, hmm...she wondered what was playing at the local community theater. Should she actually get tickets? She chewed on her bagel. A tiny voice in her mind started asking her an uncomfortable series of questions.
What if you're enjoying the talk, and maybe he can shed light on these visions you've been having since puberty?
What are you afraid of?
Well, admit it, you think he's ruggedly handsome...when was the last time you went on a date anyway?
She shoved the questions away, determined to focus on getting to work in one piece and finishing the week strong at work. Besides, it wasn't a date -- was it?
8:07 AM
She was grateful once more to have an assigned parking spot, and she raced into the building in a flurry of apologies, diving into her office role full tilt.
Do you know the TV show "Castle?" The main character has a line in the first season where he checks himself out in the reflection of a store window and says, "I really am ruggedly handsome." They incorporated that into the opening credits of the next several seasons. So, now I can't read that line without thinking of the show... Silly, silly.
ReplyDeleteAm loving this story. Can't wait to see where you are taking it.
Thanks, your readership and feedback is much appreciated. I have seen Castle, such a fun show...though I admit I got in later so perhaps missed the ruggedly handsome line. Besides, he's kind of a pretty boy if you ask me, not like a Gerard Butler or the guy who played Gladiator.
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