Have I told you that I hate the waiting game?

It’s been a week since Howie thumped into my life at the library, and I haven’t seen or heard from him.  Every time I thought about going out to the club, this little voice in the back of my head would whisper Howie’s name, and I would stay home.  Here I sat again, at the library, same microfiche viewer.  I had on my comfy baggy jeans, and a sweat shirt, Fall was coming in, and it was getting cooler outside.  Is it sad that you get to the Library at ten in the morning when the doors are just opening up, in hopes of running into someone you shared a pizza with?  I sat there, looking at the same microfiche, and not seeing it.  I glanced at my watch, and it was getting close to lunch time.  I started packing up my stuff to go grab a bite to eat at the deli across the street.  I pushed my chair in and turned right into Howie.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to….” The words stopped.  There he was, smiling at me.

“I thought I might catch you here.  Wanna grab a bite to eat?”  He asked softly.

“Sure, I was about to walk over to the deli across the street.”  He motioned for me to head for the doors of the library, and then held the door open for me.

We walked down to the cross walk on the corner of Main and First, and crossed the street, he reached down and casually took my hand.  We sat in a booth by the window, and I ordered a BLT with cheese and Avocado, he ordered a Roast beef on rye.  We both had a coke to drink.  As we ate, we chatted, he asked about my week, and I asked about his.  I watched the people walk by, and saw a few leaves start to fall.

“Beth?  I have a question for you.”  His voice brought me back from my daydream.

“Yes, sir?” I smiled at him.

“I was wondering, if I could take you to dinner tomorrow night and then maybe a movie or something?”  He actually looked like he blushed.

I smiled up at him, ” I would love to.”

We did the ceremonial swapping of cell numbers, and I gave him my address.  He walked me back to the library, and leaned in and gave me a kiss on the check.  ” I will pick you up at six o’clock.”  He smiled at me, and then walked off into the Autumn breeze.  I practically skipped down to the parking garage.  Got into the car and drove home singing a new tune.

(To Be Continued)