Flashback (Unedited and unformatted excerpt from my upcoming book)
There wasn’t much too see on the long straight road in Texas. My mind wandered off, to the early days of my relationship with Michelle.
I clearly remember the day when we met; it was a warm Thursday in August. Just as I did about every workday, I went for lunch to a small eatery about a block from the office. Pete, the owner, welcomed me with his customary friendliness. “Ah, there you are. You’re late, I thought I wouldn’t see you today.”
“I wouldn’t dream of skipping a day Pete, you should know me better than that. I’ll take the salad and a coffee.”
I sat down on my usual stool at the counter and looked around. There were some familiar faces. Two guys raised their hands. I didn’t know their names, only that they worked in the office next to mine. A young female was seated at the counter, about 10 feet from me. I was sure I hadn’t seen her in here before, I would have remembered if I had. While drinking her tea she went through some paperwork in a blue folder. Half long dark brown hair, slender body and she was impeccably dressed. An extremely attractive lady indeed. She looked in my direction and she caught me staring at her. She had a warm smile.
“Hi”, I heard myself say. “I haven’t seen you here before.”
She turned another page and answered softly. “First time here, I just moved here.”
“I’m James, nice to meet you and welcome to the neighborhood.”
“Nice to meet you James, I’m Michelle.”
At that point, a heavy-set gentleman in a grey suit and carrying a leather briefcase came in and sat down between Michelle and me. He kept the briefcase on his lap and ordered a sandwich and coffee to go. She went back to her paperwork and I started on the salad Pete had just served. He nodded carefully in her direction and I could read his lips: “Go for it man, she’s a looker.”
I hesitated for a minute. As much I hated to admit it, I never had been good with talking to women. I almost always managed to say things that I would regret later. Things that sounded silly, or plain dumb. I was far better at giving a business presentation than at trying to get a girl to be interested in me.
Pete leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Go talk to her man, she’s beautiful and she seems nice. She may be the one.”
I whispered back. “Yeah, I guess I should make a move.” I picked up my plate and moved to the other side of the man with the suit. I still left a seat between her and me.
“Hi again, it’s easier to talk this way.”
She smiled again. “It sure is. Where you guys just talking about me?”
I raised a hand. “I confess. Pete told me that I should, well…try to…get to know you.”
She closed the folder and looked me straight at me. “So that is what Pete thinks. But what do you think?”
I looked into her brown eyes and lost all shyness. “I think he’s absolutely right.”
Silence fell. The man in the suit got of his stool and lost his balance. He bumped me in the back and in a reflex, I tried to hold on to the edge of the counter. Instead I leaned on my plate and it landed upside down on the floor. The man apologized and hurried out the door. Michelle laughed and I felt utterly silly.
Behind the counter Pete raised both arms. “Now that is a waste of a fine salad. I’ll get you another one.”
A loud horn woke me up. A big truck was riding my back bumper. While reminiscing my speed had dropped to 30 miles an hour. I hit the gas and within seconds the truck was no more than a small dot in my rear-view mirror.