Oh, my. Wasn’t it my new favorite counter girl? Hm, Claire, right? A hero to the lost joggers. What a coincidence, indeed. I pulled out one of my earbuds and nodded at the young woman to indicate my attention.
“Ah, sorry to disturb you, but you didn’t react after I called you a few times.” She apologized with a short bow. How polite. I smiled in response and waved my hand, dismissing her concern. “Um, so, if you don’t mind, can I ask you to spot me?”
“Sure thing,” I said. “I can’t possibly decline the heroine who saved this lost lamb this morning. Thank you, by the way, I was about to give up all hope.”
I watched as her facial expression changed from surprise, to one of bewilderment, to a frown, to a realization. People that I was meeting lately were so expressive, how curious.
“Oh!” was her short answer. “So that’s why you looked a bit familiar. I’m sorry, I’m awful at remembering people.”
“No big deal, I have a terrible memory for people as well,” I chuckled wryly, and shook my head. “Unless I find them interesting, that is. Surprisingly enough, the quirky but cute cashier girl in the local convenience store left quite an impression on me, or so it seems.”
While Claire, hmm, I’m almost sure it was Claire, went through another series of interesting expressions, I took another good look at her. Damn, she’s packing! My earlier guess at her height still stood strong, now that I’ve seen her wearing footwear without heels. And the tank top and yoga pants combo, that left her midriff exposed, didn’t do much to hide how stacked she was, both top and bottom. As another interesting detail, she was very fit, evidently so from the defined muscle lines of her biceps and almost visible abs, which only added to her lively sporty-girl charm.
“Oh, you also got a haircut,” I finally noticed that instead of being shoulder-length, her hair now only reached down to her chin. “Hm, the shorter hair really suits you better. In my opinion, of course.”
Surprisingly, that got a strange reaction out of her. A mix of frustration and shyness. I guess she liked the compliment, but the person who said it was the wrong one. Most likely that guy, Dale or whatever, failed to notice. Eh, tough luck.
“Um, thank you,” she said a bit later. “And, um, are you hitting on me?”
“My bad. It’s a bit of a habit of mine, especially when I’m interacting with someone attractive,” I apologized with a shrug. “If you find it uncomfortable, I will stop. It wasn’t my intention to make things awkward.”
“Oh, um, I, um…” muttered the flustered girl. “It’s just that I am a bit dense with this kind of stuff. And my friends keep telling me that I’m acting too friendly with people, which sometimes leads to awkward misunderstandings. I haven't found your words offensive or, erm, exactly… unwelcomed, but I’m sorry there is already someone I like.”
“Fair,” I nodded. “I will try to tone it down, but can’t promise anything.”
I gave her an exaggerated wink to punctuate my words. She sighed and shook her head at my antics.
“So, what did you need me to spot you for?” I changed the topic back to the starting point.
***
Since the gym was effectively empty, and the few people who were there except the two of us didn’t look exactly fit enough to spot her if need be, I offered to stick by for the rest of her work-out. Claire, definitely that was her name, tried to decline at first, but quickly agreed after I told her it’s not a big deal and I had nothing better to do anyway. I left unsaid my nefarious motivation of doing this to appreciate her scantily clad form, but no harm, no foul, right?
“… and that’s why I am here on Saturday evening. Ugh, am I cursed or something? Like really, I finally got him to agree to spend a night out with me, but at the last minute he canceled because of force majeure.” I quietly listened to the complaints of the counter girl. A part of me wondered what was wrong with that David guy. Another part of my being was desperately trying not to laugh at the sheer absurdness of her stories.
And the third one, the biggest part of me, the darkest one as well, was thinking about how easy it would be to use all of that against this young woman. A call to Bella, asking her to find out more about the dude. With the resulting info, it won’t be hard to find just the right pro to seduce the guy. Then swoop in myself at the right timing to offer my shoulder for crying purposes to this overly friendly and a bit too naive girl. Sweet words, just the right attitude and enough alcohol later, she would be an easy notch on my belt. How boring.
“You know, if I wasn’t sure you would decline,” I started. “I would offer to continue this evening in a pub nearby. A great place, really. The owner is a great cook as well.”
“Um, are you hitting on me again?” followed the question.
“Hm. Nah, not really. I just found your company pleasant enough and have nothing better to do,” I shook my head. “Frankly, you don’t seem like a type for a one-night-stand, and my love life is complicated as it is. So, just a late dinner between two, hm, acquaintances?”
Hm, the pub I mentioned was a really great place. I scoured my memories to remember all the relevant info. It should be already opened, considering that a few years later the guy bragged about it being ten years anniversary. I took my phone and tapped on the browser, deciding to double-check. A quick search was enough for me to find the place, and it was indeed open and not so far away. Not the worst place for a dinner alone, either, I guess.
“I agree.” I heard something strange.
“Um, I’m sorry, can you repeat?” I asked for confirmation. For a moment there I heard her agreeing, go guess why.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“I said I agree,” repeated Claire. “A late dinner between two acquaintances who both have nothing better to do, right?”
“Sure,” I easily confirmed. “Ugh, can’t believe I would ever say these words, but you really should have more awareness. Especially when someone as suspicious as myself invites someone as hot as you to a drinking place alone late into the evening.”
She laughed my warning off, and I could only shake my head in exasperation. Guess it was my fate to encounter peculiar people.
***
A quick shower and a change of clothes later, I was standing in the lobby, waiting for my dinner partner. Ah, right, just in case, I looked through my contact list for the contact info of the place’s owner. To my surprise, my attempts were actually fruitful, and I already was acquainted with the guy. A quick phone call later, and a table for two was booked. I wasn’t all that worried about them being full, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
About five minutes later, the counter girl caught up with me, wearing a pair of light blue lean jeans and a light gray hoodie with a print of some band. The name looked a bit familiar to me, but I couldn’t quite place where or how. A pair of simple white sneakers was her choice of footwear. Not the kind of monstrosity I was wearing, of course.
“Do you want to take a walk or should I call for a taxi?” I asked the girl before me.
“I’m pretty beat, so let’s take a taxi,” was her answer.
I nodded and proceeded to do just that. There were quite a few free cars nearby, so the wait time wasn’t too long. I looked at the clock, it was already Sunday technically, just past midnight.
“Hey,” I called out to my current company. “Why did you agree?”
“I just found your company pleasant enough and have nothing better to do,” she parroted my earlier words. Noticing my skeptical expression, she graced me with further explanation. “No, really. This and sheer curiosity. You are an enigma to me. I never met anyone quite like this before. You don’t push too far with your compliments, but don’t shy away from giving them away either. As much as your eyes wander all over me, you still talk to my face. I am pretty dense with this stuff, but I’m not blind.”
That was an answer I wasn’t expecting. Huh, I guess this girl ain’t just cute and quirky.
“You know, if my relationships weren’t such a mess already, I would pour all of my efforts into making you mine.” I told all of this looking straight into her eyes, absentmindedly noting that they have the same color as mine. “Alas.”
“Want to talk about this? I mean, you heard my complaints, let me return a favor,” she said.
“I guess, why not?” And I started telling the young woman I barely knew about my problems.
***
“…and that’s how I ended up alone in the gym. But then I met my savior again and here we are,” I finished my story.
We were sitting in a pub. Hm, a typical 'Irish pub'. Lots of wooden furniture, sport symbolic and plaques with alcohol brands everywhere, muted lights. Menu consisting of a long list of alcoholic beverages, a few mainstays, various shareables, sliders and side dishes.
“Yeesh, you haven’t exaggerated when you said it was a mess.” My dinner companion voiced her opinion, and I could hear that she was a bit tipsy already.
“Thank you very much for your feedback, it’s invaluable to us,” I responded with as much sarcasm in my voice as possible.
“Hey, let’s exchange contacts!” Yeah, she was definitely tipsy.
“Why?” I asked.
“Uuu, so I would be able to complain to you about Daniel.” She pointed her index finger up. “And ask for updates on your soap opera, of course.”
I sighed, but then again, why not?
“Sure.” I told her my number, and a moment later got a call from her.
“Hey, what is your name?” she asked after a bit.
That got me thinking.
“Tian.” Maybe I wasn’t as sober as I was thinking, either. Eh, who cares? “My grandpa was hellbent on naming me after his ancestor or something like that.”
“Oh, unusual name,” she smiled. “I’m Claire, by the way,”
Huh, so I managed to remember her name correctly, what a surprise indeed.
“Yeah, I’ve seen it on your uniform badge back in the store.” I noted, and saved her number in the contact list. 'Counter Girl'. Because I can.
“So you really pay attention, eh?” Maybe I should stop her from ordering more alcohol?
“Well, it was in a quite prominent place and the counter girl was cute enough for a double-take, you know.” I smirked. She tried to call for a waitress and I proceeded upon my previous thought. “You really should slow down on alcohol.”
“I’m a big girl,” she patted her impressive chest, indeed she was big. “I know my limits!”
***
She. Did. Not. I looked at a completely wasted young woman across the table and sighed. And what am I supposed to do now? I checked her phone, but, of course, it was locked. Now my options were truly exhausted. Neither did I know where she lived, nor had any way to contact someone who could tell me.
“Hey, Claire.” I shook her shoulder. No reaction. Fuck.
Well, leaving her here wasn’t an option I was ready to take. No matter how much of a bastard people called me. So, my pretty drunk brain decided on the only option that was left. My place it was then.
I signaled to the waitress and paid the tab, then called another taxi.
***
The driver of a taxi was another weirdo. Just my luck. He looked at us in the rearview mirror, smirked at me and even showed a thumb up. Then focused his gaze on the road. Hm, déjà vu.
***
I took my and Claire’s shoes off. Hm, should I undress her or not? On one hand, she would undoubtedly sleep better with no outerwear, but on the other, leaving her clothes intact would be a great alibi if she decided to accuse me of something the next day.
Deciding to compromise, I tried to take off her hoodie. Oh. Definitely OH! This weird young woman didn’t wear anything under. Thanks for the treat. Fighting back a dull sense of regret, I pulled the hoodie back down. Deciding not to play with my fate, I decided against even touching her jeans.
A part of me screamed in agony, demanding to strip her naked and take her right here, right now. She was far from ugly, and I wasn’t a eunuch or an anime protagonist… But no, not this time either, fate.
I threw the drunk body of an attractive woman onto the bed and took off my own clothes. After a bit of contemplation, I scoured my closet and found a pair of pajama shorts. Just in case.
I laid down and closed my eyes. Of course, I was lying on the bed, no way I would sleep on the floor. The last thought in my brain was that I really need a second blanket.