Short Stories

First Blind Date

The air is hot and stuffy, the candlelight tables around him cause a bead of sweat to drop on the clean linen. He pats his forehead and takes another sip of the ice water. His date is 20 minutes late and he already felt the sympathetic stares of the other happy, in love patrons. Soft jazz could be heard in the background, the atmosphere like that of two teenagers about to lose their v-cards to each other.

His collar suffocated every nervous breath he took. It was a strange situation to be in for someone like him. He didn't have his pockets lined like everyone else's, and he wasn't particularly what women sought after. Average looking man, he never would've put himself in a suit and tie and drove 30 minutes for a date that's sure to fail, but he promised his friend, Sebastian, he would start living his life like a normal 26-year-old would be.

"You focus so much on work that you're going to be 50 with nothing to show for it except back pain and scars," Sebastian sighs, rubbing his dirty hands on his jeans. "Now look, I have a great friend and she'd love to meet you, promise me you'll go on a date?" He just shrugged and said "Sure."

He orders a shot of whiskey, ready to leave the restaurant before all his dignity left his body. Jeremiah looks at the door once more, but instead of finding it empty, there's a beautiful woman just entering. His jaw opens slightly, his heart picks up speed. Jeremiah blushes as the woman glances around the restaurant, their eyes briefly meeting. Is that my date? His mind shuts that hopeful thought down without remorse. No one that attractive is here to see you. It must be that handsome guy to the right. The one with the nice hair and sculpted body.

Jeremiah takes the shot and discreetly watches as the woman is led by the host to where the handsome man is seated. I hate being correct. He grumbles to himself about how the world really does have it out for him. Jeremiah sinks into his seat, a sweet voice interrupting his self-demeaning thoughts.

"Excuse me, are you Jeremiah?"

He stands and turns to find the woman from before with her hands clenched around a dog's leash. She's smaller than him, even with the heels she has on. Her heart shaped face is warm and welcoming, her easy smile making his heart feel like the rapid flapping of a hummingbird.

"Y-yeah, that's me." She extends her manicured hand out.

"I'm Lilly, your date." I cringe as my damp calloused handshakes with hers.

I lead her to her seat and push her chair in, my dad's lesson of chivalry out shinning my nervousness. Lilly sets her bag on the floor, and randomly pats the table, almost spilling the drink before taking a sip of the water that's ice has melted.

"I'm terribly sorry about being late, you must have worried I stood you up." Her dog sits beside her. He's wearing a fancy hat and a vest that says service dog. Had Sebastian mentioned she has a disability?

Jeremiah takes a sip of water, "Maybe a little. At least you're here now. I was about to leave."

He signals for the waitress; the young girls face instantly turning from pity to excitement. Jeremiah must not be the only one happy his date arrived. Without looking over the menu, Lilly orders a chicken salad with avocado and he orders shrimp pasta.

"I like your voice. That's the only thing I couldn't really imagine when Sebastian told me about you." What a strange compliment. Should he ask her about the dog?

He smiles at her, "Thank you, I like yours as well. How do you know Sebastian?" How the hell did he convince you to go on a date with me?

"We went to college together, he's a great guy" And way better looking than me. "He spoke highly of you."

Jeremiah chokes on his water, surprised at her words. Sebastian must have spun her a grand tale of how great his personality is and ignored what really draws women in.

"I'm sorry if you were expecting a knight in shining armor. That Sebastian sure knows how to make a rotten pumpkin into a gold horse drawn carriage."

She laughs, her brown curls swing as she tilts her head back. Her red lips stretch into a smile, her eyes twinkle as she says, "I think he told me what really matters." Jeremiah isn't sure how to answer, but luckily the food arrived.

They go back and forth asking each other questions and getting to know each other. The dog was well behaved and Jeremiah almost felt like it was an intrusion to ask why she needed the dog, so he didn't. Lily's a great woman. She works as a journalist, loves all animals, even volunteers on the weekends. Jeremiah made her laugh. It made his stupid little heart flutter and his palms to get sweaty. It made him feel brave. He was never the guy that everyone knew and wanted to be. He was the guy in the corner, wanting to get in, but not caring enough to try. He's felt like the background, one dimensional character to his own life. It felt good to be noticed.

The restaurant had disappeared when he looked at her that he didn't even notice when everyone had left. They were the last two.

"How long have we been here?" Jeremiah questions, his belly full. He felt rejuvenated, he felt alive like if the universe had lifted this weight off him.

Lily spins her glass of wine, "Probably two hours. They probably want to kick us out and go home."

His mood drops a little. He didn't want the night to end. "Probably." He's nervous to ask, but there's no way in hell he's going back to spending his free time alone on the couch watching cooking shows. Jeremiah reaches over and holds her hand.

"I would like to see you again if you would also like to see me another time." She tightens her hand around his, "I would like that very much." He smiles at her and kisses her hand. I'm going to have to get that son of a bitch a thank you card, aren't I?

"Can I make a strange request?" Lily asks, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah." Jeremiah squeaks out. Please don't be too weird, please don't be too weird.

She clears her throat, "Would you mind if I touched your face?" Okay a little weird.

"I don't mind, go right ahead." She caresses my face for a little bit, her eyes closed.

She giggles, "Very handsome indeed." Jeremiah blushes, the warmth of a few wine glasses making even the tips of his ears red.

"You could've just told me that, now you have my germs all over your hands," he chuckles, the room feeling hot once again.

"I wanted to see you." His eyebrows scrunch together, clearly confused. "What do you mean?"

Lily stays quiet for a little, "He didn't tell you? Sebastian didn't tell you about me?" Jeremiah takes a sip of water, his throat drying up quickly at her demeanor. "No, he just mentioned that you were good friends and that I should go out more."

"That bastard." She purses her lips and starts playing with the ends of her hair. "I hope this doesn't change your mind about seeing each other again, but I'm blind. That's why I have Rufus with me. I thought that you knew, because you didn't ask about him." Well damn.

But would that have really changed his mind? Lily is beautiful inside and out. It doesn't define her. It does change his plans for their second date. She wouldn't be able to see the sunset reflected onto the sea. This whole time, Jeremiah thought a pretty woman like her would care about their vanity and what type of man would look good wrapped around her. Maybe it was wrong of him to think this of everyone. Lily does not care. Surprisingly, she likes him. His goofiness, his disturbing and over the top interest in the Egyptians, the things that make him different from everyone else. That make him truly unique.

"The only thing that matters to me is how we are going to get back at Sebastian," Jeremiah smiles widely, forgetting about his crooked teeth and the weight of self-doubt.