Of Coffee Tables

*SMILE*

He waves at her. Excitedly. To signal where he is seated. He has been waiting for the last ten minutes… He also smiles because he cannot for the life of him hide his thrill to see her. He has never been this happy about seeing a girl in his life. It’s a strange feeling. One he would not trade for anything. It’s a coffee date at the coffee house down the street from his house. He hopes that this time the location is strategic enough… You know, just in case the conversation goes down a certain road… The kind of road that makes her cheeks turn red and makes him shift in his seat. The kind of road that it went the last time they met, and the time before that, and the one before that, and the one before that...

*SMILE*

She walks towards the table smiling nervously. Hoping he will notice that 1) she is in a dress and 2) that it is a short dress. She wore jeans on their first date; jeans and a turtle neck. She loved the company. So on all the other dates, she made a point to show more skin; a more revealing top today, shorts tomorrow, a skirt the next time... Msichana ni effort she was told. She wonders if he is smiling because he is happy to see her or  because it’s polite. 

*Mental Shrug* 

It’s JUST a coffee date. He can’t be that happy to see you – besides you are ten minutes late -------- Mental conversation Number 1.  He doesn't care if she was ten minutes late or an hour late but she doesn't know it. You are lying to yourself you know, it is not JUST a coffee date------ Mental Conversation Number 2.

*HUG*

*Peck on the left corner of her lips*

“You look AMAZING!” He whispers in her left ear.

*MENTAL HI5* He noticed *Leprechaun Jump* ---------- Mental Conversation Number 3.

“Thank you. You look good too” she responds.

*SMILES*

Conversation! Conversation! Conversation!

*RED CHEEKS*

*SHIFTING IN CHAIR*

Conversation! Conversation! Conversation!

Her cheeks turn red. Maroon even. He shifts some more in his seat.

Grab her hand and "read her palm" --------- Mental Conversation Number 4

He leans across the table and gently reaches for her hand. She does the shifting this time round. He listens to the voices in his head and starts to read her palm. She surrenders to his words, (though she knows he is bluffing), to his eyes and to his touch on the lines on the palm of her hands…

He finishes bluffing. His eyes meet her now red eyes...

It was never JUST a coffee date but the table between them made sure it just that.