Left at the Alter

“That’s sweet, thanks, but not necessary.” I smiled and placed my card over the handsome, tall distraction in front of me.

“Let a gentleman buy you a ‘no strings attached’ drink.” 

I paused and then slid my bank card into my pants pocket, picked up my cup and held it in the air as if we were toasting. I said thank you before heading to add a little cream and lot of sugar. 

The guy who paid for my treat appeared next to me at the table. 

“I’m not a no strings kinda girl.” I said playfully.

“I can do strings. For you, I could see about some strings. What’s your name?” He said this with such a coolness about him that it was easy to just let it slip off of my tongue.

“Cassidy.” I held out my hand to shake his and sipped some of my coffee. “And I was just kidding.”

“So, you are a no strings attached type of girl or…”

“I am a feel out the energy and ride the vibe type of girl,” I retorted, “but, I am also actively, not dating.” I added.

The meet and greet at the small table became a little awkward and I looked around to see Marla was still waiting in the Burger King line. When I looked up and seen him smiling at me, I recognized his smile from the airdropped contact information. His smile was nicer in person and welcoming like a breeze on a hot day.

“You’re the airdrop guy. What?” I glanced around suddenly feeling like a mouse who ran into a room of cats. 

“Don’t sound so disappointed — I am really a great guy, you should use that number to find this out for yourself. “

“This was the creepiest thing that has happened to me all year/ How many others have you dropped your information too?” I was both alarmed and intrigued. 

“I will tell you if you come over here and have a fifteen-minute date with me.”

“I don’t want to date you – I don’t even know you but you seem a little off.” I laughed. 

“That’s what the date is for. I don’t usually buy a girl fast food, but it looks like we don’t have a lot of options.”

I looked around at all of the busy people running around us, everyone looking like they had somewhere to be five minutes ago. Even the line at Starbucks had grown pretty long. I decided I wasn’t ready for the road yet and entertained the idea of a date with a stranger on the road. More of just a conversation with food than a date. When, where would we ever be able to run into each other again?

He was hilarious but charming enough to be a stalker in real life. He had a background in social work and was passionate about his calling. Aside from having all of that going for him he was a very good-looking guy. He wore the color of the sun on a grown man build and seemed to keep a close cut and a nice line up. 

“So, do you live here, this wouldn’t be too far to travel for some ice cream? I think an ice cream date with you could be perfect.”

I turned and looked behind me and then I purposely looked beyond him, stood up even. 

“Looking for your friend?”

“No, yours. He was the one bold enough to dare you to send your information. He is the one who pulled the trigger – while driving which is another conversation entirely but he is the one who had the balls. Where he at?” I put my hand up to my eyes like I was seriously looking for someone.

We laughed some more and the slow down felt nice compared to the million miles an hour I was used to traveling at. 

“Alright, I enjoyed your company Elijah…” I grabbed my Starbucks cup and put it in my brown bag for disposal. 

“Eli…”

“Eli. But I have to get back on the road. I can’t have you traveling for ice cream.”

He smiled and held out his hand as if he wanted me to shake it. I offered my hand and he brought it up to his mouth for a quick and light peck. 

“Use the number.” He still had my hand in his.

“Not dating remember.” I smiled. 

“Let’s not date together. You can go somewhere to date yourself and I can go there too.

“That’s ridiculous we may as well just date each other,”

“Naw, I don’t think we’re ready for that.” he said in a joking manner.

“Shut up.”

“Seriously, we could make it a productive thing. You bring your laptop and I will bring mine and we can just work in each other’s presence. During the wrap up we can indulge in crappy, but tasty food and walk to burn some of it off.”

I smiled but stood my ground. He was relentless. 

“Do you have a business card. I need a consultation.”

“Oh really, do you need a mural for one of the walls in your home or maybe a statue of yourself on your front lawn?”

“Ooh the statue sounds good. I’m sold – damn you are good at what you do!” he stood perfectly still as he posed like he was throwing a basketball and then turned his head, looked at me and winked. 

“Oh my God! Hot mess.” I shook my head and laughed, “I do not live here, I live in Atlanta.” My business was leaking from my mouth like a leaky faucet and I needed it fixed because in 10 minutes Elijah was about to know my whole life story.

He patted his jacket as if he was looking for a card or checking to see if his pec muscles were still there – which from what I could see they were alive and well.

I softened a little and took out my phone.

“I will airdrop you my card and I already have your info, so I don’t need a card.”

“I’m checking to see what I have on me that would tell you that I live in Atlanta.”

I rolled my eyes, now getting a little tired and ready to go. I took out my phone and began to airdrop him my card but too many iPhones came up as options.

“Which phone is yours?”

He walked behind me but didn’t get too close. Still something was awakened just by him walking into my personal space. It was like walking into Chik-fil-A after a week-long fast. He looked in my phone and informed me that he may not be showing because he only accepts airdrops from people in his contact list. I caught Marla walking towards us out of the corner of my eye. I dropped Elijah my contact info and joined Marla on the way. 

Marla called me out right away. I felt like I was floating to the car and it had been a while, the sensation left me a bit dizzy. Not too dizzy to drive the remaining four hours home. I had to give Marla a much-needed break. Before we were back on the highway good, she was fast asleep. I wasn’t sure in my head is really where I wanted to be because it was full of thoughts of Elijah and I knew I had something big coming up and I would have to push him out of my mind. But for now, I could enjoy the feeling our connection had left behind. That connection lingered for quite some time so when he called, I answered. Damned if his ass did not live in Atlanta.