Chapter 15

When David saw he would end up with the stout, curly-haired cashier again, he stopped and motioned for the woman behind him to go ahead. She did so with a flirtatious smile as she looked back at him, but he kept his eyes focused on Eliza and stepped forward to order.

“David! Hi.”

“Can I have a paper receipt this time?”

She looked surprised but nodded. “Sure. What can I get for you?”

“Medium double Americano.”

“Coming right up.” She punched in the order and looked back at him. “Anything else?”

He shook his head, feeling silly, as he searched for something to say. He stuck his card in the reader and smiled stupidly when she handed him a receipt. His ears burned, and he kept his head down as he wrote something on it and pushed it back across the counter.

Dinner tonight?

A rosy hue spread rapidly across her dimpled cheeks as she looked over her shoulder like she’d done something wrong. He held his breath, waiting for a reply. It would be the most gratifying or humiliating moment of the year, and he squeezed his leather wallet between his fingers until they hurt. She bent down and wrote something on it, her smile growing with each word. Whatever happened next, he’d remember that smile for ages.

She folded it and handed it to him, pressing her lips together in a repressed smile. He stepped out of line to the pickup station, where he unfolded it and read her reply.

Meet me here at 7:30.

His heart raced. Was it really that easy? He could have done that weeks ago. He turned and saw she was approaching him, drink in hand.

“David,” she called out with a smile brighter than the spring sunshine outside the window.

He grinned in return and took it from her. “See you tonight.”

Tonight. Tonight, everything would change. He would find out why she filled his thoughts all the time. Tonight, he would discover why she seemed to be an interruption to everything in his life. He had a new job, new direction, new lease on life; yet all he could think about was her and how she might fit into it all.

He showed up promptly at seven-thirty, taking great care to be respectfully punctual but not desperate. She was waiting by the door, wearing a knee-length dress patterned with tiny sunflowers and covered by a light cardigan draped gracefully over her shoulders. It was the first time he could remember noticing so much detail about a woman’s outfit.

“You look nice,” he said as it was the only thing that came to mind. It wasn’t what he really wanted to say – she was breathtaking, even in the shadow of the building towering behind her.

“Thanks, so do you.” She motioned to the blazer he’d thrown on over a t-shirt.

“I have a couple of places in mind, but I don’t know what you like." He leaned forward. "So, unless you have any suggestions, I was thinking about Mexican…or sushi. Do you like those?”

“I do.” She tapped her finger to her chin. “But how about something more creative?”

“That sounds…interesting.” He nodded. “Lead the way.”

She led him down the block to a Thai-Mexican fusion café that was becoming a local sensation but was still not as crowded as the restaurants around it.

“Oh, this place is great!” David opened the door and followed her inside.

“You’ve been here?”

“Only once, and never with you.”

“If you don’t like it, we can go somewhere else.” She pointed back toward the other restaurants they’d passed on the way.

“No, I do like it. But if I’m being honest, it doesn’t matter to me where we eat.”

“You aren’t picky, then?” She waved at the hostess and held up two fingers.

“No, I’m not. But it’s not that.” He turned to look at her as the hostess grabbed two menus and motioned for them to follow. “I’m just more interested in the company than the food.”

Eliza grinned. “Well, I hope you find both to your taste.”

They were seated at a small table in the corner, barely big enough to hold them both and a bit of food, and small enough they could hear each other easily over the clamor surrounding them.

They perused their menus and made small talk, conversation flowing as easily and gently as a bubbling brook with a small but strong current. He tried not to stare too much at her, but it was difficult. He was glad when they finally put their menus down after ordering, and he could focus on her face, now glowing under the dim wall sconce behind her.

“So, you’re a photographer and a barista. Any other superpowers I should know about?”

She shook her head and laughed. “No, just the two. And I’m only a half-decent barista.”

“But you’re a good photographer.” He grinned, placing a napkin in his lap.

She laughed nervously and shrugged. “I think so.”

He studied her closely, choosing his next words carefully. “You know so, don’t you?”

Her eyes smiled back at him with a confidence that gave him his answer. It was refreshing to see someone with that kind of belief in their abilities. Maybe it would rub off on him.

“Are those your pictures on the wall in the coffee shop?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Those are mine.”

“They’re really good. You’re definitely very talented. I can see why Matt hired you to take pictures for the gym. Someday they’ll be all over town.”

A warm, effusive smile erupted as she beamed from ear to ear – a smile he’d do almost anything to see again.

She leaned over the table. “I have some going up in a coffee shop a block over next week, too.”

“Ah.” He leaned back, purposely wearing a smug look. “Isn’t that like a conflict of interest or something?

“Well.” She bobbed her head. “It’s been approved by my manager.”

“That’s incredible. You see – you’re taking the city by storm. Everyone will know your name before long.”

She bit her lip as her cheeks turned a lovely pink hue, but he continued. “Someday, I’ll be going up an airport escalator and look up at a dramatic black and white photo overhead, and someone will ask, ‘Who took that beautiful picture?’ And your fans will say, ‘That looks like an Eliza…’ What’s your last name?”

“McCreery. But actually, I sign my pictures LM, for Lizzy McCreery.”

“So, you’re Lizzy, the incredible photographer, Lizzy, the decent barista, but Eliza, the beautiful date sitting across from me?”

The pink hue touching her cheeks deepened as she grinned. “My dad calls me Lizzy. And since he’s always been my biggest believer, always pushing me to follow my dreams, I thought it would be appropriate.”

“A nod to your dad?”

“Exactly. Are you close with your family?” she asked as the waiter set two platters before them.

“Not really. Physically they’re not more than forty-five minutes from me. Our relationship is…fine. It’s mostly platonic.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She frowned.

“That looks delicious.” He nodded toward her Mexican Shrimp Pad Thai. “But so does this.” He looked down at his chicken tacos.

“I’ve had them both, and they’re fantastic. Wanna try?” She picked up her plate and held it out to him.

He hesitated, but one look at her face proved she was serious, so he nodded, and she scraped some shrimp and noodles onto his plate. He picked up a taco and gave it to her. “It’s only fair, right?” She smiled and took a bite.

Strangely, it felt a lot more like a third or fourth date than a first. Had he really just asked her out this morning? That felt like ages ago. And the more they talked, the more he understood why he couldn’t get her out of his mind. She wasn’t just beautiful beyond anything he’d ever seen, she was alluring, captivating. Every piece of information she gifted to him, every bit of her heart and mind she exposed, left him wanting to know more. He would get his answers in time, but for now, he would enjoy every minute of this dinner with her.

She was right, the food was fantastic; the laughter and smiles were even better. She didn’t protest when he offered to pay at the end of the meal, and they walked to the front where she turned and thanked him. “This was so much fun.”

“It was.” A childish grin overpowered him despite his best efforts. “I had such a good time. Can I walk you home?” And take the longest route possible?

She looked down at her watch and inhaled quickly. “I…I have plans with a friend – and I have to go before I’m late. I’m so sorry.” Her shoulders dropped as she looked up at him. “I really had a wonderful time tonight.” She stepped back and smiled wistfully, her eyes apologetic, her lips magnetic.

“Ok…I’ll catch you at the shop then?” It was the only thing he could think to say as he watched her walk backward, obviously eager to be going.

“I hope so.” She turned on her heels and walked briskly to the corner where he lost sight of her. He stood there, stunned, that what had been so completely engrossing had ended so abruptly.

He leaned against the wall and rolled a stone underneath his foot as he decompressed, still electrified by the experience. She had given him hope, at least. It wasn’t lost. There was no way those smiles were manufactured, no way someone that sweet was stringing him along. She was just keeping her word to a friend – an admirable trait. He looked at his watch. Nine fifty-five. He jolted upright, realizing it was Saturday and Em had promised to meet him if he wanted.

He wanted to. As delighted and intrigued as he was by the prospect of dating Eliza, he still wanted to know who this mysterious pen pal was who had essentially set him on this path. Without her, he would likely not have been there tonight. He might never have tried a new coffee shop. He might never have met Eliza. He might still be stuck in a job that was sucking the life out of him, mourning his breakup with Sarah, and running in circles trying to figure it all out. He had to thank her. He had to know her.

He stopped by the only open florist on the way to the park and asked if they had any sunflowers. They didn’t, and he chose some daisies instead, hoping they would get his point across. Would Eliza be upset if she knew he was walking toward another woman with flowers in his hand?

He entered the park a few minutes after ten and walked toward the tunnel, looking around for any signs of someone that could be her. His heart throbbed in his ears – he didn’t know why. Was he nervous or excited? Or both? Maybe the evening had just been packed with so many new and exciting moments that he couldn’t calm down. The park was mostly deserted, and he was ready to give up when he noticed a bench on the far side of a tunnel, facing a small stream that ran through the park and into the zoo. On it sat a young woman staring straight ahead, legs and arms crossed, seeming to be lost in thought.

As he approached, he noticed her dress, covered in sunflowers, and the sweater draped across her shoulders, were like the ones Eliza had been wearing. Her hair was the same golden blonde, and her frame roughly the same size. The woman turned slightly, following a noise upstream, and it became abundantly clear by her profile that they were the same.

A chill ran down his spine despite the warm evening air. No, impossible. He took out his phone, hands shaking, and looked through their chat thread. Em…E…M…Eliza McCreery. Could the slightly bashful, thoughtful girl he sat across from earlier be the overprotective, insightful mystery woman? It was too good to be true – a ridiculous notion. But it was definitely her on the bench.

He had an idea. He held down the text and brought up her number. He sucked in a deep breath and hit call. Three seconds later, she held up a phone to her ear. His heart leaped out of his chest and into his throat so hard he couldn’t speak.

“Hello?” She turned around and froze.

“It’s you,” he breathed.

She dropped her phone and stood up from the bench, squinting at him under the streetlights. “David?”

He nodded slowly. “David Jonathan Cooper, Junior, to be exact.”

“David Jon…Cooper?” Her eyes widened, and her jaw went slack. “It’s…you’re…Cooper?”

“It’s been you the whole time,” he croaked, trying to push out the words. “All this time, the last six months, it’s been you on the other end of the phone.”

The pictures, the sunflowers on her dress, the name, it all seemed to make sense. He just couldn’t get it to click in his mind.

She stepped forward and eyed him carefully, studying his face, and broke into a smile that outshined the buzzing lamps above them as she threw her arms around him. “I can’t believe it! Did you know?”

He shook his head and looked down into her eyes. She was searching him for something, but for what? Confirmation he wasn’t a creep, that this was all the strangest and most wonderful coincidence? Regardless of whatever she was looking for, he felt like he was falling into a deep ocean, being swept up by a strong current he could not withstand. Kiss her. Get a hold of yourself and kiss her.

She gasped and stepped back, looking alarmed. “Does that mean…” She brought her hands to her mouth. “Did you come here to tell me it didn’t work out?”

A deep, rich, laugh bubbled up from within him. He hadn’t felt that in ages. “No.” He looked her straight in the eye. “I came here to tell you I had the best time tonight. And it wouldn’t have happened without you…quite literally, I see. I wanted to thank you for your kindness and friendship; I wanted to tell you what a difference you’ve made in my life. You see," he said, smirking. “I might not have met the girl of my dreams if it weren’t for you. I had no idea I was talking to her the whole time.” He stepped closer. “Oh, and these are for you.” He held up the daisies in his hand. “I know they aren’t sunflowers, and they aren’t even yellow, but they’re a token of my gratitude.”

“I love daisies,” she whispered as she took them and held them up to her face, grinning.

“I came tonight, hoping we could be friends.” He tucked a small, spiral lock of golden hair behind her ear.

“And now?” She smiled playfully as she closed the remaining distance between them.

“I hope we can be so much more.”

THE END