California Café

In my best efforts, I tried to keep my mind off my meet up the following night. I had the avidity of a teenage girl awaiting her first date. I even had a dream about her the night prior. I envisioned her short waves falling effortlessly beside her face and an unforgettable pair of straight green eyes melting into my own. I imagined my hands sliding all along her tight body, flat and slender. Needless to say, my mind drew up naughty images that night. I went to work out the moment my eyes exposed themselves to the new morning. Blasting deep pulses throughout the house, I stayed inside at my small in home gym for a rough set of lifting and cardio. The day dragged on and I spent most of my time laying outside while I over indulged myself in the sun’s warmth and light. I set a steady playlist to my ears, but I still couldn’t stop thinking of the night I wasn’t ready to experience with her. I told Matt about it, the whole story; he told me to give him an update the next afternoon.

I looked up to the clear sky, an almost unapparent shade of blue, and wondered if she lived not too far from here. Pathetic, I thought of myself again. I realized then that maybe I should just get my way with her for the night and I would never have to speak with her again. She was something special; I knew that from the moment I locked my eyes on her golden skin covered by her such simple and casual outfit, topped off with her beautifully messy hair. She was calmly haphazard. She was at ease with her company, but so elegantly passionate. Almost crazy. She was special and that was the reason I thought I would finish her off tonight and get her out of my life in fear of future complications. I knew I couldn’t have a special woman in a life I was living. There was no way it would work even though I wanted it to.

After more than enough hours spent taking in the afternoon’s heated rays and thinking about the night ahead of myself, I headed inside for a shower. At the time, I had four hours until I had to meet her. I spent my lonesome time watching TV and randomly writing some verses. Normally I would have called a friend or gone out, but this girl had completely captured my mind. I was slightly hoping she lacked in personality, so I could quickly lose interest.I was praying actually.


By the time I was sitting in the black leather seats on the passenger side, my nerves and inward disruptive thoughts had ceased. I had turned the switch and metamorphosed into the cool collected bachelor I normally appeared to be. I thanked my driver as I stepped out of the vehicle in front of one of my favorite places to eat. I was around ten minutes late, but I hadn’t caught sight of the blonde outside. I described my guest the best I could to the hostess as I wondered if she were there yet. The hostess kindly brought me outside to the patio, beautifully rustic and enhanced with string lights. I curtly nodded and moved past the hostess as I took the time to take her in. Just as incredible as the last time, she was the brightness in the dimmed night. As she saw me, she left her chair and stood politely at the table, waiting for me. She was much more put together than last time and stiff in a navy blue and black pencil skirt with the slightest strip of lace design in the front. A black blouse tucked into the skirt, which lengthened high on her waist down to the bottom of her knees. I noticed a pair of pointed black heels decorated her feet before I looked up her straightened blonde and shoulder length hair. She surely just got off work.

She stuck her small hand, still having pink fingernails, out for me as I was within three feet away.

The smile she gave wasn’t the same as in the café; instead it held apprehension along with all things business. I shook it off though when I felt the warmth of her hand in her strongly structured handshake.

“Ressie Brooks,” she introduced.

“Harry Styles,” I responded, but my smile was smooth and mixed with mischief. “It’s nice to meet you.”

I thought I saw a wash of blush peppering over her cheeks, but I couldn’t tell for sure because she turned back to sit. I followed her in the seat across from her at the small table.

“Sorry I was a bit late,” I started.

“No worries. I only just got here.” She was looking down at the menu.

“Oh,” I jumped and pulled her phone out of my pocket. “Here you are,” I smiled as her eyes snaked up to look at me. Relieved, she took the phone from my hands and placed it on her side of the table.

“Thank you so much,” she brightened. She looked like she was going to add more, but the waiter interrupted for drinks.

“Roussanne Blend, please,” Ressie asked and I caught a glimpse of a more genuine smile, this time showcasing dazzled teeth.

I asked for water and a small plate.

“Again, thank you for bringing my phone back and taking the time to do this,” Ressie’s attention focused on me.

“You’re welcome. You never came back to get it and I know how I get with my phone. It’s no big deal at all. And I love this place.”

She agreed and started to talk about how she had been meaning to eat at Laurel Hardware. I noticed how relaxed and comfortable she became the more we conversed. I soon made it a habit of nodding and agreeing when she went on as I took a look into her eyes. Finally, I was able to make out the unusual color: a striking mix of green and hazel, but rimmed by a strong and hypnotizing blue. She stopped talking once the wine, water, and small plate joined us at the table.

“So, you just got off work?” I started up after the waiter left with our dinner orders.

“Yes, and I’m guessing you did not.”

I chuckled and took a bite of brioche. “Hey, I’m always working,” I assured.

“Mhmm,” she said before her mouth captured a grape. I swallowed hard and wished my fantasies to sleep at the back of my mind.

“So, what do you do?”

“I’m a market analyst down in San Diego.”

“San Diego? You drove from San Diego after work to meet with you?”

“Well I needed my phone,” she reasoned.

“I could have met you down there or we could have met half way. That drive must have been terrible with traffic as well,” I sympathized.

“I love coming up to LA and I like long car rides. Clears my mind and I also get to listen to good tunes,” she nodded.

“Well alright then.” I rubbed my thumb along my jaw line while trying to continue the conversation.

“But you were up here at the café?” I asked, but of course I remembered already.

She smiled, the biggest and most genuine one I had seen yet. “Yes. I seem to remember you there,” she licked her lips before continuing. “I met up with a couple close friends. I actually used to live around here about a year ago. I worked at a firm in Santa Monica and then I moved back to San Diego and yeah,” she trailed off as if there were more to the story.

“Back to San Diego? Are you from there or did you go to college there?” I was genuinely curious.

“God no I didn’t go to school there. Born and raised in San Diego but I went to Columbia for college and stayed there for grad school.” She took a long sip of her white wine and I watched intently as she moved the liquid down her throat.

I cleared my throat and took a sip from my own glass. “You sound like you aren’t too happy with San Diego,” I cocked an eyebrow.

“I am. I mean, it’s my home and I have the career of my dreams, but I was never really much a fan. I would love to get out again.”

“So why don’t you?”

“Personal reasons. Family issues,” she twisted her mouth and looked into her wine glass. I realized I had been too interested in her. I had to stick to my plan and learning about her wouldn’t let me do so.

As I was about to start on another topic she bounced back. “So, what is a British star like you doing in California?”

“I have a house here actually I like to spend my off time here. It’s nice to get away from the cold.”

She nodded enthusiastically and her eyes made their way down to my exposed chest. I wondered what she was thinking, but I could take a pretty good guess by the look in her eyes and the pink apparent on across her face. “You look like you’ve gotten a good tan.”

“I hope so. I’ve been working hard for one,” I said before enjoying a few macadamia nuts.

I looked back up at her enthusiastic face and she gleamed with realization. “I totally know what you mean. Once your skin gets used to being pale it’s impossible to get tan. Every time I came home for Christmas from New York, I would have to try five times as hard to get the slightest tan.”

I laughed at her elated expression over talking about something so trivial. “As much as you sound crazy right now, I would have to agree with you on that one.”

She opened her mouth wide in offense, but was unable to hide her amusement after I rose a knowing eyebrow in her direction. After more casual conversation our food was brought out.

“You really might just be crazy,” I said as I held my silverware over my succulent steak.

Her face raked together in confusement. “You are eating brussel sprouts and broccoli for dinner,” I explained nodding to her plate.

She rolled her eyes. “They are my favorite. Everyone always says they hate brussel sprouts, but have you even tried them?”

“No, but-“ before I could finish she was reaching a brussel sprout stuck on her fork across the table.

“Hell no. Look at that thing.”

“Try it,” she said. I shook my head and took a bite of my steak. I looked up at her, still holding the fork in front of me, and gave her a smug smile while I continued chewing. Just as I thought she gave up, she dropped the round vegetable on my plate.

“Christ. You just contaminated my whole plate of food.”

I looked up at her at the moment I heard her soft giggles. Her face was skewed in amusement at my misfortune. Her smile was so bright against the warm glow her face claimed with the small amount of lighting illuminating it ever so perfectly. Her eyes, I could never fully describe the way I felt about her eyes other than the fact that they were rare. My body filled with glee at the sight of making her laugh and my ears savored the sweat sound. She was incredible and I couldn’t tell what misfortune would come to hit me next because I felt like the luckiest guy while I watched the beauty sitting across from me. I had to let this all go and get down to business soon.

She finally made me try the lonesome vegetable left on my plate as we were finishing up with dinner. She watched me intently and her lips were set in a slightly seductive curve. I chewed it in my mouth, mentally taking note that brussel sprouts are pretty damn good.

“So horrid,” I said, sticking my tongue out like a dog eating peanut butter. I took a long gulp of my water and watched her as I did so. The liquid seeped down my pipes slowly and I could see it in her eyes. I almost felt the heat radiated from her cheeks as well. She had the same desires as me.

The check came soon after that and we hadn’t talked much since I finished off my water.

“I hope you’re not driving all the way home tonight. And surely you can’t drive with all that wine you drank tonight,” I said after I closed my signature in the leather book. “You can stay at my place. I’ll drive you.”

“I had one glass and I’m actually staying with a friend who lives twenty minutes west. Thanks though.” She cleared her throat. “But what would you do with my car if we were to drive your back to your place? Surely you hadn’t planned this out?” She was a smart woman.

“No, I had a friend drop me off because my car is at the shop,” I mustered up a lie.

“You only have one car?” She asked, doubted.

“All of them are in the shop,” I pushed my luck.


“Mhmm,” she finished the last of her white wine. “Thank you so much for the phone, your time, and the dinner, Harry. It was really nice meeting you.” She stood and I followed her actions.

“No need to thank me. Let me walk you out to your car.” I place my hand on the end of her back as we walked to exit. She looked down with a lip biting smile. I hadn’t been mistaken. I knew she wanted it too.

Notes

xo.