I extend my hand out to her. She looks at it, and then rolls her eyes when I don’t drop it. After a long pause, she extends her hand and our palms touch.
Some people talk about the zing you feel when you first touch someone you’re meant to fall in love with. Well, I didn’t feel a zing, I felt a shift. Like watching a sunset and feeling the calm settle in your heart. That’s what happened when I held her hand. My fingers wrapped around hers, and I felt her fall into place with me. It was the oddest sensation of my life, and I stood there, silently changing, knowing the change was permanent. Until she spoke.
“I’m Julie. Thanks for the help, Abe. If you’ll excuse me,” she says, and drops my hand to walk past me.
Did she not feel that? The earth just stood still, and she’s got somewhere else to be. What the fuck?
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up, shortcake,” I say as I walk behind her.
“Stalking is a crime, big guy. I said thanks for the help. I’ve got places to be,” she says over her shoulder, her blonde hair bouncing in waves behind her as she flees.
She walks towards the exit of the store, and I’m seconds away from making a scene to stop her.
“Go out with me,” I blurt out a little too loudly.
She stops abruptly, and I nearly run into her back, before she whips around to look up at me.
“Does giving women a command like a dog usually work for you?”
“No, but showing them my dick does,” I say on a laugh, but from the snap of her eyes she doesn't seem to think my joke is very funny. She’s probably right. Hanging out in the desert with ten men every day can give you some rough edges. Maybe a dick joke wasn’t the best idea.
“Air Force?”
“Marine.”
“I should have guessed. You jarheads don’t have any manners outside of your uniforms.”
She turns around again and keeps making her way towards the exit. I can’t let her get away.
“Please,” I say, getting in front of her and blocking her path. She tucks her towels under one arm, and puts her other hand on her hip, letting me know I’m in her way and she’s not too happy about it.
“No, thank you.” This time her tone is sweeter than before, like she is dismissing me politely. She tries to move past me again, but I sidestep her and block her path once more.
“Dude, can you not take a hint? I’m not interested.”
I realize that it’s time to pull out the big guns, not caring if I make a fool of myself or that if Lucias sees me I’ll never hear the end of it. I’ll kick myself more in the ass if I don’t get to ever see her again. I drop down on one knee, grab her hand and look into her eyes.
She looks around the store to see if anyone is watching, and some people are staring as they walk by. But I don’t care. I won’t let her get away.
“Marry me.”
Her eyes go huge, and then she starts to laugh. I swear it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. “You’re insane.”
“Come on, Julie shortcake. You’re the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’ve got four weeks left before I ship out. Marry me.”
She shakes her head, and then gives me the sweetest smile and leans in close to my face. With me down on one knee, we are about eye to eye.
“You’re crazy and hot. But I’m a firm ‘no’ on the proposal.”
“Fine then. If you won’t marry me, at least go on a date with me. In fact, come to a pool party with me today,” I say, and look at her with my most hopeful face. I just need to get her to agree to see me again, I’ll worry about the ‘marrying me’ thing later.
“No.”
“I didn’t want to have to do this, but I’m shipping out in a month. What if I die? Would you really do that to your country?”
She lets out an adorable snort. She looks at me and sighs deeply. “You won’t quit until I agree, will you?”
“I’m afraid I’m pretty stubborn. You can ask my sergeant if you like.”
“Fine, give me your number and I’ll call you.”
I get up off the ground and pull my cell out of my pocket. “Give me yours. I have a feeling I won’t hear from you if I’m not the one calling.”
She has the decency to look a little ashamed. It’s clear I’ve sized up her plan.
“All right.”
I get her number and text her while she’s standing in front of me, just to make sure she didn’t give me a fake one. Once I hear the ping on her phone, I feel a little better about not keeping an eye on her until later.
“I’ll text you directions to the party, and don’t forget to bring your suit. It should be fun.”
She nods her head in agreement, but as she tries to step past me I reach out and lightly grab her fingers. I feel it again when our hands touch, and I look up from them into her eyes. When her chocolate brown eyes meet mine, I can see she feels it too. She may have tried to shake me off, but I can see the look on her face. I didn’t imagine it and neither did she.
With just that touch and a smile, she’s walking away from me, and I’m left in a fog.
A few minutes later Lucias is snapping his fingers in my face, and I’m struggling to remember what the fuck just happened.
* * *
Later that day…