Work Text:
Should only be a few minutes now until he's here
I'm punctual
He's punctual
We're both neurotic and scared to offend
Maybe that's why he agreed to meet
When I asked him out for coffee
Maybe that's why I'm sitting here
Failing to tune out our neighbour table
He parks his bike by the stands outside of the big window
He struggles with the bike lock for a little while
Squinting eyes
almost disappearing behind thick glasses
He enters through the door
sits and drops his messenger bag by the table
It falls over
He apologizes
A waitress comes
I wonder
A coffee?
Milk?
Sugar?
How much of each?
He orders tea.
He takes a sip.
Burns his tongue
His face scrunches.
I hold back a laugh
He says he's fine.
Says he's used to it by how often he absentmindedly sips the hot drinks his wife leaves on his desk while writing.
I ask about his wife.
He smiles.
His eyes no longer dart.
His beanie is dropped
His windbreaker is shrugged off
The other table fades into the background.
We talk,
interrupt ourselves,
stutter,
rev our sentences.
I add too much sugar into my cappuccino
He stirs his Chai.
It's awkward
Comfortably.
I open my phone and show a picture of my cat
He does the same.
I talk about his writing
He shrugs off my compliments,
Scratches the back of his head.
I insist
He deflects.
Now its only a few minutes until he leaves
He's punctual
I'm punctual
We're both respectful and mindful of people's time
So I'm happy that he agreed
When I asked him out for coffee
Or tea.