Page 8 of Heart Match

Cute guy looks back from Andi at me and says, ‘Sounds just like what I need. I’ll get the same.’

God, why is his gaze so intense? Also, did he just stare at my lips?

‘It’s on me,’ I say, and give Andi the sign I got my phone ready before Cute guy begins to protest.

‘Thanks,’ he says simply.

‘I guess I owe you more than a green smoothie. I’m so sorry about last night, and thank you,’ I say.

‘Ahh, it was nothing. I’m glad you’re okay,’ he says and we exchange smiles.

It was nothing? The guy doesn’t even know me, watched me vomit the first time he sees me, then puts me to bed in his T-shirt and doesn’t even think it was a big deal?

Once my payment goes through and he gets his smoothie, we leave the café together. He hides his face a little bit more under his white cap and opens the door for me.

‘I’m really, really sorry again for last night. I swear this isn’t something that happens often to me. Yesterday was a bad day at work, very bad,’ I explain myself even though he never asked for an explanation, but I do feel like I owe him one, considering he witnessed my most embarrassing moment ever.

‘Sorry to hear that,’ he says, then sips his smoothie with the paper straw without a care in the world, striding the pavement so casually, as if he owned the neighbourhood but it wasn’t a big deal.

‘And? Do you like it?’ I ask, referring to the smoothie.

‘It’s pretty good.’ He holds the transparent cup higher and looks at it, as if analysing its contents.

We are walking side by side on the pavement. Like last night, he’s wearing sports clothes and is sweaty but still smells heavenly.

‘Thank you for … you know, taking care of me,’ I say again.

‘It was no trouble.’

‘I made a fool of myself.’ I stare at the pavement because embarrassment’s still pretty much the boss of me today.

‘No, you didn’t.’

‘You’re being nice. I totally did.’

‘Pretty sure you’re not the only one to have done it before,’ he chuckles.

‘Oh, so I did make a fool of myself.’

He laughs, then confesses, ‘Ok, maybe a little.’

‘Oh my God.’

Oh my God indeed, the way his mouth curls into a hard-not-to-stare grin almost makes me choke on my drink.

‘What? You were the one who extracted the truth from me. I was trying to be nice,’ he says in a teasing way.

‘Fair enough.’

We cross the street, he holds the door of the building open, then step inside the lift. We both press our respective buttons and I suddenly feel the urge to ask if he’d like to have breakfast with me. What do I have to lose? The guy already put me to bed before without even knowing me anyways, an invitation for breakfast is nothing in comparison. Just, you know, to show him gratitude. Nothing more than that.

We ride in silence, contemplating our drinks—and each other it seems. I can’t avert my eyes from his mouth sucking on the straw. When I lift my gaze, I catch him doing the same with me.

Oh.

The doors open at my floor. Before I say goodbye I find the courage to ask.

‘Would you like to come in and have breakfast with me? My way to say thank you for last night, and give your T-shirt back?’

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