Page 18 of More Than a Fling

“I don’t have to and besides, I like what I’m looking at right now,” he replied.

“I’m getting the pulled chicken barbeque sandwich with their slaw as a side,” she said.

“I always get the same thing, a rack of ribs, slow cooked collard greens, and their crispy corn fritters, which I’ll happily share with you,” he said.

The waitress arrived with their drinks, then took their food order, leaving them alone again.

“Not to sound cliché, but tell me about yourself,” Gabe said.

“Ask me a question,” Annie responded.

“How did you end up owning a salon? Had it always been a dream of yours?”

“Yes and no,” she said. “I was always a girlie girl, I loved make-up, costumes, dresses, dolls. I could play for hours by myself, dressing my dolls in fancy clothes, doing their hair, completely the opposite of my sister Darcy, who was quite the tomboy and afraid of nothing. Now don’t get me wrong, my dolls could be quite adventurous,” she said, then laughed at herself.

Gabe reached across the table to take Annie’s hand in his, “Go on…”

“I hated high school, I hated classrooms, I hated studying, I was only there for the social interactions,” she confessed. “I didn’t have any desire to go to a university for the next four to six years of my life after graduating and I knew what I loved: art, horses and glamour,” she said. “I didn’t think I could find a way to support myself in the art world or the equine industry so that left me with my other passion, fashion, beauty, girlie stuff.”

“Pretty sound logic,” Gabe said.

“With my three sisters’ support and encouragement, plus their financial backing I might add, I decided on a career in cosmetology, with the dream of owning and operating my own salon by the time I reached thirty,” she said.

“I am pleased to say that I reached my goal ahead of schedule, and I now employ four stylists, two nail technicians, a licensed massage therapist, and an esthetician. Not too bad for someone who was such a terrible student.”

“That is an amazing accomplishment Annie,” he said. “University isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t define a person’s worth or intelligence. Some of the most educated people can be the dumbest and some folks that didn’t even finish high school the smartest,” he said.

“All I know is that university wasn’t the right decision for me. I have never regretted it. I love my career, I love my colleagues, I love my life.”

“Is there room in your life for one more thing to love?” he asked.

Annie caught her breath and said, “Part of my childhood dream always included marriage, children, a couple of dogs and horses…now, I don’t know. I was really hurt in my last relationship, and I’m a little less idealistic than I used to be,” she said.

“I would love to be the one to restore your faith,” he said.

“How can you say that? You don’t even know me, Gabe.”

“I beg to differ, I can feel you, I can sense you, somehow I do know you,” he insisted. “Call it intuition or a sixth sense, call it fate, a past life encounter, call it whatever you want, but I feel like I have known you forever.”

“Oh Gabe, I feel like I’m being carried away on some big adventure and terrified that I’m not prepared for it. Your lifestyle, the band scene, music, women, I don’t know if I can handle all of that.”

“I am sorry if you feel overwhelmed, I can see how that all might be intimidating, but I don’t mind taking the time to go slow, to show you that you don’t have anything to worry about. Sometimes I forget that not everyone moves at my pace,” he said.

“I am flattered, really I am, and it’s not that I’m not wildly attracted to you, because I am. It’s not that I don’t think that you are kind and funny and crazy talented, because I do think that. It’s about where I am in my life, just getting disentangled from a crazy relationship, I kind of lost confidence in myself. Let’s take it slow…but not too slow,” she smiled as she said the last part.

“All I ask for is a chance,” he said, the relief he felt evident in his voice.

Their food arrived and they both dug in enthusiastically.

9

After dinner they drove back to town and stopped at a dive bar Gabe frequented. They grabbed a table and Gabe went to order their beers. Handing Annie her bottle he said, “Are you still up for a game of pool?”

“Are you up for getting your butt kicked?”

“Ah, a little competitive I see.”

“Just a tiny bit,” Annie said.

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