Page 8 of Lordes

“I’m sorry about our collision.”

“It was an honest accident. No need to be sorry.”

“Still, I would like to take you out to dinner.”

“Huh?” She blinked three times. I counted them.

“What time are you off?”

“Ah—”

“We can meet somewhere. I would love to take you to dinner.”

“I don’t think I can date customers.”

“We can call it something else, if you like. I’m no longer a customer when I leave out of the store.”

“I’m not sure it works that way.” She sucked her lips in.

“Look, I’d love to have your company for dinner. I’d rather not eat alone. Labria, what time is your shift over?” I knew I was being a little aggressive but I wanted this dinner to happen.

“Six, I get off work at six.”

I removed my American Express Centurion card and handed it over to Labria. She placed it into the card-reading machine without looking at it.

“If you put your cell number on the receipt I can text you the restaurant address. I can make the reservation for eight.”

“Today, tonight.”

“Yes, dinner. You have my credit card information, my name.”

Labria looked down at the card when she removed it from the machine.

“Lordes Donovan.” She read out loud.

“People call me Lord. You can call me whatever you like. Its just dinner.”

We both were silent as the register typed out the receipt. She handed over my receipt with an ink pen. I signed the receipt and handed the paper and pen back to her. I waited impatiently. Labria’s coworker appeared and started placing my books inside a plastic bag. He was a neatly dressed young man with glasses and well groomed hair. I pegged him as gay. It was a feeling I got with absolutely no evidence to support my theory.

“Oh we have a Will Smith fan.” He sang with a high pitch tone.

“Everybody loves the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” I said to lighten the tense mood.

“So true.” He said as he was checking me out.

“You know they are remaking that show with a brand new cast. It’s like a reboot.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, and Will Smith is the producer.”

“Maybe I’ll check it out.” I didn’t have time for much television but I was here in the bookstore buying four Will Smith books. It seemed like the right thing to say.

I didn’t think I’d convinced her to go with me. Maybe there was something about me that she didn’t like. What did I do wrong? I wasn’t going to give up. If she didn’t give in I would just come back again and again.

Labria handed my credit card and receipt over to me. When I turned the receipt over it was blank. I tried to hide my disappointment.

“You forgot something.” I said to her hoping I didn’t sound needy or pathetic.

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