Fireside Romance Box Set

Chapter 3-3

The many sessions of man watching did eventually pay off. He had wide shoulders, black hair, really deep green eyes, and a smile so warm it could melt an iceberg at a hundred paces. Yes, the man watching paid off big time…for Mary.

We’d gone to the cinema on one of our regular Friday nights out. As we exited, we decided to grab a bite to eat. Although I don’t much go for fast food, the Golden Arches were nearby, we were both in need of immediate hunger relief, so we got ourselves burgers and fries and sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Our conversation about the film was intermittent. It was getting late and I was wilting visibly. I wasn’t much of a fan of late nights. I’d just as soon be tucked up in bed with Humphrey, my teddy bear.

I asked Mary a question, but didn’t get a reply. I looked up at her from the half eaten remains of my burger to see her gazing over my left shoulder. I turned round, not so easy in the fixed seat, to see a vision of male gorgeousness in an equal state of rapture, looking at Mary. I turned back to her, she was still frozen in place. I waved my hand in front of her face. She only partially came out of her trance, and looked at me.

“He’s hot!”

“Yeah, I agree, and from the looks of him, he thinks the same about you. Why don’t you go over there and talk to him?”

“I’m out with you.” She said this with not much conviction.

“Don’t be daft. Go over.”

I never thought I’d see anyone float, not without the benefit of water that is, but Mary pretty damn well floated out of her seat and towards this vision of male perfection. I saw her take a seat next to him. His eyes followed her every movement, and when she got close enough he stood to allow her access into the booth. I wasn’t close enough to hear what they were saying.

After convincing myself she was having a good time, I returned to my burger. I resisted the temptation to turn around and look at them, or should I say him? I dragged out eating the rest of the plastic meal for as long as I could, but the pressure on my bladder, and an ever-increasing need to get home to my bed, finally convinced me to get moving.

Before leaving, I approached their booth. “Mary, I’ll be off now, I’ll see you at work on Monday, okay?”

The vision spoke. “Oh, sorry, mate.” Wow, what a deep warm voice. “I didn’t mean to take your friend away from you.”

“No problem.” I waved away his apology. “Are you going to get the bus back, Mary?”

“Erm, yeah…erm Simon, I’ll see you on Monday.” She was obviously totally enraptured by him.

I couldn’t blame her. I just gave a brief wave as I left. It was doubtful she even noticed.

After using the gents, I made my way out onto the street. Although it was December, it wasn’t very cold. The wind, which had been pretty wild earlier, had dropped, so I decided to walk the fifteen minutes or so home.