I originally posted this on tumblr, got some pleasant responses and thought I'd post it here. Big thanks to Ztofan for the title, the beta and for being awesome!
He had the chance to kiss her. And like an idiot, he didn't take the opportunity. 'Nick Miller: turning lemonade into lemons since 1981,' a phrase he used more often than he'd like to admit. He'd been pacing the room for the past half hour, trying to erase the unexpected events that happened on this crazy night. He had just wanted one night away from her, one night to think about another woman for once. Squeezing his eyes shut and then opening them again he saw a coin that had spilled out from his pants pocket and onto the floor.
Picking it up, he remembered that this was a tip he had received a few nights ago. One from a frat boy who came in with a few buddies and, after a few too many drinks, thought it would be funny to "leave a 'magic seed' that once planted, would turn into a real tip." It wouldn't be so bad if that wasn't the first time that had happened. Just another reason that he didn't feel good enough. Not just for her, but for life in general.
Turning the coin in between his fingers he thought about when the opportunity to kiss her might come up again. "Not like this!" replaying in his head. He thought about kissing her, well, more times than he'd like to admit, and it wasn't going to be because of some game.
But that was his problem, wasn't it? All thought and no action. Over thinking and… What if this one time he didn't think? He looked to the coin in his hand. He could flip for it. Heads he kisses her, tails he doesn't. No, he can't do that...she has a boyfriend. Wait Miller, you're thinking again. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, picturing her lips as he flings the coin into the air. Not opening his eyes in time, he hears the coin hit the floor.
Fifteen minutes later-and with his arm half stuck under his bed-he's still searching for that damn coin when he finally feels it. Being careful to keep it in the same position he pulls it out, still covered in his hand. Another deep breath and he's about to open his hand when he hears her voice calling his name. Without looking, he quickly shoves the coin in his pocket and goes out to help fix whatever problem she's having this time.
It would be stupid to leave that up to a coin, he thinks, that would be as bad as kissing her because of a game and she deserves more than that. She deserves everything.