Chapter 2: Speechless
Speechless...of course I'd used the word many times, even applied it to myself on occasion. But until that moment, I realized it had never been true before.
THE Darren Criss, my favorite actor, from Glee, my favorite TV show, was standing in front of me! How could I have not realized who he was? I was physically unable to produce words. Globally famous celebrities don't turn up in Madison, Wisconsin wanting to order books from me!
My brain was apparently recovering from the shock, as sounds started coming out of my mouth, but...
"Unh...Da...I mean, Mr. Cri..." What on earth was I supposed to call him? My breathing was getting shallower as I attempted to say something coherent. Darren grabbed my hand with his, trying to get my attention before I hyperventilated.
"Rhi. Rhi? Rhi! Take deep breaths...in...out...right...breathe with me...good. Are you okay? Do you need to sit down?"
"Ummm...no...just give me a minute...Da...I don't even know..."
Darren realized that I was getting myself back under control, and smiled at me again. "Just call me Darren...when we get to know each other better, you can call me Dare like my other friends. And I'll call you Rhiannon," he finished with a wink.
Holy crap! Darren Criss was flirting with me! And he was still holding my hand! I immediately decided to never wash that hand again.
I managed a weak smile, and replied without thinking, "At least I don't have to call you sir any more." I tried to ease my hand out of his grasp. Chuckling, he let go, even more slowly this time.
"It's so odd...people have that kind of reaction to me a lot. I'm starting to think my eyebrows have magical powers," he said, wiggling his distinctive brows at me.
I couldn't help giggling, but I also felt this strange urge to get away from him as fast as I could. "I'm sure that's it, Mr. Criss." Why did he look disappointed? "Let's finish your order so you can get on your way."
If I didn't know better, I would say he was now actually pouting. We started through the rest of the information I needed, but I had another surprise coming...
"Your niece's first name?" I asked, trying to remain expressionless.
"Abigail," he replied while staring dejectedly at the counter, but then looked up when I gasped.
"Rhi? Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine...it's just that Abigail is..."
"What?"
"That's my middle name. Rhiannon Abigail Harris is my full name." Why did I just tell him that? He couldn't possibly care.
With a whimsical grin, he said, "So your initials spell RAH?"
"Un-hunh. Thanks for pointing that out."
"Any time...um, Rhi, after we finish the order, can I ask you another question?"
I hesitated, but replied, "Sure." We completed the order, and as I handed him the receipt, he looked directly at me and asked, "What time do you get off work?"
Before I could think of an answer, Margie swept up behind me and announced, "Right now! Thanks so much for covering, Rhi! Laura said she promised you a smoothie, but put it on my tab. Stupid car! I need to get rid of it..."
Margie could have started expounding on the national debt for all I knew, as Darren and I were now staring into each other's eyes, and I, for one, wasn't paying the least bit of attention to anything but him.
Finally, the silence that fell as Margie was staring at us staring at each other broke the spell. Darren shook his head as if waking from a dream and asked, "Ready to go, Rhi? Need to get your stuff?" I quickly clocked myself out on the computer and stowed my name tag in the bottom drawer, saying "Nope...got everything in my pockets."
Darren grabbed my hand, and led me out from behind the desk, flashing his adorable smile at Margie. "I love a woman who travels light. Let's go."
I grinned at Margie as well, saying, "See you next weekend...hope your car is okay."
I caught just a glimpse of the shocked look on my co-worker's face as she realized who I was leaving hand in hand with...I wasn't the only one who was speechless...