LINNIE'S POINT OF VIEW
It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining and there's almost no clouds in the sky. It's going to get hot later which is why I'm out this early. I crave a big iced coffee. The biggest they have. I'm thinking about maybe buying two just because I know how hot it will be today.
"What I wouldn't give to own a pool today."
I'm mumbling to myself. A bad habit of mine according to my mother. I don't know why I'm doing that. I've done it as far back as I remember. When I'm on my own, I tend to mumble as if I'm talking to someone.
I suddenly feel my heart beat a little faster. Can it be? Is it really Roman standing there with a dog? It is him. I didn't know he had a dog. He must be buying dog food elsewhere. That makes sense. We only sell cheap crap that no dog should be fed. I'm sure Roman is a great dog owner making sure his little pooch gets some quality food.
I don't really know him since I only see him when he goes grocery shopping. I remember him looking at my name tag and saying my name out loud. I already pictured him moaning my name in that second. A moment later he introduced himself, and I was picturing myself moaning his name in his ear. He's always funny, sweet and charming, and his smile lingers on my mind all day after he's been there shopping. I've had many fantasies about asking him out. I realize it's never going to happen unless I make it happen. Today is the day. I'm asking Roman out.
"You got this."
He starts walking towards me again. I can't help but smile more and more the closer I get to him. His face lights up in a smile too and his brown eyes come even more to life.
"Hi, cutie."
I did not just call him cutie. How embarrassing. Quickly I bend down to pet his dog so I can pretend I called his dog cute. I let myself say something I shouldn't have and I feel stupid. I look up at him and smile again.
"You got a cute dog," I say.
"I know," he answers.
He knows. What the fuck am I doing? Why can't I act like a normal person? He knows. Of course he knows. It's his damn dog. He's supposed to find him cute.
"Thank you for letting me pet him."
I stand up and take a deep breath. This is my moment. All I have to do is open my mouth and ask him out. I take too long with my breathing and he breaks the silence.
"I'll see you at the store," he says.
That's the words that just came out of his mouth. I'll see you at the store. At least he said them before I made a fool out of myself and asked him out. I nod in agreement and start walking again. I'm so fucking embarrassed. I was about to ask him out and he would have turned me down. I didn't have a shot. I never had a chance.
"I'll see you at the store? Clearly he's not into you, Linnie."
I don't turn around to look at him. I'm afraid he'll see how red in the face I am. I just want to get away from the situation and pretend nothing happened. To be fair, nothing did happen. I didn't step over the line. It was close but I got out of there. I can't believe I almost would have asked him out when he clearly isn't interested. I'm a fucking idiot.