I have a Date??
“Aunt Irene, I’m going to head to my shop to check on things, I need to see if our new merchandise has been delivered, what are your plans today?” I dare to ask hoping she would say she was leaving, “I need to find some “cool” clothes to wear and stop by the nearest party store to grab some decorations.” As I hear my aunts response I turn my head to the side looking confused mouthing the words “What the...?” Why was my Aunt so concerned with the crop tops, cooler clothes, and decorations? I suddenly began to think I was on one of those investigations shows that I hated so much...wondering what Aunt Irene was planning to do next. I had two options pretend none of those stores existed, tell her she was better off going to the next state to find those items or I could just ignore the whole conversation. I went with option number two then headed off to my store which was called, “Living on the Edge,” that had a photo of a rock climber hanging off the side of a mountain that Josh had taken of. When Josh and I were together we did so many adventurous activities or at least he did and I did a lot of watching and cheering him on that made me feel like my business fit me perfectly until lately. I no longer was the adventurous girl or the cheerleader because Josh was no longer around, I mean hell I didn’t even have a gym membership and here I am running a business targeting at athletic and adventurous junkies when all I wanted to do was eat a cheeseburger with a side of Oreo cookies. As I pushed those thoughts aside I go to open the door to my store when I look over and noticed the building next to me was undergoing construction. Not only did the building and loud hammering catch my attention, but so did the tan, broad shoulders, dark hair man that was standing with confidence pointing at the building that was being constructed. “WAIT a minute I recognize that man, its Italian beauty!” I fluffed my auburn hair then headed over his direction. “Alessandro?” I ask, “It’s me, Emma we met the other night, my Aunt Irene invited you into my apartment.” Alessandro turned his body towards me while giving me that gentle smile like he did the first time we met. “Emma! How could I forget meeting you, it was such a pleasure.” Alessandro replied with a grin on his face. I don’t know what it was about this man but it felt like he was putting a memorizing spell upon me as I looked into his eyes. Alessandro’s eyes were light blue that gave you comfort and ease. “Is that your store next to us?” I hear his strong settle voice say to me as I slowly become out of his good looking spell. “OH yes, Living on the edge is mine, going on three years strong now,” I reply as I throw a fist pump motion into the air. Jesus, I thought to myself...why did I just do that?? He probably thinks I’m an idiot. Alessandro chuckles at me then asked, “How would you feel living on the edge and letting me take you out sometime?” Feeling caught off guard by this question, I immediately pitched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming then replied with,” OUCHHH YES, I love living on the edge.” Alessandro pulled in to give me a kiss on the cheek and told me he would swing by my place tomorrow at 7:30, I agreed on the time then headed back towards my store. “I didn’t know you took a liking into construction zones.” My cashier Angela says with a big smile on her face. Angela, I met at the dermatologist office, at the time we both suffered from adult acne. The day I met Angela she had a variety of earrings going up both her ears, gothic black hair, contour makeup like the Kardashian’s and a few tats. As we waited to find a solution to this awkward realization we both had going on in our lives, I look over to see Angela crying like a baby. I tried to ignore the poor girl by digging my face deeper into the celebrity trash magazines every office provided as you wait to be called in, but something pulled me to ask if she was okay...she responded with, “NOOOOOOOOO I’m thirty with zits, my dog just died and I was fired from Starbucks!” I didn’t know what to do or say other than, “I am opening up my own store and I have a feeling you would be perfect for a position since you have experience from Starbucks, but you might have to lose a few earrings.” Angela’s tears were gone in seconds (unlike our adult acne) and that is how after a few years Angela is still the cashier and basically my go-to girl when it comes to my store. “What are you talking about? What construction zone??” I reply as I run into the merchandise trying my best not to give Angela any eye contact. “Emma I saw you chatting it up with that handsome man, what were you guys talking about...HUH???” I knew Angela would see right through me if I kept pretending I didn’t know what beautiful man she was talking about. The girl had a six sense when it came to lies, so I caved and shouted,” OKAY, OKAY, so I might have a date tomorrow night!” As I said the words “I have a date,” I realized how excited I felt. That’s the great thing about Angela I never had to sugar coat things or play it cool because Angela just went with things. “GIRLLLLLL I knew it, I knew it! Give me all the details! I’m assuming this wasn’t the first time you saw him standing over in that construction area ready to knock something out?” Angela mentions as she winks at me. As I go to help Angela organize the new merchandise and to make sure the store looked up kept, I shared the story of how I met Alessandro all thanks to my Aunt Irene then headed out.ⒸCopyright 2016
