Chapter 4
Chapter Four
LOUISA
I wake up the next morning before B and Iris—no shocker there—so I run to grab some coffee and bagels for the three of us. The coffee shop is just around the corner, so I throw on some joggers and a hoodie to go over my nightshirt. My hair is thrown up in a messy bun on top of my head, and I still have my glasses on.
Needless to say, this was not how I'd want to look if I ran into a super hot, well-dressed British guy with meticulously twisted hair and light brown skin. But the universe had other plans for Louisa Blake this morning.
I don't even notice him at first because I'm scrolling on my phone. The line is long and snakes back and forth through the ropes leading to the register. He's several people ahead of me in line but right across the barrier to my left.
"Grumpy old bear?"
I look up, not knowing what's going on. I look over and lock eyes with this gorgeous man who was clearly talking to me. I'm confused. "Excuse me? "
He looks down, nodding his chin toward my chest. "Your jumper."
"Oh, yeah," I say, looking down at B's sweatshirt, which I just grabbed off the chair by the door on my way out of the apartment. It has an image of a bear smoking a pipe on it; his face is scrunched in a way that definitely makes it look grumpy. The text surrounding his head says 'Grumpy Old Bear' in bold letters. "It's my sister's. She has very...unique taste in clothing."
He chuckles and says, "Well, I think it's funny, and it looks good on you, so you should keep it."
I try to tone down the grin that tries to take over my entire face, straining my cheeks till they hurt. "Thanks, maybe I will."
He reaches out a hand to introduce himself. "Matt."
See, people do shake hands! "Louisa. But you can call me Lou."
"Looking forward to it." His smile is so soft and confident it makes my heart melt.
What does he mean by that? I don't think about it too long because I'm distracted by the feel of his hand in mine. His hands are so strong and so gentle at the same time. The skin of his palm is soft like butter, and I suddenly get self-conscious about my man hands, which are probably rough in comparison. Butterflies start to erupt in my stomach, and my body heats up.
The line starts to move again, separating us further and forcing us to let go. With the way the line is formed, we won't get another chance to pass by before he gets to the front to order.
My mind starts racing, and I try to process what just happened. Did I just hit it off with someone in a coffee line? And not just someone. A very attractive man who looks like he has his life together. Of course, this is just speculation since the only thing I know about this man is that his name is Mark. Wait, no. Was it Matt? Shit, I was too distracted that I didn't process what he said his name was.
It's his turn to order, and I can hear his sweet honey voice talking to the barista, but I can't make out what he's saying. I close my eyes, and an image pops in my head of him pressing me up against a wall and talking sweet nothings to me with that voice. It has my vagina fluttering.
When I come back to reality and open my eyes, I realize the line in front of me has moved significantly, and I rush forward to fill in the gap. When I look over at the register, I see that he's no longer there. Looking down the counter to the pick-up station, I see him waiting there and talking to someone. I can't see who it is because they're hidden behind the espresso machine. Probably some well-dressed, hot blonde who doesn't look like they just rolled out of bed.
It's my turn to order next, so I step forward, and despite my best efforts, I can no longer see either of them. Damnit.
"Welcome to Mad Hatter’s. What can we make for you today?"
I turn to the young girl at the register and order what I know to be B and Iris's go-to orders, a cafe miel for me, and a variety of bagels with cream cheese.
I finish ordering and wait for her to say the total. Instead, she takes my name and directs me toward the end of the counter where I can wait for my order.
"Sorry, I didn't pay yet. I must have missed the prompt on the screen." Digging into my purse, I fish out my credit card and hold it up to the card reader.
"It's already been paid for, ma'am. Someone in line ahead of you told me to charge it to their tab. "
The confused look on my face makes her giggle. "Next!" She waves the person behind me forward.
Oh my gosh, he probably just meant to buy me one drink. He likely didn't intend to buy three drinks and half a dozen bagels. I feel terrible.
I quickly walk down to the pick-up station where I last saw him standing to thank him and apologize. When I get there, I find he's gone, and my heart deflates a little. That was so sweet of him. He must be a regular here if he has a tab. I'm surprised I haven't seen him here before.
I really hope I run into him again, preferably when I'm more put together. I laugh to myself, wondering if he'll even recognize me.
"Louisa," a worker calls out to let me know my order is ready. I grab the drink carrier and box of bagels and head back to the apartment, still thinking about that beautiful man and all the things I'd kill for him to do to me.
As I’m unlocking the door to the apartment, I can hear the TV on, so I know the girls must be awake. I'm greeted by two barely functioning lumps on the couch and a very spoiled Pepin snuggled between them. "You guys will not believe what just happened to me at Mad Hatter’s." They both perk up slightly at the smell of coffee and the sound of a good story.
"Here, I got coffee for you guys. What kind of bagel do you want? I can throw them in the toaster for you." I hand out their drinks and display the bagels for them to choose from.
Iris leans forward and picks out a cinnamon and sugar bagel. "Have I ever told you you're the best sister, Lou? "
"She really is," B says with her mouth full of blueberry bagel. I guess she didn't care to wait for the toaster or the cream cheese. "So what happened at the coffee shop?"
I stand up and walk into the kitchen to prepare a bagel for Iris and myself. "I met a guy."
High-pitched squeals come from the living room, and I know I just got their hopes up only to let them down.
"Don't get too excited. I didn't get his number, and I'm not even totally sure I heard his name correctly. I think it was Mark or-"
"Matt?" B cuts me off.
"Could be, but I honestly can't remember what he said because I was too distracted by how hot he was." The girls start to giggle. Wait. "How did you know his name might have been Matt?"
I walk into the living room to figure out what they're giggling about. I almost run into B when turning the corner because she was on her way into the kitchen to find me. She stops abruptly and shakes her disposable coffee cup in my face.
I can't believe what I'm seeing. Written in marker on the side of B's cup is the name 'Matt' and a phone number. It's written in the same girly handwriting as the coffee order, so he must have had the barista put it on one of my cups when he paid for my order. I can only imagine how he described me to her: ‘I want to pay for the girl who looks like a hot mess in the dumb bear sweatshirt.’
All I can do is stand there, staring. B shakes me. "You have to text him!"
"I don't know. Maybe he was just doing it as a joke. He was talking to someone else after he ordered. I bet they were in on it together."
Iris rolls her eyes from the couch and says, "You're being ridiculous, Lou. He wouldn't have given you his phone number if he didn't want you to reach out."
"He also paid for our whole order."
"Okay, see. He definitely wants to get in your pants." That's some very B logic right there.
I finally grab the cup from her hand and put the number in my phone so she can finish her coffee. I put him in my contacts as 'Matt Mad Hatter' because I have several Matts in my phone, and I don't want to embarrass myself by texting the wrong one.
"Should I text or call him?"
"I don't know. How old was he?" B asks.
"I would guess early to mid 30's, but I'm not totally sure. He looked like a man , not a boy, if that makes sense. He was dressed well and had one of those nice wool peacoats. And he had this deep voice with a sultry British accent." I'm getting wet just thinking about it all over again.
"Then definitely call him," B advises. "If he were younger or seemed less mature, I'd maybe suggest texting, but what you're describing seems like a phone call kind of guy. Plus, then we'll get to hear that sultry voice of his."
"You do not get to listen in on our conversation."
"Oh come on, Lou. That's no fun. You can't tease us like that. Iris and I can be here to coach you so you don't say something stupid."
I flinch at the thought of messing this up. I suddenly get nervous about hearing his voice again. "Fine. But keep your mouths shut. If you need to tell me something, hit the mute button so he doesn't find out someone else is here with me." They’re both so giddy right now you would barely believe that 5 minutes ago, they were violently hung over.
We all curl up on the couch together, with me seated in the middle. Pepin sits on his favorite chair across from us and stares lovingly at me, like he always does.
My finger hovers over the call button, and I can feel my hands getting clammy. B taps the top of my hand, forcing my finger to press down on the screen, and the phone starts ringing. Against my better judgment, I quickly put it on speaker so they can hear.
After a couple rings, he answers, "I was wondering when you'd call."
"Hey, it's Lou." Why am I so awkward?!
"I'm glad the barista gave the cup to the right person. I was worried she would accidentally give it to another pretty brunette with brown eyes."
I can feel my cheeks turning red, and I don't know how to respond to that. I've always been horrible at taking compliments.
Luckily, he continues so I don't have to. "Are you busy next weekend?"
He's straightforward, and it takes me by surprise. Of course, I was hoping he would ask me out on a date, but I was so sure this was a joke that I hadn't thought of what I would do if he actually asked.
B reaches over and taps the 'mute' button. "Say something! You're not busy next weekend."
I unmute the phone before saying, "No, I'm not busy next weekend."
"Great. Would you like to go to dinner with me on Friday night?"
My heart is racing, and I'm about as giddy as Iris and B are on either side of me right now. I can tell they’re trying to hold in their excitement so they don't make any noise. "Yeah, I'd really like that. "
"I'm glad. Text me your address, and I'll swing by to pick you up around seven."
B reaches over again to press the mute button and misses. "We'll need way more time than that to get you ready after work."
"Sorry, I missed that. What did you say?" Oh my god, he heard her say that.
I shoot a death glare over at B, and she sucks air through her gritted teeth before mouthing the word, "Sorry."
"Nothing, seven works great!" I stumble to recover. "Is there a dress code for where you'd like to go?" I figured it was a safe question to ask since he clearly likes nice things. I didn't want to show up to a fancy restaurant wearing jeans, but I also didn't want to show up in a little black dress and heels to a burger joint.
"I got us a reservation at Orion's, so whatever you deem fitting for that."
"I'm sure I can dig something up that's nicer than what I was wearing at the coffee shop."
"Well, anything or nothing would be just fine with me." I can hear his smile through the phone, and I'm instantly wet again, thinking about wearing nothing under him while he makes me scream.
"Noted. I'll see you Friday."
"See you then."