I often see Bill at lunch. Sometimes we even share a table and we chat.
Even though Bill works at a company that employs graphic artists, I've never told him I signed up for graphic design classes and that they start in a few weeks. I'm afraid what he might think. Well, I mean, I think he would be okay with me going back to school, especially considering the program I'm in. It's what I've decided to study that makes me nervous. I don't want him to think I'm doing this because of him or that, worse, that I have some sort of adolescent crush on him.
We're adults here. We're not supposed to have crushes on people, right? You're just kinda supposed to know, aren't you? Just know.
I've never really had that. I've always just gone out with anyone mildly attractive who found me attractive. Maybe that's my problem. I never knew.
But today's lunch threw me for a loop. We were having a quiet lunch when Bill said, "We've been having lunch most work days for a while. What do you think that means?"
"It means we're too cheap to go out and buy our lunch."
Bill laughed so hard he knocked over an entire bag of pretzels that went spewing all over the table. "I like you, Fran."
"You do?" I cleared my throat. "I mean, of course you do."
"So I was wondering if you'd share another meal with me. Do you like seafood?"
I looked up at him, dumbfounded. "You mean like fish and stuff?"
"Yeah, fish and stuff. I know you haven't lived in the city for too long so I wanted to take you to this little place I know that has excellent lobster."
Lobster? I finally got it. Bill was asking me out? Yes, he was asking me out. Don't say anything stupid, Fran. Don't say anything stupid.
"Sure I would love to."
"Wonderful," Bill said, "it's a date then."
