It all started innocently enough; I needed groceries and had been putting off shopping because I hate crowds. I headed out to the supermarket that I always shopped at. I liked it because it was open 24 hours. And as it was 11:30 I figured I'd pretty much have the place to myself and be able to shop at my leisure. I went through the mandatory items, milk, eggs, juice and the like. I like to get my produce at the end so I do not crush the vegetables. Anyway, I was coming around the corner to the produce section and there he was. He must have been new, because I would remember him. He was bent over unloading a box filled with heads of lettuce. The first things I noticed were his powerful legs. I've always found guys calves and thighs to be their most attractive features. Well, besides their eyes, but thankfully, he had his back to me and I couldn't see his face. Well, never one to be forward, I thought "Dream on, pal. He is WAY out of your league" So, I headed over to check out fruit, and let him finish his job before I picked out some salad ingredients. I was too engrossed in checking out some oranges when I realized he was standing next to me.
"I'll be bringing out some fresh fruit shortly," he began "I notice you like melons." I must've visibly jumped, because he chuckled and apologized for startling me.
"I'm sorry" I stammered, trying to recompose myself. I had been caught. I looked into the biggest, softest brown eyes I had ever seen. I decided to slowly drink this guy in. Now that he was not bent over, I realized he was tall. Very tall, at least 6 inches taller than my 6'1". He had a light complexion the color of a faded balsa wood. He may well have passed for white. He was much lighter than my fairly dark skin. His hair was dark and wavy, it made me think it may have been permed, but, it suited him. Don't get me wrong, I generally don't go for pretty boys, as they seem to be completely absorbed in them selves. This guy seemed oblivious to his good looks. He was dressed in faded jeans and a white dress shirt, over which he wore a green apron. Probably the required uniform, I reasoned. As, I had not planned on meeting anyone I knew and it was 11:30 at night, I just slid into a pair of faded jeans and a sweatshirt.
"I noticed you checking out the melons earlier" he replied. Realizing, that I had not even gone near the melons, I quickly picked up on his meaning.
"Uh, yes, they seem quite, uh, firm" I answered.
"We try to give our customers our very best" he answered.
Well, yes, I'm sure you do." I replied, not sure why we were still talking like this. The nearest customer was probably on the other side of the store.
"The management does request that you refrain from squeezing the fruit, though." He said, gesturing to the overhead concealed cameras. I got the message.
"Well, thanks, uh, Chris." I said, noticing his nameplate for the first time. "I'm Parker."
"Hi, Parker. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand.
"Likewise" I said grasping it firmly. "I'll get those melons for you" he said smiling, revealing amazingly white teeth. As he walked away, I thought, they wouldn't be nearly as nice as the ones you've already got. I tried to busy myself in the produce section, while not seeming overly obvious. He hadn't even determined that he was gay. I thought, "Okay big guy, get a grip. He's probably just a friendly guy, doing his job." Lost in thought, I didn't even notice him return, until he was next to me.
"What do you think of these?" he asked.
Completely forgetting what he was talking about, I asked, "What?"
"These melons" he replied.
"Oh, us, yes. These will do nicely" I say and accept the honeydew he is holding. As I do, I feel a piece of paper as well. He smiles again showing those dazzling teeth again and I realize he's got dimples.
"Well, I have to get back to work" he says and turns and starts back to several other crates that he has hauled out.
I stand there for a second wondering what has just transpired, then I start to put the melons in my cart, suddenly remembering the paper that was with them. I look down at my hands and I see a small piece of paper carefully folded. I casually drop it into my pocket and decide I've got all the groceries that I need and head for the check out. As I reach the checkout stand, I am reminded why I like shopping at night. There's no one in line and the matronly woman behind the cash register looks relieved to have someone there to keep her from falling asleep. I unload the cart and she effortlessly scans each item, casually making small talk as she goes. Suddenly, she stops.
"I don't have honeydew on my list" she explains. Next she is calling for a price check and my friendly giant is approaching. If he looked good standing, he looked like heaven moving.
"Hi Gwen, what's up?" he inquires. "I don't have a price for honeydew?" she replies.
"69 cents a pound" he offers looking directly at me as he says sixty-nine. Now, Gwen may be older, but she's not clueless. She throws me a knowing smile and proceeds to finish ringing me up.
"I'll help you bag" Chris says and starts to sack my groceries. I watch as his powerful arms flex as he starts to bag the groceries. Gwen tallies me up and asks if I have a membership card. Snapping back from my reverie, I start to fish around in my pockets until I find the card. As I pull it out, the piece of paper falls out as well.
"You dropped something." Gwen says. I hand the card to Gwen and bend over to pick up the paper, offering Chris an unobstructed view of my ass. I don't carry a wallet for just that reason.
"Like what you see?" I hear Gwen ask. As I come back up I can see poor Chris start to turn crimson. Damn, he is light, I think to myself and smile. "Hurry up, Chris, you're done at midnight, aren't you?" She asks.
"I can't give you a ride home tonight, I volunteered to work overtime. Need the cash" She continues without giving him a chance to respond.
"Look at you, Little Miss Matchmaker," I think to myself. He looks quizzically at her, and they exchange knowing glances. I offer up the money to pay for my purchases and look for the exit.
"You wouldn't be headed for the South side of town, would you?" Gwen asks. I look apprehensively at Chris, "Actually, yes." I reply. "If you're not a mass murderer, I wouldn't mind giving you a lift." I continue. He smiles, blushes and graciously accepts.
Later, I sit in my car waiting anxiously as I try to anticipate how I'm going to handle myself, on this drive with my giant. I look up to see Chris striding across the parking lot. I jump out of my Maxima and wave to him. He kind of gallops over and makes the attempt to squeeze into the car. I tell him to let the seat back until he can fit. He gets as comfortable as possible and we begin our journey. He makes the usual small talk, as we head down the road toward the south side of town.
I ask him about his family and what he's doing with his life he fills in on what he's doing and why he's working at night. He goes to school and does this to pay rent.
I offer back that I work in an office, quite near his college. Then the song on the CD ends and some bubbly dance tune comes on.
"I love this song" Chris says, and begins to sing along.
"He's even got a great voice," I think to myself. Sort of a cross between Barry White and Luther Van Dross. Hating to break up his little serenade, I say "Okay, you're gonna have to help me here. I don't know this particular area."
"Oh, it's just there on your right, the cruddy duplex" he replies. I swallow the urge to say something. The place really was a dump, but, not much different than what I'd grown up in.
"Um, thanks for the ride. You did get that paper you dropped, didn't you?" he asks.
"Oh, uh, yes." I reply. Remembering the carefully folded paper he had given me. I reach into my shirt pocket and take it out.
As I am unfolding it, he says "It's my phone number, I hope you'll call"
Hope I call, Those nine digits were burning themselves into my memory. I may whip out my cell before I get to the end of the block! I try to remain cool and just smile.
He picks up his bag from the back seat and heads toward the duplex.
"Good night" he says turning to flash that dazzling smile. I hit the horn and drive off, completely forgetting I have no idea where I'm going. That's okay. I've just had the most incredible stroke of luck. It's too early and I'm to jaded, but could this be love?
(To be continued.)