I pulled my cell from my back pocket. I had three bars, so that should be enough to Google something.Three minutes later, I dropped my cell phone unceremoniously into my oversized purse.I did an eeny, meeny, miny, moe out loud because…why not? No one was listening anyways.
Straight ahead down corridor number one was the winner. I took firm control of my suitcase, braced myself for the physical attacks, and forged forward. I really needed that tea.
“I would even take coffee at this point.
I glanced at my mother’s gold watch I always wore. I watched the hand slowly tick one second at a time. I had already wasted forty-five minutes just observing New Yorkers, and now I was nearly out of time.
“It’s time to go see outside before my afternoon meeting. Where a stranger would be changing my life…….temporarily.Ah, coffee, please let it be a Starbucks. Thank the lord, it’s a Starbucks. The one back home has tea, so please, please have tea. I’m freezing.
At least I had on Chloe’s knee-high, black sequin Uggs and not my favorite ankle-high Uggs. Chloe was a great sister and best friend. Somehow, she managed to get my Uggs into the little suitcase at the last minute knowing how much I loved them. I was going to miss her so much.
Oh shoot. Chloe. I forgot to call her.Where is your head, Mia?
I had promised to call to let her know I arrived safely. I needed to focus on the big picture here. The line in Starbucks wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be with how many people were buzzing around running from train to train. Everyone had something in their hands, from coffee to pizza to donuts or a sandwich. Not a single table in Starbucks.
Does anyone sit and eat here?
I decided to place my tea order before the big hunt for my cell phone somewhere in the dark corners of my handmade denim bag.
“I’ll have a large black tea, please,” I said. “Two Splenda.”
Naturally I’d need my cell right when I knew it was hiding defiantly beneath my wallet, hair brush, sunglasses, and god knows what else TSA would allow me to keep. What I hadn’t expected to happen was to get my hair tangled in the sequins of those knee-high Uggs.
Damn, this hair. I should have cut it, but Chloe wouldn’t have it, and right now I I’d do anything to make Chloe happy. Like wear these crazy Uggs. Chloe hasn’t smiled in six months ever since her little girl Sophie got sick.
“Mia? Tall black tea, two Splenda. Mia?”
“Oh, that’s me,” I said from my bent-over position and ten inches of blonde hair getting further stuck. “Sorry, hold on a minute, please.”
“Ma’am? There’s a line behind you.”
“Seriously? Hold on.”
“I can’t hold up the line, miss. People are in a hurry.”
This is not real life right now. This cannot be happening.
Still bent over, possibly showing my butt off to passersby, I stretched my arm up as high as I possibly could.
A faint male chuckle sounded behind me.
“I’ll take it for her,” the voice said. “You could try to be nicer next time.”
I twisted left then right, trying to turn my head to the side to no avail. All I could see were brown loafers with a tassel thing and a perfectly creased pant leg.
Great, Mia. Can this really be happening? Wow, cool heels. I’ve never seen red on the bottom before. Ha, a squirrel moment right in the middle of my proudest smooth move ever. Crickey this guy is still laughing at me.
“Can I help you in some way?” he asked, stepping even farther into my space.
“Only if you have scissors or you’re a master crafter of sequins,” I said, face to the floor under a veil of hair.
Brown loafers squatted down to assess the situation.
“Okay, I see the problem,” he said “If you’ll let me, I can help.”
I tilted my head as far as I could to get a look at the person inside the severely creased pants. I stifled a groan.
Of course he has to be good-looking. Sure, why not.