The reception didn't start until 9pm, so I met my friend Julie for Chin Chin on Beverly. She had to work late, so after I drove straight there from work, I sat at the Starbucks next door with a latte and a book. I've been feeling really great lately about myself and my life - dreams, goals, that kinda crap - so I was sitting there feeling all positive and constructive. I noticed a cute boy who was hanging out on the street. He had some papers and was finishing up a phone call.
Then, a strange, flappy kind of woman approached the Starbucks door. She half dropped/half placed her barely smoked cigarette on the ground, did a little stampy dance apparently designed to extinguish said cigarette, and went in. The cigarette did not go out.
She had missed it entirely, and it was now wafting cigarette smoke right at me. Now, I have been known to smoke while intoxicated. Not while caffeinated.
I sat there a beat, feeling slightly less positive, still constructive, when it occurred to me that it was ridiculous to sit there and not do something about the situation, which could be easily remedied by constructive action. So, observed by the cute boy, I got up, stepped squarely on the cigarette, and returned to my seat.
I thought to myself, perhaps he's thinking what a positive, constructive person I am! Maybe he'll be attracted to me and sit down for some conversation!
He finished his phone call and entered the Starbucks.
The flappy woman exited the Starbucks, bent down to pick up her cigarette, fiddled with it to figure which end was the mouth end - likely confused by the lack of smoke - took a heavy, dry drag, and went over to the newpaper bins to putter around.
I realized that I had audibly gasped because an ubercute boy walking up had caught the eyeful and was smiling at me and laughing and looking at the woman as he continued down the sidewalk. He wasn't my type, but I remain able to spot the cuteness that is not my cuteness.
My cuteness came out of the Starbucks with two large iced teas and sat down at the table next to me.
Ah, I thought, he's meeting someone. Someone who appreciates a large tea. And he bought it for her already because he knows it's what she'll want. How nice.
And then I thought, wouldn't it be funny if both those teas were for him. That would be hot, a man with two large iced teas all for himself. That man could be the love of my life.
I smiled over at him, but didn't catch his eye. Oh well, I thought, taken. Waiting to meet someone.
He fiddled with his papers, and then he got up with his two teas and left.
And as he moved past me, I realized he only had one straw.
Watching him walk down Beverly, cross two ways to the opposite corner, and head down that sidewalk with his two large teas firmly in hand, I thought of love missed.
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