Love At First Sight

I honestly couldn’t have told you what day it was. I had just woken up that Monday morning, hung over from a party I’d gone to the night before with my friend, Chase. I felt the usual groggy, dehydrated feeling you get from a hangover. I thought I would’ve gotten used to it by then, but I hadn’t.

Slowly lifting my limp body out of bed, I tried to sit up straight. My brain was still barely waking up, and I hadn’t realized what day it was yet.

My eyes dragged across the room as I looked around for my phone. I couldn’t see it anywhere, and I didn’t really want to stand up. But I knew I had to at least take a shower, so I forced my body to stand up as straight as possible. I stumbled a few times before walking to the bathroom. Thankfully, the door had already been open, and I walked right in. I glanced around, still feeling dizzy, and happened to spot my phone in the toilet. I didn’t even want to ask why I’d left it there.

Pulling my dripping phone out of the toilet water, I checked to see if it was still working. Well, it was. Stupid me—I’d forgotten that I had a waterproof phone. I saw the time, and it took me a moment to realize how late it was. In that moment, I snapped out of my drowsiness and hopped in the shower. I quickly washed up and got dressed for work as fast as I could.

I was already preparing for the scolding I knew I’d get from my dad. He was always on top of mine and my brother’s sleep schedule. But he’d really started to crack down when I moved out and began renting my own apartment a couple of years earlier. I still technically lived at home, but I often stayed nights at my apartment when I wanted alone time—which was usually on the weekends.

I’d checked my phone again once I was done getting ready. It was 8:47 a.m. No doubt, my dad was already prepping a lecture for me. I wasn’t usually late, but it did happen from time to time—mostly on Mondays after I’d partied the night before.

Hopping into my car, I popped a mint into my mouth because it still smelled like alcohol. I couldn’t think of what else my dad might scold me for, so I drove off.

Sometimes I skipped getting coffee, but that morning it was a must. I hadn’t had much time either, so I couldn’t go to the coffee shop I’d been going to for the past couple of weeks. Besides, it was out of the way.

Luckily for me, there had been a café called Claire’s Coffee on my route to work. I pulled into the parking lot in such a rush that I left my car running and the door wide open as I ran to the entrance. Walking in, the place smelled like the most heavenly café I’d ever been to. I wondered why I hadn’t seen the place before. I considered that it might’ve just opened.

I took in the ambience for just a second longer before marching up to the counter. I’d been behind someone in line and decided to observe the baristas as I waited.

One of them had her back turned to me, so I couldn’t see her face, but her hair was a sandy-blonde color. The other two baristas looked relatively pretty—one with dark-brown hair and the other with light-brown hair.

I’d gotten distracted checking the place out and hadn’t realized I was next. But as I approached the counter, I got this strange feeling inside—a feeling I’d never felt before. I’d been with many women throughout my life, despite only being 27 years old. But something was different about this girl.

“Hello! What can I get for you today?” she said, pulling me out of my trance.

“If you’re still deciding, I can wait. It’s no problem,” she quickly added when I didn’t respond.

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. I’m ready to order,” the words burst out just as she was about to turn around.

“All right, what would you like?” she replied, with the brightest smile that made me want to sink into my shirt.

“Uhh… I’ll take a coffee, please,” I stretched each word like I’d suddenly forgotten how to speak English.

“So, black coffee? Or a different kind?” She knitted her eyebrows in confusion. Honestly, what had I been thinking when I gave such a vague request?

I tried to think of an answer by skimming the menu board behind her, but I couldn’t settle on one option. There were too many to count. I’d almost always just gone with black coffee, so I didn’t know why I was suddenly avoiding that option.

She kindly smiled at me with a soft chuckle and asked, “Would you like me to surprise you?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah… sure,” I answered impulsively out of nervousness. In my head, I was already scolding myself for acting like such an idiot. I was usually way better at charming girls. Yet for some reason, all of that instantly faded away.

“All right! I’ll whip something up right away. You just take a seat, okay?” she spoke to me as if I were a little boy, her vibrant energy radiating through her voice.

"Yeah, okay... thanks," the words struggled to come out. She simply nodded in response and walked off to start on my drink. One of the other baristas immediately hopped into her place and began taking the next customer's order.

I took a seat at the nearest table, trying to keep my composure as I mentally struck myself over the head. What was up with me that day? I was already late to work, and now this nonsense. My dad might’ve just fired me—or, at the very least, demoted me. I waited for a couple of minutes before she called me up. When she did, I practically jumped out of my seat and hurried to the other end of the counter where she was standing, waiting to hand me my drink.

"What's your name, by the way? I forgot to ask," she chuckled to herself sheepishly.

"Uh, Charles. May I ask for yours?" I replied, thinking she was into me or something.

"Oh, I just meant that I need to write a name on the cup," she said, looking like she felt bad for the misunderstanding.

"Right here," she added shyly, pulling at the nametag on her shirt.

"Ah, Claire. Well, thank you, Claire," I replied as if that had been my initial intention. I was honestly about ready to slap myself in public.

"My pleasure, Charles. Have a wonderful day!" she cheered as she walked away to take the next order.

"Yeah, you too!" I tried to reflect the same cheerful attitude. I stupidly stood there for a moment after, as if there were something else to do. But snapping out of it, I started walking out. I caught a glimpse of her looking at me as I walked out the door, but I continued on my way.

Running back to my car, I saw the door still wide open and hopped in without a second thought. I pondered the whole interaction for a few minutes, beating myself up over my terrible responses. I froze more times than I could count. And practically the whole café felt my embarrassment.

Then, right in the middle of scolding myself, my phone suddenly began ringing. It was my dad. I checked the time—and it was past nine. Zooming out of the parking lot, I made a mental note to return the next day, just to have a chance at making a good second impression.

I kept driving, letting my phone ring. I’d hoped I could get there in time to appease my dad. Unfortunately, the reality of it was far different. Nonetheless, I was set on trying.

Pulling into the law firm parking lot, I didn’t even try to park like a civilized human being. However, I did make sure to turn off the car that time, quickly grabbing my blazer and darting to the entrance. Walking in, I greeted the front desk receptionist as usual. She was an elderly lady in her sixties who’d been working for my dad’s law firm longer than I’d been alive. I’d always figured my dad kept her around because she got things done. She was incredibly skilled and efficient for being as old as she was.

As I should’ve expected, my brother came around the corner of the left hall and walked toward me.

“Sup, Charles! You tell Dad you’re late yet?” he started with his petty behavior, as usual.

“Pretty sure he’s already aware, Luke,” I said with a little too much aggression.

“Oh, good. Just makin’ sure,” he replied, pretending to genuinely care. I nonchalantly raised my eyebrows, not having the energy to deal with him that morning—or ever.

Breezing past him, I took the elevator up to the fourth floor where my dad’s office was and marched up to the door. It happened to be open—most likely because he wanted to give me easy access to his reprimands.

He glanced up from his desk before I’d even reached the door. I could already tell what I was in for.

"Good morning, Charles!" he said with a deceivingly contented smile, which quickly turned into a frown. "I hope your car is at the bottom of Lake Michigan, because there should be no other reason why you are TWO HOURS LATE!" He shouted the last part with enough rage to shake the foundation of the building.

Wanting to combat that, I took a deep breath. Then, in the most sarcastic tone I could manage, I said, "Yeah, Dad... some guys jumped me, took my keys, and drove my car into the lake. Then, I almost got run over by a bus while crossing a street to get here. Oh, and I can't forget about the stray dogs that mauled me for my breakfast sandwich. Yeah, and there was—"

"I am not in the mood for your childish behavior, Charles!" he interrupted, shouting above my pay grade. It was definitely the Italian blood—he sure knew how to yell.

“My patience is running thin with you, boy,” he muttered in Italian as an afterthought. I responded by nodding my head like I cared. He only sighed at that and shooed me off with a flick of his wrist.

“Please get started on your work. You’ve got a lot to do now that we closed several big cases,” he practically sighed the whole sentence out.

"You got it, boss. I’ll get right on it!" I saluted, my mock enthusiasm causing him to sigh again.

I took the elevator back down to the third floor, where my office was as CFO of the firm. But lately, that title was looking pretty weak in terms of authority. My dad could’ve fired me on the spot at any time—and yet he hadn’t. I honestly don’t know why he kept my brother and me around. After all, he treated us like we were absolute disappointments. To be fair, we kind of were. I wasn’t as bad as my brother, but we both drank and partied pretty much every weekend. It was the only thing keeping my life interesting—and even that was getting boring at this point.

The only reason I was sticking around was in hopes of being promoted to CEO. But at the rate I was going, it didn’t seem so auspicious.

My dad had been instigating a competition between my brother and me for the promotion over the past several months. The only thing was, he’d implied that if we didn’t find someone to settle down with and marry, neither of us had a chance. Somewhat fortunately for me, he and my mom had been planning an arranged marriage for me—with the daughter of a close friend and client, someone I’d practically grown up beside. He’d even threatened to give the promotion to mine and my brother’s most hated co-worker, a guy named Karl. He was older than both of us, and despite being a total arrogant jerk, he’d proved to my dad that he was more responsible and adequate for the job than my brother and I combined.

After I powered through as much paperwork as I could, I got off work at 7 p.m. Driving home felt like the slowest, saddest drive. Every day felt like that. I had the most depressing life, and I couldn’t see it at the time.

I decided to avoid seeing my parents that night until the tension eased, so I drove to my apartment instead of going home.

Reaching the door, I fumbled with the keys in my hand until I found the right one. I opened the door, sighing before walking in. "Same old, same old," I muttered to myself out loud.

I threw all my stuff on a table next to the door and dragged my feet as I walked to my bedroom. I quickly brushed and showered before plopping on the bed with a sigh.

My mind ran through all of the day’s events as I lay in bed, beat from a long day.

I heard a faint ringing from the living room but ignored it. All I could think about was the girl from the café. She made me feel new in a way I couldn’t describe. It was the oddest encounter I’d ever had with a woman. I just kept replaying the whole interaction in my head over and over.

And although I felt that there was something I was forgetting, I let myself drift off into sleep.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***