Looking for You (Oh Captain, My Captain 1)

“Right now he is working with a bunch of uncoordinated monkeys,” Jim said as he sat our plates in front with us.

“You work for the circus?” I ask as both men bust out laughing.

“No, he means the people I work with are like uncoordinated monkeys.” Hudson shakes his head. I feel my face redden with embarrassment. Jim is still laughing as he walks away.

“I guess I know how to embarrass myself,” I mumble.

“Actually you’re not that far off, but it was cute what you said.”

I give him a small smile, before looking at my plate. The bacon cheeseburger on it is massive. Not to mention the onion rings are piled high next to it.

“Wow, that’s a lot of meat,” I think out loud.

“What’s wrong? You can’t handle that much meat?” Hudson questions.

I slightly gasp at his comment. He instantly begins to shake his head.

“Sorry, I work with a bunch of guys, so I forget my manners sometimes.”

“No, it’s me,” I say hanging my head. “My friend, Lacey, is always teasing me because I blush at the littlest thing.”

“It’s cute,” he leans in a little and whispers. My only thought is how amazing he smells. He smells like fresh rain, and it makes my heart skip a beat.

I ignore his comment and start to pick at my onion rings. I look around and see more people starting to shuffle in. Some of them seem to be staring at me, and I wonder if something is on my face.

Jim comes back and refills my drink and goes to hand me the bill.

“I’ve got it,” Hudson says.

“Um, no it’s fine. Thanks anyway.” I try to reach for the bill, but he’s quicker.

“Consider it a thank you.”

“For what?”

He doesn’t reply, he only smiles at me, and hands Jim a credit card. I quickly down my drink. I try to add everything up in my head that happened while I was there: he talked to me, asked personal questions, and bought my dinner. Yep, I bet he wants sex. That’s not going to happen.

I quickly thank him for dinner, grab my purse, and practically run for the door. Cute or not, there’s no way that I’m going to let him think I’m easy. I’m about a block away from the bar, when I hear him yell my name. I quickly dig my hand into my side pocket of my purse, where I hide my pepper spray.

I turn to face him as he jogs closer to me. I realize that he isn’t much taller than I am, but much cuter than I initially thought in the bar.

“You can take your hand off the pepper spray can. I promise I’m not going to hurt you,” he says as he comes within a foot of me.

“How did you know that?” I don’t release it, just in case.

“I have a baby sister. I tell her to never leave her apartment without it,” he chuckles.

I can feel my face flush, but I’m not going to let go, yet.

“I want to give you this.” He hands me a napkin.

I inspect the napkin and it has his name and phone number on it.

I hand it back to him. “I don’t live here so it’s pointless.”

Shock is all over his face. “I don’t think a girl has ever handed my number back to me.” He pauses for a few seconds. “But you said that you work for a medical supply company, and I’m going to assume that you will be coming around more. Plus,” he steps closer to me, “there is no harm in talking on the phone or texting a friend.”

I do want his number. Plus, there isn’t any harm in having a connection in Portland. I nod, holding onto the napkin.