The One who got Away

We left Marie’s in a hurry with me almost spilling coffee all over myself as I ran for the cab. We were always doing that, getting caught up in conversations and then having to rush to whatever appointment we had. I honestly forgot all about the nail appointment since I usually never paid to get a manicure. I knew that Lisa enjoyed it, it was her break from having to do anything but focus on herself. She was a professor at New York University, and her days, and nights, were always filled with student and faculty issues. She was the youngest tenured professor in the history of NYU, but to get that title, she had to seriously kick some ass and put in the time.

When we arrived at the nail salon, we picked out our colors and were seated next to each other. The woman behind the desk pulled on my hand and turned the lights on it, starting the manicure. Lisa sat next to me smiling at her tech, who happened to be an attractive guy, who also happened to be wearing a Gay Pride T-shirt from that year’s parade. When he walked away, I pointed it out to Lisa, and she got pouty quickly.

“So, what does this mystery man look like?”

“He’s tall, tan, extremely muscular, with dark hair and blue eyes,” I said. “Like drop dead gorgeous.”

“When you say extremely muscular do you mean like a sexy built guy, or like muscles so big the veins pop out, and you can see the blood circulating?”

“Ew,” I laughed. “I mean like sexy built guy. Like Channing Tatum body.”

“Nice,” she said. “Well, I guess you owe me then.”

“For what?”

“For helping you find this guy,” she said.

“You had nothing to do with me finding him,” I laughed.

“On the contrary,” she said in her professor's voice. “I set you up on a date.

“A miserable failure,” I added.

“Still, if it wasn’t for that you wouldn’t have ended up at Exposé’s bar, and thus you would not have met Mr. Sexy Eyes.”

“You are stretching it,” I said with no expression.

“Whatever,” she sang. “You are welcome unless he turns out to be a douche bag then it’s all your fault.”

“Of course,” I laughed.

We spent the rest of our manicures arguing over who was responsible for me meeting Nathan. Finally, I conceded and let her take the credit, it was way easier than fighting with her about it. Besides, she did have a point, if I hadn’t met the asshole, I would have never ended up across the street. At that moment, I was finding that to be a lucky thing, but I wasn’t sure if my view on that would change or not. If he didn’t call, I might go back to being that cynical bitch that pissed off every date I had.

After the manicures, I rode along to Lisa’s apartment since it was on the way to mine. When we pulled up, she looked at me and smiled. She reached over and took my hand, looking as if she were going to get a bit sentimental.

“Look,” she said. “All joking aside. I’m glad you met someone that made you this excited. I haven’t seen you so non-serious since we were kids. I hope he calls, and even if he doesn’t don’t forget the feeling you have right now, it’s what keeps us going.”

“I love you,” I said, leaning in and kissing her cheek.

“Love you too,” she replied opening her door. “Now, go spend the rest of your Sunday being lazy for God’s Sake, and call me if he calls!”

“I will,” I yelled as she shut the door.

I laughed and shook my head as the cab pulled off, heading for my house. She was so goofy, but I loved her nonetheless. Growing up I could have never imagined my older sister being my closest friend, but I seriously felt like there were too many times to count, that if she hadn’t been there, I would have gone insane. The cab pulled up in front of my apartment, and I paid the driver and then jumped out on the sidewalk. I waved at my neighbor as I climbed the stairs to the house, ready to lounge around with my freshly painted fingernails. As I put the key in the door, my phone started to ring. I reached down into my bag and pulled it out, not even looking at the number.

“Hello,” I said cheerfully.

“Hey there,” Nathan said on the other line, making me almost drop the phone. “You busy?”

“Busy? No,” I stuttered.

“I was calling for two reasons,” he said. “I wanted to see how you were feeling today.”

“I feel great,” I said smiling. “I had breakfast with my sister, and now I’m walking into the house.”

“Good,” he said. “And my other reason was that I wanted to ask you to dinner tomorrow night.”

“I would love to,” I said excitedly.