I pull the strands of my hair back over my shoulders and chew on my lip. Anything to look busy and not at all being stood-up by a date... The wooden seat feels all too hard against my back, I don't want to seem lazy so I sit up even straighter--sure, as if this makes me look approachable and at my best.

I sigh and briefly knit my hands in front of my eyes. "Could I trouble you for another latte," I grab the attention of my server. I can see his sympathetic smile and expression, he thinks I'm being stood-up, too.

I look away before he can see the blood rushing to my face in embarrassment and grab the book on the table. There's a bright red rose sandwiched between the pages and I fiddle with it, as if it wasn't sitting just fine before. I keep rearranging it, trying to make it visible but also balanced precariously at the end of the table. The air outside is much colder than within, steam is softly creeping up from the edges of the windows in the cafe while rivulets of rain chase each other down the pane.

Each time the cafe bell rings at the open and closing of the door, I flit my eyes up, hopeful but not too hopeful.

It rings again and I look up but the hope in my body is quickly doused with disgust. I've done something in a previous life to keep running into this asshole. A perfectly handsome asshole but his personality thus far has proven less than cordial.

His green eyes meet mine and I absolutely grab my book. Fuck the flower that unceremoniously falls out of it. I unceremoniously shove it in front of my face to show an obvious sign of disengagement and lack of desired social interaction. It's no good. The too-stiff wooden chair on the opposite of my table is dragged back across the subway tiles and he settles into the chair.

"Fancy seeing you here!" He flashes a wide grin, it's full of mirth and there's a teasing lilt to his voice. I lower the book from my face, after I've schooled my expression. He's not going to get a rise out of me. I'm in control, I'm in control, I'm in control. "Why are you following me," I spit. Okay, maybe not fine tuned control. He picks up the flower from it's sad location on the floor and places it in front of me. "I'm expecting someone, and you're in his seat." I make a fake sad face as I subtly tell him to get lost.

"Goodness me, what a small world. I also came here because I'm expecting to meet someone. She told me she'd be reading Pride & Prejudice, with a bright red rose. Know anyone matching the description?" He picks up the rose again and twirls it in front of his face, inhaling the scent as he watches my brown eyes widen and jaw drop.

I've been in love with this asshole for the better part of this year, and I didn't even know it.