They All Died Smiling

The bellow of the train and the blurry, canned voice announcing the stop drowned out the call. Once it blew up its tail wind and left, I put the phone back up to my ear. Julie hadn’t stopped talking. She sounded like popcorn bursting with enough enthusiasm to blow the lid clear off the pot, but her voice came out with the same vague vowels as the recorded announcement.

“Sorry Jules, I can’t hear you, but I’m glad something went your way. Talk to you when I get home.”

I could hardly wait to leave the bowels of the city. A few long minutes later, my train blew in with an extended screech of overworked brakes. A pair of green eyes caught mine. They belonged to a hottie squeezing his way off the train. He looked so familiar, but I couldn’t imagine who he might be. He obviously spent time in the gym and was having a terrific day.

My cheeks flushed as I remembered my hair was a windblown mess and my lipstick was probably long gone since I hadn’t freshened it up before leaving work.

Mr. Hottie wore a black suit. Looked like a government agent, maybe FBI. Its starkness clashed with his warmth. His duds looked much too stiff and formal for him, in my opinion. I imagined him in swim trunks and diving into a pool. I’d sure love to rub warm suntan lotion all over him. Who could blame me for daydreaming of summer on a cold November day? My own body obviously liked what my mind dreamed up, because my lady parts got all excited.

Smiling back at me, Mr. Hottie paused to put on the leather coat he had draped over his arm, and then his eyes drank in the whole scene as if he were someplace delightful. I should know better by now, but as he passed me, I couldn’t resist complimenting him.

“You have a great smile.”

Miracle of miracles, he answered me, even making eye contact.

“Thanks.” His smile grew. He looked into my eyes and my stomach fluttered.

Can we please go back in time five minutes so I can whip out my hairbrush and lipstick before this encounter?

Mr. Hottie knew me too. Or maybe my overactive imagination played with me? His expression wore that I Know You from Somewhere look. Then the moment passed as he dashed toward the stairs and up into the blustery night.

Several of us squeezed onto the train and looked for a seat. The only kind left were the ones that make you sit sideways.