He had me Merlot...

Amara sat there with her elbow on the table, her hand holding her head up as she listened to what’s-his-name rambling on about himself. Her long blonde hair falling gently over her petite shoulders. She knew her body language probably appeared rude, but she couldn’t mask how incredibly bored she was and how much she was regretting saying yes to this date.

Sean! That’s his name! She thought, relieved that she remembered as that would make this date even more awkward than it already was. Surely, he could sense that there was no spark or connection and that they shared nothing in common. She fidgeted in her chair, picking lint off her black cocktail dress that snugged her little frame tightly.

She should have known better than to agree to a blind date, but Amara trusted her best friend Skye when she said that she knew ‘the perfect guy’ for her. It had been almost a year since Amara went on a date of any kind so she figured she might as well bite the bullet and take a chance, which is completely out of character for her. Amara always played it safe, liked being in control of her life, and functioned better when she knew what laid ahead of her. After the breakup with Dean a year ago, which almost broke her, Amara threw herself into her career as a Forensics Medical Director. 'Serves me right,' she thought, 'should stick with what you know girl.'

Amara glanced across the restaurant looking for an escape route she knew that she would never take. It was then she saw him, standing at the bar with a glowing aura surrounding him, which was created by the overhanging bar lights. He was tall, at least 6’4, with dark hair that sat effortlessly perfect like he was in a Calvin Klein advertisement. He was wearing a white button-up collared shirt with the first few buttons undone exposing his chest with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Tight black trousers that had to have been tailor-made the way they fit him so impeccably. He had smoldering crystal blue eyes that she could feel herself getting lost in and didn’t even want to try to find a way out of. It looked like he was there with a group of work colleagues, all similarly dressed, just not as alluring as he was. They cheer drinks and he smiled; Amara felt her heart drop. His faultless smile beamed across the room and she felt herself start to blush. Focus, Amara! She snapped herself back to reality, the reality where she sat across from Sean, who was still prattling on about some work thing. How on earth is she going to get out of this one?

The bill could not come quick enough for Amara however it felt as though Sean was trying to prolong the date by ordering dessert. Amara excused herself to use the restroom just to take a breather and to call Skye and ask her why she thought we would hit it off. She pulled out her phone in the restroom while she touched up her hair and make-up.

“I’m taking it the date isn’t going well by the fact that you are calling me.” Skye answered without even saying hello.

“Have you actually ever met this guy? Like, in real life?” Amara asked.

Skye and Amara had met back in their first year of college where they bonded immediately and had been inseparable ever since. They were as different as chalk and cheese, Skye had dark short hair, dark features and whilst she was short, she had a curvier frame. She was loud, boisterous and wasn’t scared to tell you what she thought, even if you may get offended. Amara on the other hand was taller with blonde hair, blue eyes and olive skin. She was quiet, reserved and absolutely hated confrontation. She was compassionate and empathetic, considering people’s feelings. But they just gelled instantly, Skye was the yin to Amara’s yang.

Amara could just hear laughing on the other end of the phone.

“Well, technically I haven’t had a proper conversation with him. He works down on level 9 in family law but occasionally comes up for meetings.” Skye chuckled, amused by the tone in Amara’s voice. Skye works at a law firm in the commercial law department, which suited her personality so well. She made herself a reputation of being fierce and relentless in the courtroom and Skye was damn proud of her prominence.

“Not once has he asked me a question about myself, he has literally spent the last 45mins talking about himself. Not one single question Skye! Now I have to go back to the most boring, self-centered date I have ever been on. I hate you.” Amara uttered.

“I’m sorry. Love you, call me when you get home.” Skye laughed.

“Love you too” Amara mumbled back as she hung up the phone and slid it back into her purse. She looked at herself in the mirror, arranged her dress and fluffed her hair. “Alright let’s do this,” she said to herself as she walked out of the restroom.

As she returned to her chair Amara noticed the tall, hunky man and his colleagues had left. How long was I in the restroom? Amara thought to herself. She felt a little pit in her stomach now that her only form of distraction was gone and she would now have to endure this date all on her own. Finally, the bill came and Amara reached for it right away, her card ready in her hand waiting. She handed it straight back to the waitress without even looking at the bill, at this point she didn’t even care about the cost of the dinner, she just wanted this night to be over and without feeling like she owed Sean more of her time because he paid for the date.

“Oh, you should have let me get that.” Sean slurred whilst gulping down the last of his beer. Amara lost count of how many he had by now. “I’ll get the next one sweet cheeks,” he said as he winked at Amara. She could feel her skin crawl at the thought of having to tolerate another evening with him ever again.

“It’s ok, my treat.” Amara softly said.

“So where to now sugar? Wanna hit the bar? Or wanna head over to my place? I think I have more beers back home.” Sean confidently asked.

“Actually, I have an early start tomorrow, so I am just going to head home” Amara lied as she stood up and put her credit card back into her purse.

“Oh. Right. Well I mean, I won’t need to keep you up long if you know what I mean?” Sean creepily joked.

“Tempting, but I really can’t. I better stand out front and hail a cab” Amara said sarcastically as she picked up her coat and gestured to leave the restaurant.

“True.” He replied, the confident look draining from his face as he realised that there was no way Amara was going home with him.

Sean hailed down a taxi and turned to Amara, “I had a lot of fun tonight, would love to take you out again sometime.” He leaned in to give Amara a kiss, she shot out her hand to shake his before he had the chance to land a kiss. “Yeah, me too. Well, goodnight,” she replied.

“Yeah, right. Goodnight then.” He said back, as he got into the cab and drove off. Amara stood there in amazement that he didn’t even offer for her to take the cab. But she didn’t care, she was just relieved that this night was officially over. Amara decided she would just walk home; it was only a few blocks away and the fresh air might do her some good. As she passed a little lounge bar, she decided she might as well pop in and have a nightcap before heading home, swearing an oath to not date for another year after her experience tonight.

The bar had a cute vibe to it, with low lighting, fairy lights and plants hung from the ceilings creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Amara had lived in this city for 6 years or so now and must have walked past this bar a million times, yet this was the first time she had ever gone in. Amara didn’t know why she was drawn to come into the bar tonight, nor why she felt like having a drink at this time, but for some reason, this bar called out to her. She walked up to the bar and ordered a drink, she turned around to find a quiet place to sit and unwind for a few minutes before heading home. BAM! Someone had bumped into her so hard that she spilt her drink all down her dress, she could feel it running down her legs and into her heels. The glass hit the ground and smashed into pieces. She looked up and her voice got caught in her throat when she realised who it was. It’s him, the mysterious man from the restaurant! She thought to herself, feeling her whole body go hot with embarrassment.

“I am so sorry! I didn’t even see you there!” he apologized. His voice was low and husky yet comforting to Amara’s soul like her grandmother’s hot chicken soup when she was sick. He grabbed some napkins off the bar counter and went to blot her dress but realizing that was probably inappropriate so handed them to Amara instead. “It’s ok, accidents happen.” Amara managed to fumble out the words as she dried off her dress, wiping down her legs. He lent across her to ask the bartender for more napkins and some club soda. Amara could smell his cologne; it was intoxicating and almost instantaneously she forgot all about the bad date she just had.

“Please, let me buy you another drink.” He offered.

“Honestly, it’s ok. Lucky, I wore black tonight,” Amara joked. He smiled tenderly back to her, running his hand through his Calvin Klein model hair. His smile was even more entrancing up close; Amara could feel herself melting. If this isn’t an example of perfect serendipity, then what is? Amara asked herself.

He held out his hand to shake hers “My name is Lincoln, pleasure to meet you” he smiled charismatically. Amara slid her hand into his, “Amara” she replied as she shook his hand.

“Let me get you that drink, what are you drinking?” Lincoln asked.

“Merlot,” Amara smiled back "a glass of merlot.”