I didn't even get a sip

It was a long arduous time for the world at one point in time, one series of vaccinations, a few more convictions of opportunists and all six of the refund checks later and John finally found himself in the open among other people who were finally free of masks. The scenes unfolding around him would have been strange before now with all of the long sustained hugs around him that looked something like the quiet breeze before a giant orgy breaks out. The people of the world were finally free to give each other hugs and since so much time was spent in isolation long hugs weren't so awkward anymore they were an unspoken agreement amongst the masses. Never mind all that now, John was after something a little more intimate and private. A series of texts, long Skype sessions and stimulating watch party discussions later John was about to go on a date with Samantha. This particular date was unique not only was this the first real date they ever had in person but this would the first time they had actually seen each other. I know, I know as cheesy as it sounds Samantha and John were stimulated by different means altogether. After all the time the world wasted on the way people looked John and Samantha initially came to agree that neither of them were going to peek at each other's social media to see what the other looked like but instead challenged, complimented and compiled as much information about each other as possible so that their first meeting was not tainted with superficial expectation but grounded with foundational roots in one simple core value they agreed was most important of all after getting out of their share of abusive relationships: Personality is the key to being happy with someone, it's never in how someone looked but it's in who they are. So they built their foundation slowly, with every podcast listened to, books read and even the seedy topic of religion came into the fray between them and after they both came to the conclusion that they weren't trying to convert one another they kept "meeting". John stopped right before a quietly lit patio space in front of a black oakwood bar, The Steaming Tugboat, and checked his watch. It was half past eight, right on time. The bar was one of the few places that remained empty since it was so dimly lit, most people went for the bright shining spaces that shed bright luminescent lights over everyone's faces whereas Samantha and John were pretty adamant about having an intimate candlelit dinner buttoned with adult playtime later. It was a mutual agreement there as well, being horny only made you human. With a slight chuckle to himself and a slight adjustment of his tie he waltzed in and was guided to a small corner booth in the wide room with a few scattered couples who had the same idea they had by a neatly dressed maître's

He seated himself into the rich Corinthian leather seats as the Maître lit the small collection of candles in the center of the table to compliment the dim LED lights over John's head in the booth.

"Will you be dining alone this evening?" She asked.

"No, I'm expecting someone."

"Very well, Monsieur. Would you like wine menu?"

" oh no need. We'll have two bottles of Merlot and two glasses."

"Excellent order indeed, Monsieur."

"Now there's a voice I recognize!"

A new voice startled them both and John craned his head around the Maître to see Samantha in an elegant hip hugging dress with a plunging neckline and cut seam that reveled her thick muscular thighs and pleasing ankles. Her ebony skin glimmered as if it bared it's own resonant frequency a goddess with a smile that made John's armpits sweat. "thank God." they thought to themselves. John's jaw was wide open and was closed with the Maitre cleared her throat and offered Samantha her seat. It was going to be a good night indeed.