So, I’m approaching her and I’m already self-conscious because I know I’ve completely re-mapped my path across the store. She couldn’t possibly know that, but rational thought isn’t keeping me from blushing. I’m trying hard to limit my discreet glancing, but at the same time, I don’t want to miss her. When I get next to her, I try to smile and nod, but I’m such a smitten disaster. The look I gave her must have been a terrifying combination of pathetic and creepy, but here’s the awesome part, she was absolutely beaming. She gave me extended eye contact and an awesome smile—a borderline grin—and a nod.
I really like to think she enjoyed that. Am I living in fantasy land? I realize women don’t appreciate having their asses stared at every time they go somewhere to get groceries, but there must be some gray area where women enjoy some polite attention?
I expect I’ll have a pleasant memory of this encounter for a long time. It reminded me of this moment for Alex in Courting Her, just before he meets Kimberly:
His favorite thing was to pass a girl walking up the sidewalk the other way, legs exposed for the first time that season in short jeans shorts or a colorful skirt, a backpack strapped over a tight short-sleeved T-shirt, and flash her a shy glance, letting his gaze linger long enough for her to notice. Then he would stare down at his shoes. A blush would fill his face that he wouldn’t need to fake, and then her light blush would follow. Only her chin would not droop but lift up. She would smile, inspired by the compliment of his attention, and not look back at him. A moment like that, on the right day, felt a lot like love.
