Chance

The sun was at my back as I opened the door and stepped inside. I blinked and then squinted, trying to bring the dark room into focus. The tables were full, and a dozen people stood waiting to be seated. The cold, manufactured air in the restaurant cozied my damp blouse up against my back. I pushed my way to the front of the line, put my name in on the waiting list, and decided to wait for Maggie at the bar.

The bar was almost as crowded as the restaurant. Despite the chill of the sweat dampened blouse against my skin, I wanted a cold beer. At the end of the bar closest to me there was a group of college girls. I steered clear of them after I heard a squeal, giggling, and then a breathy voice say a little too loudly that she and Kai were no longer seeing each other. Maybe it was because I’m a woman, but girls like that irritated me, and I’d already had a long day.

I wedged myself between two guys at the other end of the bar. As I leaned in over the bar to get the bartender’s attention, I noticed him. I hadn’t seen him since my college years. First the sorority sisters and now Dr. Nance. Apparently, someone wanted me to feel old.

Zachary Nance had always scared me. He was larger than life, better looking than George Clooney, and heavy with a red pen. I’d had him for several classes in my college career. He was the communications department chair. Majoring in communications, I had no choice but deal with him through my college career.

Okay, I told myself. Order the beer and move. Get away from the bar. He wasn’t looking my way yet. With any luck, I would get away before he did glance toward me. The bartender finally looked at me, and I asked for a draft beer. I watched her, rather than Dr. Nance. It was like high school all over again. Don’t look at the good-looking guy, because what if he’s looking at you! Don’t make eye contact with the teacher, and he won’t call on you.

"Kris?”

Busted. I felt his eyes on me as the bartender handed me the pint glass. I cussed Maggie silently for being late. If she’d been on time, I wouldn’t be standing here at the bar alone, caught under Zachary Nance’s microscope.

“Dr. Nance.” I smiled and pretended I just noticed him sitting there.

“How are you?” He reached down the bar, past the guy on my left, and covered my hand with his. “I haven’t seen you for years.”

He looked the same, though time had outlined life around his eyes. His dark hair was shot through with gray, but it only added to his attractive looks. His red knit shirt was open at the neck. He sported the tan of a man who spends a lot of time outdoors.

“I’m doing well, thank you,” I answered. I wanted a swallow of my beer, but I felt weird about tipping the glass up in front of an old teacher. Never mind that I had been a legal drinker for over ten years. “How are you?”

“Great.” He shook his head and pursed his lips as if to ask me why I would have to ask, didn’t he look great? “What are you doing now? Do you live here in town?”

I thought about lying. Weighed the benefits and the risks (one lie leads to another, and it to another) and decided to be honest.

“I do live here. I’m writing ad copy for several businesses in town.”

“That’s great.” He drank from his pilsner glass. I wondered absently what beer he was drinking. I saw his eyes wonder to my hand. “Are you married?”

Again, I was tempted to lie. Then again, saying I wasn’t married didn’t exactly mean I had to go into the whole story about the man I had thought I was going to marry.

“No.”

“No?” He arched his eyebrows in surprise, but I acted like I didn’t catch the look.

“Are you still at the college?”

“Retired a few years back.” He shook his head.

I was sweating again. I felt like I was facing a firing squad. Past the point of caring what he thought, I took a drink of my beer.

“Do you wanna get a table?” he suggested. “Catch up?”

“I’m sorry. I’m meeting a friend.” I wasn’t sorry, but I was polite. I glanced at my watch. Maggie was now officially fifteen minutes late.

It's been a while, but I think the writing prompt was about running into an old teacher. I would love to write more on this some day.

#chance #chancemeeting #collegeprofessor #bar #drinks