“Thank you.” I said, quietly.
“Ronnie!” Morgan yelled, and I turned to face her as she came out of the dressing room in a vintage white and black polka dot bikini. “How cute is this!”
“I wouldn't describe that bikini as cute.” The man beside me said.
“Oh!” She blushed, and did a little twirl. “Mind helping me with the rest of my looks, sexy stranger?”
He chuckled. “I'd be happy too.”
I stood there for a minute, watching as he seemingly forgot all about me. Two seconds ago, he was complimenting my sunglasses, and now he was holding Morgan's purse while she tried clothes on. How did she do it? Every. Single. Time. It's not that I was interested in the man, quite the opposite actually. The point was that she had this way of sucking all of the attention out of a room, and absorbing it into herself.
When she came out wearing a pink mini dress that barely covered her ass, the man whistled, and she giggled. I rolled my eyes.
“I'm heading to the record store!” I called over to her. “It's just up the road a bit. I'll meet you back here when I'm finished.”
“Are you sure?” She pouted.
I took the sunglasses off, and gently set them on the table I'd grabbed them from.
“Absolutely.” I waved, and before she could stop me, I left.
I didn't bother getting into the truck. The fresh air would do me some good anyway. I walked past a chocolate shop, a diner, and two cell phone stores before finally reaching the record store. Speakertree Records was exactly what I was hoping for. When I stepped inside the smell of vinyl instantly filled my senses.
There was a yellowed velvet couch in the center of the room, and a rug with a mandala design beneath it. In the front of the building was a small stage with a drum kit, guitar, bass, and a mic stand. My eyes lit up as I made my way towards the vast array of records. They were all displayed beautifully, and organized alphabetically, by genre. I ran my fingers over a few, and a smile formed on my lips of it's own accord. This was my happy place.
“Can I help you find something?” An attractive looking man asked, as he approached me.
“I'm just browsing.”
“Who's your favorite?” He asked, the excitement in his eyes evident.
“Bonnie Raitt.”
“Luck of the draw or Streetlights?”
“Streetlights.” I answered, with a smirk. “It isn't as well known, but that's what makes it so special. There are songs on that record that people may have never heard.”
“Angel from Montgomery.”
I shook my head. “See. That's the only well known song on the album.”
“But it's not your favorite?” He asked, arching a brow.
“Ain't nobody home.”
“I have a feeling there's a story there.” He said arching a brow. “I'm Owen Foster, by the way.”
“Veronica. Ronnie, Locke.” I corrected.
I blushed, as I began to really take in his features. He had black hair, and it was styled almost effortlessly. His left eyebrow was pierced, as was the left side of his lip. He wore a pair of fitted jeans, and a black tee shirt with black, and white converse on his feet. The five O'clock shadow he was sporting made him look a little rough around the edges, but still approachable. I noticed that both of his arms were covered in tattoos as well. I tried to take a closer look at them, but when he cleared his throat I suddenly jumped back.
“I'm sorry.” I said. “I uh. I was just admiring your tattoos.”
He laughed. “Do you have any?”
“Me?” I scoffed. “No. I've always wanted one, but I guess it just didn't fit in with my image.”
“And what kind of image is that, Ronnie?”
The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine, and I had to literally shake it off.
“I uh, I work in marketing.”
He scratched the bottom of his chin with his thumb. “Huh, you don't seem the type.”
I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“Calm down, killer.” He teased. “It's just women like you, are like unicorns.”
I shot my eyebrow up in question, and he held his hand up.
“Just hear me out. When a beautiful woman walks into a record store, and actually knows what she's talking about it's rare enough. But when that woman has the brains to back up her beauty... unicorn.”
I laughed then, and another man came around the corner to greet us.
“Can I help you two find anything?” He asked, expectantly.
“Oh, I've already been helped. Thank you.” I answered, and Owen bit back a smirk.
It was then that I realized, that Owen didn't work here. I could feel the flush on my face, as the embarrassment washed over me. He couldn't hold back his laughter anymore, and soon I was laughing right along with him.
“I honestly thought you worked here.” I said, swatting his arm playfully.
He shrugged. “It worked, didn't it?”
“What exactly?”
“I got you to talk to me. What are the chances of getting your number?”
I had no idea how to react. Things like this didn't happen to me. Besides, I was only in Virginia for a week. What was I going to do? Lead him on, and then disappear?
“Have I pushed my luck?” He asked, when I wasn't answering.
“No. It's just... I'm not from around here. I'm only visiting, and I-”
“Relax, Ronnie. It's only a date. One date.”
I thought about it for a second. He had a point. And why shouldn't I go out and have some fun? Lord knows that Morgan was probably bringing her new sexy stranger back to her hotel room tonight. There was nothing wrong with making new friends, and besides Owen and I had a lot in common. What's the worst that could happen?
“OK.” I answered, pulling my phone from my bag. “Let's exchange numbers.”
