DEP POEM
Romantic Red Robin Date
A Tale of Waiting and Connection
Nathan waited at a Red Robin
on Nob Hill Boulevard
for thirty minutes for a date,
who promised to be late
wasn’t her style.
But there he was, wondering
whether waiting
another half hour made sense.
Earlier, a server guided Nathan
over the pine floor
to the oak booth
that he reserved
the other night.
Classic R&B played
through the ceiling speakers.
The workers dialed the lights
to a dim whisper.
The red and teal walls
massaged romance, or lust,
which one he didn’t know.
People around him chatted
and moved their silverware
across steak as the kitchen sizzled
rare, medium, and dark cuts.
The chef grilled burgers
and baptized frozen fries
in boiling oil.
Nathan sipped chilled water
from a streakless glass with frost.
Nathan turned his head and moved
his eyes around as though
someone had called his name,
and he empathized with the guys
waiting alone,
and he envied couples
on dates or anniversaries.
He pushed his glass away
and unlocked his phone.
Olivia texted him
that traffic slowed
for construction crews,
who spent the day
repairing First Avenue.
No more potholes
to weather tires
for factory tires.
Olivia pushed through
the glass doors and entered
the restaurant.
She turned her head
and shifted her eyes.
Nathan stood up halfway
and waved her over.
A grin formed on her face
before she approached him.
Olivia’s eyes sparkled before
he knew they were diamonds.
Nathan’s heartbeat thumped
in his chest.
He moved his damp
hands across his jeans.
Olivia’s presence
lifted the thick, dark
clouds circling the wagons
of imposter syndrome.
Olivia wore a dark skirt
with a tan cardigan
and long, brown boots
that blended with her pale legs.
Olivia’s long, dark hair
framed her heart-shaped face.
Her deep, oval green eyes
sparkled when she smiled.
Nathan’s friend said
internet dates clung
to a facade of undefined tropes.
Olivia’s mother told her the stories
of people stuffed in dumpsters
after meeting on an app.
“You wouldn’t believe the traffic out there,” Olivia said, sliding into the booth. “Sorry, I’m late.”
“You look like your picture,” Nathan said, massaging the back of his neck.
Olivia moved strands of hair behind her ear. “Aren’t I supposed to?” She gestured and laughed. “Did you expect a crackhead?” Oliva widened her eyes and stuck her tongue to the corner of her mouth.
Nathan held in a smile until it came out as a chuckle.
“No, it’s not that…” Nathan lifted and lowered his hands. “It’s just that I’ve never done this before,” Nathan sipped more water.
“Excuse me,” a server interrupted. “Can I get you folks anything?”
She had black slacks and a white dress shirt.
“Um,” Nathan said, motioning to Olivia. “Ladies first.”
She had a pen and a notepad to jot down their order.
Nathan ordered a burger, fries, and iced tea.
Olivia ordered a chicken salad with a side of onion rings.
The waitress worked to earn a tip.
She poured iced tea from the pitcher.
Olivia talked about herself between bites of her salad
and Nathan didn’t flinch to eat in front of her.
Nathan explained his faults, so she’d never throw
them into his face.
Olivia leaned in and said she wasn’t perfect either.
And she winked.
They had no idea that Olivia lived on the floor above his place.
An elevator and a few doors down meant heaven together in bed.
A home and a child would come three years later.
(© 2024 AC)
(Amazon Kindle, Spillwords, The Writers Club)
Other posts at Dancing Elephants Press
✍ — Published by Warren Brown, at Dancing Elephants Press. Click here for submission guidelines.
