"Hello": A Writing Exercise

    Happy Monday! Today’s word was “Hello”. In my second manuscript In the Hello and in the Goodbye, a sconed chance romance, the story spans the falling in, out of, and trying to fight for the love of Evie Johnson and Colm Gallagher. The book starts with their meeting at a coffeeshop told through Colm’s perspective. I used today’s word to give a glimpse into Evie’s reaction when she first sees Colm. The manuscript is currently in editing but here’s a sneak peek. 😊

Hello

By: Melissa Whitney

The sweet aroma of cinnamon danced through the coffeeshop making the sensation of Christmas almost hug Evie. It wasn’t Christmas, though. It was August twenty-seventh, the heat of summer still held court, but Autumn whispered into the room with the laminated sign announcing Pumpkin Spiced Lattes. Giddiness wiggled through Evie as she scooted through the crowded coffeeshop towards the bathroom. Despite the disappointment of last night’s failed first date, the promise of her beloved PSLs rallied her.

            Last night’s date was with a thirty-year-old surgeon from the hospital she worked at. It had been nice enough. He was polite. Said all the right things. He’d bought their drinks. It all seemed okay. Just okay ‘til he’d left their table to use the restroom. Evie’s blue eyes followed him as he cut through the packed bar. An older woman headed towards the same unisex bathroom. Just as he reached the entryway to the single bathroom, he slipped in front of the woman and hurried into the open door. As the older woman waited, tapping on her cell phone, Evie’s blood boiled. It was such a small thing to rule out a perspective boyfriend, but it spoke volumes of who he was, and he wasn’t for her.

            There’d be no second date. Even if he texted, Evie would decline with several smiley face emojis to soften the blow. Although, it was likely not much of a blow. It had only been drinks.

            Washing her hands in the coffeeshop’s bathroom, she rinsed off the memory of last night’s bad first date with the foamy strawberry scented soap. No need to dwell on it. Bad dates were part of the plight of a twenty-six-year-old looking for love. Blinking as she looked at her image in the smudged mirror, she hoped love was looking for her. The right love, not just any old everyday love. The kind that stuttered her heart. The kind that tethered her to a sense of belonging, not to but with someone…the right someone. It may be too greedy, but Evie was okay with being greedy.

            Tossing the crumbled paper towel into the tall silver cylinder trash bin, she stepped out the bathroom door. Making her way through the coffeeshop teaming with waiting patrons, she took her spot in line. Her stare darting around the room soaking in customers hunched over laptops at tables, shelves filled with for sale coffee and travel mugs, and staff wiping tables. Inhaling the coffee’s invigorating aroma promising the first taste of Pumpkin Spice Season, her eyes landed on the entrance. A tall man, laptop bag flung over his shoulder, and a tight firm line severing his strong jaw strode towards the glass door. There was almost a teasing glimpse of his muscular bulky frame hidden beneath gray slacks and a pale blue button up shirt. Where most men would have their top button undone and sleeves rolled up offering peaks of corded forearms and sexy throat columns, he was utterly buttoned up. Even his steps were stiff and purposeful. There was nothing lite nor casual about him. Although, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him.

            Stop staring! Evie chided herself, turning her gaze towards the back of the head of the person in front of her in line.

            Seconds later, her gaze was again pulled towards the entrance. The business version of Thor God of Thunder stood holding the door as a woman with a stroller pushed through the entrance. Evie’s eyes narrowed. Had he been waiting for her all along? Was that his little girl, her little face lit in a giggle, who kicked her legs in the stroller? Was the woman with warm brown eyes tipping her head towards him, his?

            Evie bristled and then bristled at her bristle. This wasn’t like her. She shook her head in self-reproach but remained looking at the tall man. His severe face softened in the tiniest of smiles as the woman with the stroller thanked him as she moved deeper into the coffeeshop. Instead of following, he remained holding the door for an older man in a checkered fedora, then a group of young women, and so on. As people walked up to the door, he stood as if it was his job. As if he had no other mission but to ensure their safe entrance through the door. As if their needs were just as, if not more, important as his.

            Evie placed her hand on her chest. The increased thumping of her heart vibrated against her small hand. Its beat quickened and almost stumbled, as the tall man turned walking through the door. His green eyes, as lush as a field of clovers after a rainstorm, looked her way. There was no spark of recognition in them that he looked at her. That he’d even noticed her. The desire to be noticed pulsed through her. Evie watched as the man’s eyes scanned the coffeeshop.

            Without thinking or second guessing, Evie slipped out of the line. She apologized as she pushed passed fellow customers ‘til she reached the old man with the checkered fedora standing in the back of the line. His gray eyes crinkled in a smile as she joined him.

            “Buying time to decide what you want to order?” the old man’s raspy voice asked, a warm smile swept across his wrinkled face.

            “Something like that,” Evie said, the corner of her eyes watching as the boy next door version of a sexy Viking stepped behind her in line. Goosebumps bloomed across her body at the mere notion of the heat of his body near hers.

She didn’t know how she’d do it, but before she reached the barista, she would talk to him. She’d be brave, because something swam in her belly telling her that he was that someone she’d been waiting for. She just didn’t know how she’d do it, but she had eight people ahead of her in line. That should be enough time to figure out how to say, “Hello”.