Free Disillusion Meets Delight by Leah Battaglio

you meet anyone nice?”  Maggie asked as they got out of the car and walked into the house. 
     
    “No, not really.  I don’t think I am going to meet the woman of my dreams in a bar.”  Ian replied.
     
    “You’re probably right.  Maybe you will meet her in a video store.”  Maggie replied back with a meddlesome giggle. It was funny because for some reason, Ian had been thinking about video store girl tonight as well.  In fact, he almost thought he saw her but it was dark and after a few shots, people start to look the same.  He hadn’t seen her for a while which makes sense. Why would he?  It was crazy odds that their paths crossed like they did anyway.  Besides, she hated him and he didn’t think he was that fond of her to be honest.  She was high strung and had terrible taste in films.  Yet Ian still found himself thinking of her and as usual, he had no idea why. 
     

Chapter Eighteen
     
     
     
    As Mya and I got in our cab to go home, I felt elated.  I knew that I would never see the hot Ben Affleck guy again but it had been a long time since a hot guy wanted to buy me drinks.  It was a great ego booster.
     
    “See Natalie, we have you going home before 4 A.M. just as I promised.  Did you have fun?”  Mya asks as she pulls the hair pins out of her hair.
     
    “You know what Mya, I did.  In fact…”  My thought was interrupted by the ringing of my phone.  Could it be?  No way is he calling me now.  I scramble through my purse to see an unknown number on my caller id.  Holy crap!
     
    “Natalie, answer your phone!”  Mya squeals while jumping up and down in her seat.
     
    “Hello?”  I say in my best cool and calm voice. 
     
    “Hey, is this Natalie?”  Oh my god his voice is just as sexy as his face.  Deep breaths take deep breaths and don’t say anything stupid.
     
    “Yes, it’s me.” I reply, still trying to do the deep breaths.
     
    “Hey you.  It’s Jake.  I know I’m breaking ten million of my own rules by calling you, but I just wanted you to know that I really enjoyed tonight and if you want to call me tomorrow, maybe we can get coffee or something.”  I can’t believe this.  A hot guy wants to have coffee with me, just coffee, not a one night stand, just coffee!  Granted, a one night stand would be nice but coffee is better.  Coffee is more respectable and doesn’t make you feel cheap afterwards.  Coffee doesn’t require high expectations and extensive wardrobe evaluations.  Well, you get the picture.
     
    “That sounds great.  So, I will talk to you tomorrow then.”  And with that, I ended my phone call with hot Ben Affleck guy feeling complete and utter bliss.  In fact, I feel fabulous. 
     
    As the cab dropped Mya and I off, I floated across the street to my apartment and pranced around for a few minutes in my pajamas.  After all, I did have quite a few drinks purchased for me.  It’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.  Of course, when my alarm went off the next morning, I didn’t feel so fabulous.  In fact, I felt like complete and utter crap.  Yes, I had a hangover and it was going to become worse as I was spending the morning with my mother and the Wellingtons.  Thank goodness for my top of the line coffee maker.  Have I mentioned how much I love coffee? 
     
    After addressing the dark circles under my eyes with my favorite concealer, I decided that I would wear my new pink turtleneck from Ann Taylor with my crème colored slacks.  Since I was with the “Snooties”, I would wear my “alligator" brown loafers.  To finish off the ensemble, I would wear my new tan trench coat from London Fog.  I have to say for someone that feels like a truck just ran her over, I look remarkable. 
     
    I stand in front of my mirror for what some would consider a narcissistic length of time until my phone rings, which is of course my mother.
     
    “Natalie, darling, you never called me to let me know what you were going to wear.  So,