Care Bears

I don't know why I agree to come to his house. This isn't me. I'm not that girl. I am the shy, awkward, 'I'm sorry was that a priceless family heirloom I just broke?' kind of girl. But, man, he’s so hot. How could I say no?

Griffin smiles at me from across the table as his butler dutifully lays the food out. I think, He must be slumming it. I must be the rebound for some model he just broke up with. The butler tops off our wine and leaves. The room echoes with the silence as Griffin takes a bite out of the food. 

Taking a bite, I am temporarily distracted by the decor and his washboard abs. “This is delicious! What is it?” 

“Figs Prosciutto with gorgonzola dolce, one of Chef’s specialties,” He answers in that deep, resonant voice. 

“It’s wonderful! Wait, did you say gorgonzola?” I ask, panicked. I couldn’t taste it. The texture wasn’t there. I didn’t know. Too late. My stomach twists with my lactose intolerance. 

Yup. This is me on a date. Never mind that it’s a date with one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen in real life or pictures. He’s staring at me now. Clearly, he’s over his interest in a hook up. I stand, toppling my wine glass and chair. No time for apologies. The humiliation could only get worse from here. 

“Where’s the bathroom?” I scramble in the direction Griffin points, not bothering to right the chair or the wine. 

An hour later, I finally managed to scrounge up enough courage to exit the bathroom with the garden tub and marble tile. Who am I kidding? I never stood a chance with him. Walking back down the hall, I take a wrong turn and can’t find the dining room or the front door. The front door would be better I think. 

I make another turn and open a door to find a room full of Care Bears. There’s a Care Bear themed bed, full of a rainbow variety of stuffies. The rug in front of the fireplace is a shag, rainbow carpet. The drapes, the lamps. It’s like a dream come true for me. Good Luck Bear has led a long, luxurious life on my twin bed at home. I let out a sigh and turn back only to find Griffin standing there, fidgeting with a Love-a-Lot Bear in his hand. 

“Do you have a little sister?” I ask, trying to ignore the fact that I’ve been lost somewhere in his house for over an hour now. 

Griffin shakes his head. “This is my room.” 

“Really! I love Care Bears!” 

He looks around and clears his throat. “This doesn’t bother you?” 

I bite my lip, smiling from ear to ear. All I can do is shake my head no. Griffin’s eyebrows lift slightly. 

“No?”

“Not even a little bit.” 

He takes me in his arms and straight to the rainbow, shag carpet.