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the coffee shop for her lunch break. That horrible sense of anxiety had settled in her stomach. It wasn’t that she had anything to truly be worried about; it was just a constant presence in her life. She hated the feeling and the only thing that really helped was exercise, alcohol, and sex. She wasn’t getting laid, so exercise and alcohol were her escapes. She was long overdue for a vacation and she couldn’t wait until she was able to get one.
     
    Kalena enjoyed her turkey sandwich on rye bread and tried to ignore how dry it was. People always pretended to like coffeehouse sandwiches when they were just glorified choke sandwiches. She drank her chai tea and people-watched.  Everyone always looked like they were in a hurry. She found herself wondering about each person’s struggles and story. Everyone had their own universe that they were operating in and you never knew about it until they opened up to you. That’s one of the reasons that she loved working on ads. She first had to research what part of people she wanted to appeal to and then work a campaign around it. It was pure psychology at the end of the day even if it was a bit manipulative.
     
    “Excuse me, but is this seat taken?” A man asked.
     
    “Oh no,” Kalena said as she moved her purse. “Sorry about that.  I just tend to spread out wherever I go.”
     
    “It’s alright,” he said with a huge grin.
     
    Kalena looked at him and was impressed. He was a cute white boy with a little swag. She liked the way that he dressed. It was urban without trying too hard, she could tell that it was really just a part of who he was.
     
    “I think I have the best seat in the house,” he said casually as he placed his food on the counter.
     
    “Why is that?”
     
    “Because I’m sitting next to you, of course.”
     
    Kalena playfully rolled her eyes and blushed at the same time, “Oh, I bet you say that to all of the girls.”
     
    “Only the ones that I like.”
    “So you like me now? I find that hard to believe seeing as though we just met one minute ago.”
     
    “Well, I like what I see, and I’m hoping to get to know more.”
     
    “I don’t know about all that?”
     
    “Why? It’s because I’m white, isn’t it?”
     
    “So now you’re pulling the race card?”
     
    He grinned and flashed his beautiful smile with a slight overbite, “It depends. Is it working?”
     
    “Well I do have a newly implemented affirmative action plan for white boys.”
     
    “Yes!” he said, enthusiastically.
     
    “Wow, you’re silly.”
     
    “I can be and admit it, you kind of like it, right?”
     
    “What’s your name?”
     
    “It’s Joseph.”
     
    “I’m Kalena, it’s nice to meet you.”
     
    He extended his hand and they shook hands. He gave her a nice firm handshake and she was impressed. Most men gave women weak handshakes and it annoyed her.
     
    “So, what are you doing here, Kalena?”
     
    “I work in the area so I’m just having lunch. I’m a little mad that I only have about 15 minutes left. I could use another hour.”
     
    “Aww man, you’re getting ready to leave me already? But you just came into my life,” he said dramatically.
     
    “You can’t miss what you’ve never had.”
     
    “Well, give me a chance to figure out what I’d be missing if you ever decided to leave me.”
     
    “Really? That was pretty corny.”
     
    “Sorry, I let my white boy out, huh?”
     
    “No, that was just corny. I don’t think it had anything to do with your race.”
     
    “Ouch.”
     
    Kalena laughed. She really liked it when a man could take a joke. She was super sarcastic and everyone didn’t get her humor or teasing but he seemed to be taking it in stride. He’d won a few cool points in her book. There is nothing worse than having to censor yourself when dating someone. It’s all going to come out in the end anyway so hiding it just seems ridiculous.
     
    “So can I have your number, Kalena? I would love to