The taxi pulled away from her apartment building and Lily tugged at the corners of her sleeves.
She'd spent an embarrassing amount of time getting ready, changing outfits three times before settling on this. The black long-sleeve shirt with intricate lace around the neckline showed just enough cleavage to be flirty without being over the top. Her nicest pair of black jeans, the ones without any paint stains, and her usual black boots completed the look. She'd even painted her nails fresh black and spent twenty minutes on eyeliner.
Makeup. She'd actually bothered with makeup for once.
The cab slowed and Lily paid the driver, stepping out onto the sidewalk. The Grind House sat nestled between a pharmacy and a medical supply store, its modern glass front glowing warm against the winter night chill. Through the windows she could see scattered customers at various tables. The place looked new, clean, and welcoming.
Open 24/7 according to the sign. Made sense this close to the hospitals.
She pushed through the door and scanned the interior. Exposed brick on one wall, modern industrial lighting, the rich aroma of fresh coffee that meant absolutely nothing to her dead senses except as a memory of what coffee used to taste like.
Joey sat at a table against the far back wall.
You got this, she told herself.
He looked up as she approached and his face lit up with genuine happiness. He practically jumped from his chair, moving quickly to pull hers out.
"Lily! You look amazing."
She gave an awkward wave, thankful that she was incapable of blushing. One of the few times not having a working circulatory system was a good thing.
"Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself."
He wore dark jeans and a burgundy flannel button-up that brought out the warmth in his brown eyes. As he moved back around the table to retake his seat, Lily found herself appreciating the view.
Athletic build without being overdone. Strong shoulders from construction work.
Yeah. She definitely liked what she saw.
Joey sat and she noticed him picking up on her nervousness immediately. His smile was gentle.
"So, what kind of coffee do you like? I'm buying."
Panic fluttered. She couldn't actually drink it but saying no would seem weird and—
"Black," she blurted out a little too quickly.
His eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Seriously? Straight black? That's hardcore. Most people need at least some cream or sugar these days."
Lily shrugged, going for casual.
"I'm a bit odd like that."
Joey laughed, warm and easy.
"I like odd."
He headed to the counter and Lily watched him order, her mind racing. How the hell was she going to get rid of coffee without him noticing? This was already shaping up to be a disaster.
Joey returned, sliding back into his seat with that relaxed confidence that somehow made her feel less anxious.
"So," he started, leaning forward with genuine interest, "what brought you to Dallas? You mentioned you just moved here."
Lily cleared her mind, focusing on him. On the conversation.
On being normal.
"Things got heavy in New Orleans after my grandmother passed away."
Not entirely a lie.
"I spent my whole life there and I just...needed a change of scenery, you know? Dallas has a great art scene, so it seemed like the right move."
"I'm sorry about your grandmother."
His expression shifted to sympathy.
"That must've been really hard."
"It was, she pretty much raised me."
Joey nodded, giving her space to continue if she wanted or to move on if she didn't. When she stayed quiet, he shifted gears smoothly.
"I've never been to New Orleans. Always wanted to go though. I've heard the parades and parties are wild out there. I also don't know anything about art, but it sounds fascinating. What kind do you do?"
The knot between Lily's shoulder blades began to loosen a bit as her shoulders relaxed more. Talking about painting she could do.
"I paint. Usually whatever emotions I'm experiencing at the time. It's like therapy, I guess but cheaper. Putting feelings onto canvas instead of keeping them bottled up."
"That's really cool."
Joey's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.
"I've never been good at making art. Can barely draw a stick figure."
"Not everyone has to be good at art."
"True. Has to be nice though, being able to create something like that."
The waitress appeared with two steaming mugs, setting them down before disappearing again. Joey immediately wrapped his hands around his cup and took a sip, sighing contentedly.
"God, this coffee is always amazing."
Lily stared at her own mug like it might bite her.
"So have you always lived in Dallas?" she asked, desperate to keep him talking.
Joey set his cup down.
"Born and raised. I thought about moving somewhere else. Austin, Houston maybe but the idea of leaving where my roots are didn't sit right, you know?"
He shrugged.
"All of my friends and family are here too plus, I got a pretty decent job that I enjoy."
Lily understood that more than he knew. She'd had had roots in New Orleans too, before everything changed and they were ripped from the soil violently.
"What do you do? For work, I mean."
"Construction. I work for a big company, mostly handling drywall and indoor renovations. It's good, honest work. Keeps me busy and pays the bills."
Lily smiled.
"I've never been good at construction work."
Joey laughed, the sound filling their corner of the coffee shop.
"I don't know, you've got a strong grip. Remember? When we shook hands at the taxi stand?"
Her eyes quickly darted towards the floor.
"That was...I didn't mean to—"
"I'm teasing."
His eyes sparkled with mischief. Then he nodded toward her untouched mug.
"You gonna try that?"
Her shoulders tightened up again as she wrapped her pale hands around the mug. She wished she could feel the warmth emanating from it.
"Actually," Lily said carefully, "I don't really drink coffee anymore. I gave it up awhile back."
Joey's smile didn't waver, just shifted to curious.
"Then why'd you agree to a coffee date?"
"Because you seemed interested. And I was interested in you."
The honesty surprised even her but Joey's whole face lit up.
"Well, that's the best answer I could've hoped for."
He pushed his own mug aside slightly.
"We don't have to drink coffee to hang out."
Relief flooded through her.
"Thanks."
"So tell me more about your paintings. What emotions have you been working with lately?"
And just like that, the conversation flowed. Lily found herself relaxing degree by degree as they talked. Swapping stories, asking questions, learning about each other.
Joey told her about a renovation project that went hilariously wrong when they discovered a family of raccoons living in the walls. She told him about the time she accidentally knocked over an entire easel of wet paintings at her first gallery showing. He asked about her favorite artists and actually listened when she explained why she loved Caravaggio's use of shadow. She asked about his family and he told her about his two younger sisters who constantly gave him grief about being single.
Time blurred.
The coffee shop thinned out as the night deepened. At some point the waitress refilled Joey's mug and took Lily's untouched one away without comment.
When Lily finally checked her phone, nearly two hours had passed.
"I should probably get going," she said reluctantly.
Joey stood immediately, pulling on his jacket.
"Let me walk you out."
Outside, the December air bit coldly as Joey shoved his hands in his pockets while they waited for the taxi she'd called.
"I had a really great time tonight," Lily said.
"Thank you," she softly added.
Joey's grin could've powered the city.
"Does that mean a second date's on the table?"
"Yeah."
Lily smiled back, genuine and unguarded.
"Definitely yes."
"Good. Because I'm already thinking of places we could go."
The taxi pulled up, headlights cutting through the darkness. Joey opened the door for her.
"Good night, Lily."
"Good night, Joey."
She slid into the back seat and watched through the window as he stepped back onto the curb, waving as the taxi pulled away. He stood there until they turned the corner and he disappeared from view.
Lily leaned back against the seat, staring up at the cab's ceiling.
Cloud nine didn't even begin to describe it.