Sara’s lacy pink thong is balled up in her hand when she returns to her seat in the coffee shop.
Sara
Jesus, you startled me.
Will
Sorry, I seem to be making a habit of that with you.
Sara
It’s not your fault. I’ve been...distracted lately.
Will
If I promise not to distract you further, can I sit with you?
Will
The place is packed today.
Sara
Oh, sure. I mean, of course. It’s a free coffee shop.
Will smiles, thanking her, and settles into the chair opposite her.
He sets up his laptop and hangs his messenger bag over the corner of his chair.
Then he holds his hand out.
Will
We never properly met. I’m Will Ferris.
Sara starts to raise her hand to shake his but realizes she’s still clutching her thong in her fist.
She does an awkward shake with her left hand instead.
Will issues that questioning arched brow and amused smirk again.
Sara
Do you get a lot of Ferris Bueller jokes, coming from Chicago?
Will
Not as many as you’d think. But how’d you know I’m from Chicago?
Sara
Just a guess. You only recently started coming in here.
Sara
And the other day you wore a Blackhawks shirt and today you have a White Sox hat on.
Sara
I figured you might be a new transplant in the area.
Will
I am. Moved to Portland about a month ago.
Will
You’re either very observant in general, or I should be very flattered.
Will
Think I’ll go with the latter.
Will
This is twice now that you’ve avoided giving me your name.
Sara
Why do you want to know my name?
Will
Why do you NOT want me to know your name?
Sara sighs and tries to hold back the smile threatening her lips.
Sara
It’s Sara. Sara St. Claire.
Will
See, that wasn’t so hard. You have a beautiful name, Sara St. Claire.
Will
A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.
Sara
Okay, that’s enough of that.
Sara
Whatever it is you’re doing.
Sara
Did your frat brothers dare you to hit on an older woman or something?
Will
I’m not sure if I should be more offended that you assume I’m in a frat…
Will
Or that I’d do something as callous as hit on a woman for a dare.
Sara
Shit, I misread the situation.
Sara
I…I thought you were flirting with me. I’m sorry.
Will
Don’t be. I’m totally flirting with you.
Sara
Jesus, you’re a baby.
Will leans on his elbows, across the table, and speaks to Sara in a deep, low timbre.
Will
I think you can tell by looking at me that I’m definitely not a baby.
Will
Let me take you out and I’ll prove it.
Sara blushes, self-consciously untucking her hair from behind her ears to hide her pink cheeks.
Sara
Will, I’m thirty-one years old.
Sara
And...there are dozens of girls your own age around here for you to take out.
Will
I know how to pick up girls, Sara.
Will
If I wanted a vapid twenty-something, I’d hit up a club or check out Tinder.
Will
What I want is a woman of substance. A woman like you.
Sara
You don’t know whether I’m a woman of substance.
Will
Then let me get to know you and see if my suspicions are right.
Sara
Why? So we can start dating? Become a couple? Come on, Will.
Sara
We might be compatible in certain ways…
Sara
But I’ve dated younger guys before and it always ends up badly.
Will
Tell me more about these “certain ways” we might be compatible.
Sara
You’re completely ignoring the “ends up badly” part.
Will
I’m an optimist. Sue me.
Sara
It’s starting to feel like taking legal action is the only way I’ll be able to shake you.
Will flashes his devastatingly handsome smile.
Will
You might be right. Now, back to the compatible parts.
Sara
I just mean the parts of a relationship that aren’t necessarily affected by an age difference.
Will chuckles then nods in the direction of the neighboring patrons.
Will
Take it easy, no one’s listening. Everyone’s wearing headphones around us.
Sara
How the hell did we end up talking about sex?
Sara
You should get started on your homework or whatever.
Will
I’m not in college, Sara.
Sara
Oh. Then what do you work on when you’re here?
Will
There are lots of things I could be doing. Graphic design, for instance.
Sara
So you’re a graphic designer?
Will
No. I said I COULD be a graphic designer. I could also be a website designer.
Sara
But you’re not, are you?
Sara
So then what are you?
Will
I’ll tell you everything you want to know if you agree to dinner with me.
Sara
Then I guess you’ll have to remain a mystery.
Will
So stubborn. That’s okay, I’m a patient man. I’ll give you time to think about it.
Will winks at her and turns his focus to his laptop.
Sara does the same, trying to concentrate on her editing project, when her phone vibrates.
Operator 69
Hey, baby girl. Thinking about you...
Sara
Hi :) Thought you couldn’t text until tonight.
Operator 69
Taking a quick break, couldn’t resist.
Operator 69
Still wearing your panties?
Blushing, Sara glances at Will to make sure he’s not watching her.
Sara
No, but I still have to get rid of them.
Operator 69
Hide them someplace good ;)
Will
Hey, Sara, I have an idea.
Sara chokes back her startled squeak.
She almost drops her phone before looking up at Will again.
Will leans in close and holds her gaze. Desire darkens his eyes.
Will
I get your hesitation about going on a date with me.
Will
So how about we start with what you’re comfortable getting from me...
Will
And we’ll see where things go from there.
Sara
And what exactly do you think I’m comfortable getting from you?
Will
Pleasure, Sara. Hours and hours of pleasure.
Will
Stamina is one of the benefits of my age.
Will
I think you’re attracted to me, and I’m sure as fuck attracted to you.
Will
Have been from the very first day.
Will
Hell yes. Your body is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
Will
I promise I’ll give you a night you won’t forget. What do you say, Sara St. Claire?
Will’s phone rings. He glances at the screen and curses under his breath.
Will
I’m sorry, I have to take this. Think about what I said.
Will gets up and walks away as he answers his call.
Sara makes a snap decision and quickly packs up her stuff.
She stands up, but before she darts out of the coffee shop,
She shoves her thong into Will’s messenger bag.
Sara
Mission accomplished.
Operator 69
I’m VERY pleased.
Operator 69
Text me tonight. I want to hear all about your sexy little present.
