Hello Stranger

Posted On February 14, 2025

Cherry’s gold heels clicked as she walked across the floor. The hotel bar was a little busy, but she found a chair that had some space between customers. After setting her gold clutch down, she unbuttoned her long, faux Shearling, the tan coat revealing a fitted, off-the-shoulder emerald green dress that stopped a few inches below her knees. She placed her coat on the stool and pushed her hair behind her shoulders. She had added spiral curls to her silk press and wondered if she would regret it later, but she looked great. It was worth it…for now. 

As she sat down, the bartender slid her a menu. She thanked him, fiddling with her gold chain necklace as she started looking at her options. She ordered a bellini, still unsure of what to snack on. She continued looking over food options while she waited. A few minutes later, she got the drink and took a sip. Just the sweetness she needed. As she looked back down at the menu, trying to find the right salty pairing, a man pulled out the stool next to her. She glanced at him and smiled. He was handsome and he smelled good. Beautiful dark brown skin, a shade or two lighter than her own. He removed his black peacoat, a steel gray sweater underneath. She studied him, forgetting about whether or not she should get french fries or potstickers. His eyes, framed with glasses, met hers and he smiled.

“Hi. I’m Calvin. What’s your name?” 

“Cherry,” she said. 

“Really? That’s your real name?” 

“It is,” she said. 

“I bet you’re just as sweet,” he said, holding out his hand.

She shook it. He held onto her hand. 

“I love black cherries,” he said with a wink. 

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. He placed his left hand on top of hers, covering her hand with both of his. She saw he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring and then the illusion started to dissolve. She pulled her hand away, holding up her left one to show off her wedding ring and band.

“Calvin, where is your wedding ring?” she asked. 

“I thought we were being strangers at a bar?,” he asked.

“Yes, but I’m still wearing my ring,” she said. 

“Oh I’m sorry,” he said, holding up his hands. A hint of sarcasm in his voice. “I didn’t think we were also pretending to be adulterers.”

She picked up her clutch and playfully hit him in his side, biting her lip to hide her smile. He held his side as he laughed. 

“The rings aren’t for us,” she said sternly. “They’re so other people don’t approach us.”

“I’m sorry, babe. Would you like me to make another entrance?”

Cherry drank some more of her bellini. “Yes, please. And you know what? Now that you have that adulterer thing in my head, I will take my rings off.”

“See? It makes sense,” he said, nodding. 

Cherry chuckled, shaking her head. She put her rings in the clutch. “And don’t take so long this time.” 

“I can’t promise you that,” he said. “I have to refocus.” 

“Well I’m ordering some food,” she said. 

“Okay, babe. See you soon,” he said, winking at her. 

She watched him walk away, pulling on his peacoat. They will be celebrating 5 years of marriage, 12 years together in March. Life had been busy and they felt like they were still adjusting to having two kids even though their youngest, Deon, had just turned 2 in January. Valentine’s Day was always special to them. It had been when Calvin proposed back in 2018. And this year, they decided to try something new. They had a vacation planned for next month, but decided not to wait for the big thing to do something special. The daily routine had become monotonous and weighed Cherry down. Calvin had admitted it was getting to him too. All their focus had been on making sure chores were done, bills were paid, and the kids were taken care of. She felt like they both needed to wake up and take more time to focus on each other.

She placed an order for fries and finished off her bellini waiting for Calvin to reappear. She resisted the urge to text him. Two men approached the bar, one taking Calvin’s seat. She had another stool available on her other side. No worries. Calvin could sit there. 

Their eyes met and they both smiled. He was attractive, his cologne nice. He reminded her of the actor Manny Montana, well known to the world as Rio from the show, Good Girls. But she had had her eye on him since he played Agent Johnny Tuturro in Graceland. He looked her up and down and she was starting to regret taking her ring off. 

“Hi beautiful,” he said. “What’s your name?”

Cherry sighed internally, wishing she had another bellini. “I’m Cherry.” 

“Cherry? I haven’t heard a name like that before. I’m Damian.”

“Nice to meet you, Damian. I’m waiting for someone.” 

The bartender placed her fries and a bottle of ketchup in front of her. She felt her stomach rumble at the smell. She squeezed the ketchup on the side and dipped a few before eating them. 

“Well, I can keep you company until they come…if you don’t mind,” he said, turning his body to face her. His knees touched her leg. Cherry sighed quietly as she shifted over, putting some space between them. She looked at him, stone-faced. She wanted to help him because Calvin would crash out from him daring to be this close to her.

“Aww you don’t gotta be like that, mama,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Cherry pulled away and saw Calvin out the corner of her eye coming up behind them. 

“Aye,” Calvin said, putting his hand in his pocket. He put his leg between Damian and Cherry. Damian and his friend stood up. 

Calvin put on his wedding ring. “Go find something safe to do. Because touching my wife ain’t safe.” 

“You two are married? I don’t see her ring,” Damian said, puffing out his chest. 

“She’s getting an upgrade,” he said. “Trust me. You don’t want this smoke.”

Cherry, wide-eyed, opened her clutch and slipped on her wedding band and ring. She stuffed some more fries in her mouth. She would definitely be getting a stiff drink next. A mix of fear and excitement sent a shiver down her spine.

Damian’s friend mumbled something to him. Damian rolled his eyes, but held his hands up.

“Whatever weird game y’all playing, keep it at home next time,” Damian said.

Damian and his friend grabbed their beers and walked a few seats away down the bar. Calvin watched them, not moving until Cherry grabbed his hand. 

“Are you okay?,” he asked, gently touching under her chin. 

She smiled. “I’m okay. I told you not to take too long.”

“I know you’re fine and all, but I was only gone for ten minutes,” he said, sitting to her left. 

“I’m not gonna lie,” Cherry said. “That was kinda sexy. ‘Find something safe to do?’ How did you even come up with that?”

Calvin laughed and waved down the bartender. “Well I’m glad one of us is excited. I need to calm down.” 

“Well, that was the point of the experiment,” Cherry said, leaning in and rubbing his chest. 

He glanced at her and shook his head. He redirected his attention to the bartender. “Can I get a Manhattan please?” 

“Make that two,” Cherry replied, eyes still on Calvin. He placed his hand on her thigh. 

“Two Manhattans please. Use her card,” he said. “I earned it.” 

Cherry laughed and kissed him on the cheek. He turned his face and touched his lips. She kissed him on the lips this time. 

“Sorry the experiment didn’t go as planned,” he said quietly. 

“It’s okay,” Cherry said quietly. “I think the final results will still be good.” 

“I think so too,” he said, squeezing her thigh.

“So when you said I was getting an upgrade…was that just a line or…” Cherry said, waiting for him to answer.

“It was supposed to be a surprise,” he said, “but yes, it’s true. It’s upstairs.”

Cherry grinned and kissed him again. “I can’t wait to see it.”

She tried to sit back in her seat, but he pulled her in for another kiss. They stared into each other’s eyes, smirks on their faces. They only looked away when the bartender placed the two Manhattans in front of them.

“Can I get a cheeseburger and fries sent up to room 408? Do y’all do that here?” Calvin asked. 

“Yes sir,” the bartender said.

“Can we take these glasses upstairs?” he asked.

“Calvin!,” Cherry exclaimed, failing not to laugh. “We can wait.”

“Yes sir,” the bartender said, smiling. “Just be careful not to spill any on the way up.” 

Calvin stood up and put his coat on. “Close out your tab. Let’s go.”

The bartender handed Cherry her card and receipt. Calvin gave him a cash tip. Cherry sighed as she gathered up her things. Cherry took a sip of the Manhattan before handing her glass to Calvin. She cleared her throat. A stiff drink, indeed.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful,” Calvin said as he watched her walk into the elevator. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day, babe,” she replied, smiling.