Textual abuses

Last March 10, my first book, a collaboration with Néstor Biassini, was finally printed. Its title is Abusos Textuales (Textual Abuses) and it's written in Spanish. Here I post the translation of one of the shortest stories I authored to abuse my English-speaking friends. 

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When meeting a future partner you feel uneasiness, a certain anxiety and even a warning that something is not right. Palpitations, tremors, sweating... suddenly everything changes. Hearts beat in unison and euphoria invades us. A harmony is born that is a sign of mutual acceptance. From then on, nothing will go wrong and everything will be possible. And when that happens on a blind date, it's a wonderful experience. This was what I thought as I drove to meet Alice.

    I arrived a few minutes early and stopped the car by the plaza, on the side that goes down to the beach. From there I could spot where we had agreed to meet. I thought it was a good sign that she was already installed on the bench under the gazebo; however, something about her appearance puzzled me. The profile photo didn't do her justice:  personally she seemed younger and prettier.

    I got out of the car. When she noticed that I was heading towards her, she stood up with some shyness. She was taller than I imagined, although her hunched shoulders and sunken head diminished her bearing. I felt a pang of unease assuming she was sorry to see me.

    —Bobby? —she asked doubtfully. I barely nodded because for some reason, upon hearing the diminutive, I couldn't say a word.

    Her smile widened, she gave me a effusive kiss on the cheek that he accompanied with an unexpected hug, which brought me some peace of mind. When she let go and looked me in the eyes, she showed surprise and told me that she noticed something different about me. Damn it! I hadn't changed my profile photo in years...

    — They have been hard times lately —I justified myself.

    —No, it's not that... Years go by for me too, but you look better than I expected —she said and blushed.

    That moment of enchantment was obscured by the appearance of a little man in the almost empty  square. He stayed at a distance. His thick glasses didn't make him intimidating at all, but I was somewhat disturbed by the insistent way he stared to where we were.

    —The afternoon is getting chilly, shall we go talk in the car? —I suggested rather than ask and in response she took my arm to guide her.

    —How lucky that you grew up taller after high school! —she exclaimed, almost resting her head on my shoulder. I tried to remember what did I said about my height in the chat. I had written so many things to get the OK for the meeting!

    Once inside the car we felt very comfortable. The music on the radio was appropriate, as was the blush that the Sun had left on the sea. Our  heartbeats had become rhythmic and suddenly the long kiss seemed natural.

    As we let go, a movement in the center of the square caught my attention. The little man had sat on our bench and stood up like a spring. He had taken off his glasses. A curvy silhouette was approaching him... Then I realized that the profile photo was fair.

    I started the car without asking, sure that she would be willing to go somewhere else. But I had no idea about how I would manage to find out what her name was.