D Mode

they chat at a corner spot
he invited her to for wine
he sits with the legs of his slacks
perfectly creased everywhere but around the knees
and his shoes are scuffed but
hidden under the table
she laughs at a joke he knows isn't funny
he says "I love you"
she says "I love you"
neither of them feels much of anything

but the cool breeze that blows her hair into her face
and his tie over his left shoulder
she toys with a napkin ring
and he watches and his mouth goes dry
though he doesn't know why
she sits with her ankles crossed
and secretly slips off her shoes
he has a chamomile tea with honey
as she sips a minty alcoholic number
she'd heard the name of once and wanted to try
he wraps his fingers around
the fingers of her left hand

and pretends not to notice when she clears her throat and withdraws the hand to wipe nothing

off of her slightly parted lips