“Chance Encounters
 of the
Close Kind”

© 2010 by Anel Viz. All rights reserved.

 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

 

 5.  Aftershave

He slumped down next to me, very close, his leg pressing against mine, as often happens in a crowded subway.

Almost immediately he raised his head and looked from side to side, his nose twitching.  Had someone farted?

“I like your aftershave,” he said to me.  “Rugged, manly.  What is it?”

Not an easy question to answer, since I didn’t think I was wearing any.  I’d slapped some on my face as an astringent that morning, but that was hours ago.  In the meantime I’d worked my eight-hour day, exercised at the gym, and showered.  I couldn’t imagine what it was he thought he smelled.

“C’mon,” he said.  “What’s the big secret?  The stuff smells great.  I’d like to buy some for myself.”

“I’m not wearing any,” I said dryly.

“You sure?”  He put his nose up to my face, almost touching my cheek, and sniffed audibly.  “No, man, you got on some kind of fragrance, and it smells great.  What do they call it?  Sea Breeze?  Whiff o’ the Woods?”

People were staring at us.  I blushed to the roots of my hair and tried to ignore him.

“No, there’s a spiciness to it, like smells coming from an Indian restaurant.  Makes me horny.  Am I embarrassing you?”

“You’re embarrassing everyone.”

He glanced around and grinned sheepishly.  “Sorry.  Was I really talking that loud?  Shit, it turns me on!  I don’t think the old sniffer has ever enjoyed a subway ride half so much.”

“Glad to be of service.”

At the word “service” he raised a leering eyebrow.  He leaned back in his seat with an air of contentment, his head resting against the wall of the car, a smile on his face, his eyes closed.  He said nothing more, but he kept his knee pressed tightly against mine for the duration of the trip.

He was seedy, but not at all ugly.  Olive complexion, medium-length, tousled brown hair, dark stubble on his chin, lean build, faded jeans, long-sleeve shirt with the top two buttons open and a couple of chest hairs sticking out.

When we came to my stop he followed me onto the platform and resumed his chatter.

“You live near here too?  Cool!  You know, I was fantasizing about you the whole ride.  That aftershave or whatever it is you got on really gets my juices flowing.  You ever do it with men?”

I stopped in my tracks and stared straight at him.

“Often, but I don’t think my boyfriend would appreciate it if I brought you home with me.”

Deflated, he stammered, “Oh, I see.  Well, if you two break up someday, maybe.  Hope to see you around the neighborhood.”

I waited to see what direction he would take when we got to the street, and then headed off in the other, taking the long way back to my empty apartment.

 

Posted: 01/15/10