for Fandango’s One Word Challenge(FOWC) of 2 November 2020, anticipate.

She had always been insecure around men. Sure, she had had relationships before – the last one ended at just the start of the year – but could never get beyond the question of “why”. What did they see in her? In her early years, she was sure that sex had played a part, but when she looked in the mirror, she no longer saw the spring chicken she once was. An inch or two here, a pound or two there… Although as she had gotten older, she had started to accept herself more for what she was. She had started to become less hung up on her own shortcomings – she was who she was, and surely anybody worth having would see that? But she no longer went on a night out, hoping to meet the man of her dreams.

And yet, just out with her housemate after work, last Thursday she *had* met somebody. She wouldn’t mind, but she was not particularly glammed up. He had been out with workmates, was tall and well-dressed, and, in her lubricated state, he had made her laugh. As she realised that he was interested in her, those old moves came back. That pout, and the fleck of her hair as she tossed her head back at one of his jokes… and that deliberate walk as she disappeared with her friend to the rest room, realising that his hungry eyes were on her ass.

She was careful not to give too much away, but at the end of the night, when Tom had asked for her phone number, she had given it quite willingly. “I’ll call at the weekend”, were his last words, as his friends pulled him out into the night.

Friday came, and she allowed herself the briefest of moments to think about what might be. Saturday, as she lazed in bed, drifting in and out of sleep, she could not help but feel a small tingle of excitement as she wondered whether, and when, the call would come.