eyes of sapphire

Arranged to meet business card boy whom I met on a night out with mutual friends on Sat... After a fairly disastrous internet date on Tues, thought a "hello" on email couldn't do any harm on Weds; he promptly asked me out for a beer and I couldn't say no, I was flattered! So I arranged it for Thurs. Striking hot iron etc.

Just as I got off the tube I got a text from my date to say that he was at the Royal Exchange steps.
2 mins later I get up to the appointed spot, no sign! I called, no response.
Called again, no response. Aaaargh.
Thought I'd wait a couple of mins...
Then he came barreling around a corner, kissed me on the cheek,
then on t'other cheek, since I'd come over all continental and kissed him on both.
He blurted out to me his grandfather had died and that had been his father breaking the news, he went around the corner to take the call.
He couldn't switch lines (just as well).
He seemed pretty distraught, naturally, so I said
"look, do you need a sit down and a cup of tea, or do you just want to go home?"
He said he could do with a drink, actually, so we had a couple of pints.

I sat there and let him waffle on about anything and everything, whatever came into his head,
playing for various teams, impromptu partying with footballers in chi chi parts of town;
What he does for a living, driving fast cars. Liking steak.
Every so often he'd remember to ask me something about me,
but I was more interested in his being at ease.
I couldn't believe he stayed out with me til after 9 o'clock.
We parted in Bank station, I was due south, he north.
On the way down to the deep Northern line
I turned to ask him something about his taste in music,
and I noticed how blue his eyes were, cornflower, cerulean, ultramarine, words don't come close to their luminosity and how they shone.

He kissed me on both cheeks again when it came to parting
and said he'd be in touch about meeting up again.

When I got home I sent him:
"You have my sincerest sympathies.
Felt selfish keeping you out like that.
You were great company thank you.
Home safe thanks again for a lovely eve"

I did not get, nor did I expect a reply, given the tasks ahead of him.
I have no reason to disbelieve the sincerity
of his assertion about a second rendez-vous.
I have a talent for misfortune, however and I know first hand that grief can amplify some things and take the gloss off others.

So, I live in the joyful hope of a second meeting, and a chance to be witty and entertaining, perhaps, but most importantly,
an opportunity to look him in the eye.