Going up

"Hold the elevator!"

I wedged my toes in the crack just before the doors closed. I've learned feet are more resistant to pinching than fingers in my daily trips up this slow elevator. Thirty-two floors. Thirty-two chances for someone to ask me to hold the elevator. On average, it happens three or four times per trip.

This time I held the elevator for a man I hadn't seen before. Close to six feet tall. Dark hair. Light eyes. Crinkles at the corners that hinted at laughter just restrained. And a gorgeous smile. Flawless even white teeth.

He stepped into the elevator and into the back right corner. I stood in the opposite back corner. We were alone.

I exercised my peripheral vision.

As I watched without watching, he turned his back to me and peered into the mirrored wall. Smiled at himself.

Then he leaned closer to his reflection, blocking my view of the mirror.

"Huh. Do you see that?"

"Excuse me?" I said.

"Do you see that? In the back, just inside my molars."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He turned and looked at me. "Come take a look at this."

Willing the elevator to hurry up, or for someone else to join us, I stepped over to his side. "What are you looking at?"

"In the back of my mouth, on the right. Do you see anything?" He tipped his head up a bit and opened wide. Giving him an awkward grin, I leaned closer to take a look.

He smelled of minty fresh breath mingled with male musk. Clean dirtiness. Despite the odd situation, I found this man attractive. And then I saw it. Tucked next to a molar in the back of his mouth. "Whoa. That looks like a baby shark tooth!"

That's when he bit me.