You’re dating Constantine Margolis?
I third the two flowers thing 
if you ever run into her again. I’m not much of a flowers girl but that’s just SO cute!
There’s nothing wrong in inviting a stranger to have a non-alcoholic drink in a public place. I would accept, if I didn’t happen to be in a total hurry or totally creeped out. Met me a couple nice people that way, also a couple who mistook friendliness for something else but them’s the breaks.
Next time you are in a situation like that, don’t try to come up with something witty. Repeat after me: “hi”. OK, it’s not witty repartée - but it works! She says some equivalent of hi, you ask her if she’d like to join you for some coffee-tea-whatever at XYZ nearby. If she demurres it may be because she thinks it’s The Girlie Thing To Do or because she’s thinking “lessee if I don’t buy the chicken then I can get home later no problem… ok, what do I have for dinner then…”; just let her finish her demurring. She’ll say yes or she’ll say no, ta-daaaa!
Many years ago, I too saw my Vision of Loveliness.
Early morning, I was driving home after a night of Security Guarding. Boy, do I not miss those days.
Anyway, as I was turning left onto Lamar (this takes place back in Austin), I locked eyes with a gorgeous brunette who was heading (presumably) to an early morning class at UT. She was DEFINITELY out of my league. I caught her eye, she caught my eye, and we both smiled at the same time- and we just couldn’t stop staring at each other. I nearly wrapped my crappy little Toyota around a lightpole as I went around the corner.
I never saw her again. The entire encounter must have lasted five seconds, at best- but it’s still one of my clearest memories. I know in some parallel universe, we’re a scorching couple.
Just enjoy the memory. If it’s meant to be, you’ll see her again. But if you don’t- you’ll always have a perfect moment.
I third the “ask for help with the confusing food” tactic. Whole Foods is fish in a freakin’ barrel, the one I used to go to is across town now, which is a shame.
In the granola aisle, act stupid like you can’t figure out how to put the marker on the bag and write the number on it. Then act like you don’t know which type of granola or dried fruit to buy, and so on. Bonus points if you get her giggling and eating dried apple slices from your fingers and the Whole Foods granola dude is glaring at you.
Yeaaaah, wait your turn, dreadlock boy.
Hot bar? Ask if she’s tried it and if it’s any good, bonus if you swordfight with the plastic spoons. Salad bar, you don’t know shit about dressing and you’re trying to eat healthy. Wine section? Play the bumpkin and get her to help you. Vitamins? Don’t get me started. Soups? Tough but possible. Homeopathic remedies? Sign me up. Vegetables? Tell her it could be poison and volunteer to be her food taster, anytime is good for you.
Don’t be shy, because here’s an opener to get you started: you forgot your glasses. You can’t read the labels. You poor, poor adorable lost puppy.
I miss that place!
Actually he ends up with the first girl who doesn’t fall for his techniques - a member of Courtney Love’s band Hole, as it happened. His is a way of picking up girls with low self-esteem at pickup joints, and so I don’t think a lot of use to our own Stranger* in this situation.
- who, BTW, needs to learn how to spell “loveliness”.