Of course, you are worth it.
You are talking to me via speakerphone as I'm typing. Tales from the cooperate world. You are telling me about the way your new temp mixed up your files. He meant well of course. You are not upset, of course. Now we are on to the new receptionist eyeing you up on your new suit jacket- the one you snapped a photo of yourself in before purchasing and sent to me. Of course, she is eyeing you up, your bewilderment is adorable. I tell you that she had better watch herself as you are taken. You just laugh at me saying "As if she had a chance. "
Your laugh makes me think of last weekend. A chance for me to be bewildered. When you suggested we meet on Friday night, I laughed. We have known each other for about two weeks. Two weeks since you pointed out we have been glued to our phones. I had taken you to my oldest friends. You'd taken me to your brothers.
When work and life pulled us away, there were the texts. The daily selfies and recounting of our days. The morning get-ready togethers - your attempt to make me into a morning person. (Do you know how few people could motivate me to get out of bed that early?)The calls before bed and the reluctance to hang up. I had decidedly not been looking for you. I wanted a distraction, then you were there a part of my life as easily as if we'd known each other for years. Suddenly, when something happened, I wanted to tell you. You'd call me on your lunch and we'd laugh over your coworkers. You text me under conference tables during meetings. I text you in between errands and dropping off papers. I'm not sure how this happened but it's not anything I would change for any reason.
The fact that you are four hours away has not been lost on me. The fact that you wanted to see me, probably should not have been a surprise. It was. I figured that it was better to know early on if we were going to be able to sustain ourselves in our cosplay relationship. I know you hate it when I call it that. It's sort of true though. We had never been in each other's presence. You offered to fix that by meeting me on "neutral ground". Midway, drinks, then whatever. As if you and I were ever going to be a "whatever", I appreciated the no-pressure approach though.
Thus, without overthinking, we agreed to meet Saturday at this hotel for drinks and "whatever". I changed about sixty times before I left my house that afternoon. I could not decide between a dress or pants. I could not decide between hair up or down, glasses off or on. It's not as if you haven't seen me for close to fourteen different days. Days I hadn't slept, mornings without any makeup, days I went a little too hard on the eye makeup, and times where you made me laugh so hard my eyes watered smearing my mascara. Still, I didn't want to show up looking anything less than confident. Since you manage to look pulled together and sexy at seven in the morning after rolling out of bed, I figured you would be your usual handsome self. I settled on one of knee length black dresses that was low cut. Comfortable, sort of pulled together, and an abundance of cleavage.
Parking my car in the parking lot was an issue for me. I am nervous. It's crazy to meet someone from the internet right? You are a serial killer or will hate me. Right? I had made the mistake of listening to Taylor Swift's album most of the way down. It's a lovely album but mostly about relationships gone wrong. Not labeling this as more than anything than what it is- which is early- but I probably could have done a little better on the thematic music. Before I went in I decided to blast " I just want to love you" by Jay Z. Slightly better. I need the energy and silliness. I used those few minutes to check my makeup and try to make my hair look less insane.
Walking into the hotel lobby is even harder than parking. I am distracted and trip over my flats. You, of course, enter at this point. We laugh over my klutziness. You have flowers. Smooth Nick. I don't know what to say for a moment or what to do. I want to kiss your mouth, but I'm not sure how much you are feeling that at the moment. One thing I will give old Taylor is that she talks about not having seen anyone so lit from within before. I feel this is the only way to describe you at this point. Lit from within. You don't have your glasses on, so I get the full effect of your big dark eyes with those enviable lashes. Every strand of your thick black hair is in place. Your cheekbones are sharp and your mouth is delicious. You've shaved and even your usual five o clock isn't there. You look like you stepped out of an ad for watches or cologne in your sweater and dark blue jeans with the boot. I don't feel anything I would have worn would have prepared me for how I felt when I saw you. I've written about this feeling, but it's been a very long time since I've felt it for anyone.
Ever the gentleman you grab the flowers from one hand and my bag from the other one. I start to thank you as you set them on the chair by us. You turn back to me surprising me by pulling me in close to you. I get a full second of looking into your face before you are pressing your mouth to mine. I just have to say that those are the type of kisses that I am afraid to go in my unrecoverable file. You know the kind of kisses, that no matter what happens with us, will be something I will recall with fondness. My mind goes completely blank for the few moments you are pressed against me.
When we pull away from each other's mouths, it's still not much better. Looking into your eyes makes me feel off-balanced in the most delightful way. It's like falling down the rabbit hole in Alice in wonderland. You kiss my forehead and say "Mine. "