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You make my every day brighter.
Thank you for saying yes.
-Barrett
That simple note, just a few words, gives me chills.Thank you for saying yes. I know there is so much more meaning behind that statement, and it makes my heart feel so full it could burst. He’s everything I ever dreamed of, and whenever I’m around him, I feel safe, loved, cherished. Knowing that he’s excited to spend time with me, too, makes it even better.
I’m in the middle of rolling cookie dough and peanut butter balls in melted chocolate when I hear the doorbell ring at my parents’ house. Either my watch and the house clocks are broken, or he’s an hour early, which tells me he’s just as eager to get this date going as I am. I don’t feel nearly as ready as I should, though. My hair isn’t done the way I planned, I’m still in black leggings, a button-down winter, plaid, flannel shirt and some warm brown boots. Not exactly date material, but he’s here now, and I hear Dad yelling that he’ll get the door.
“I’ll be right back! Be nice!” I holler.
My dad chuckles at my nervous demeanor. “No worries, princess. I’ll go easy on the kid.”
I shake my head as I run upstairs to the bathroom to see if I can at least get the extra chocolate off my fingers and ugh… from around my mouth. Why do I always have to taste test everything? I know I don’t have time to change clothes, too, and he did say to dress warm tonight, so I suppose my clothing choice is fine. I touch up my makeup and fix my hair as best as I can, then sprint toward the stairs to greet Barrett before my dad can embarrass me more than I’m sure he already has. Being the only — and youngest — daughter of a family of five has made my brothers and dad overprotective, no matter my age.
When I get to the bottom of the stairs and turn the corner, I stop short and have to hold in a giggle. There stands Barrett, looking gorgeous as usual, even in his extremely dorky colorful sweater that looks like his shoulders could bulge right out of, the relaxed-fit, light-colored jeans that hug his thick muscular thighs, black boots, and bomber jacket. He looks like he walked off the set of90210,and it takes everything in me not to laugh out loud. Despite his attire, his presence alone makes my entire body relax. He does that to me. He calms me when I didn’t even know I needed calming before. This is, by far, not the only date I’ve ever been on with Barrett, but for some reason, it seems like it is. The smile he shoots my way from his position standing next to my father makes the butterflies take flight like they’re battling their way to Mexico.
“Hey,” I say when I see him. My voice comes out shy, though I’m not sure why.
“Hey yourself.” He smiles and winks at me. Damn that wink. When this man winks at me, it’s like he’s telling me a secret, something that’s special for me and me alone. I’m sure he knows what it does to me, but I don’t care.
“You’re early.” I grin. I know Barrett, and I know he’s probably been pacing at home, twirling a pen with his fingers while he walks around, until he couldn’t stand it any longer. We haven’t had an actual date alone in a long time, and I think we’re both anxious and nervous at the same time.
“Am I? If anything, I think I’m late.” And I know what he means, this date is a long time coming.
“Maybe right on time. How’s that?” I ask as I sidle up to his side.
He pulls me in closer and kisses my cheek lightly.
“All right, geez, get on out of here, you two. Y’all are gonna make me gag up my dinner, and I’d prefer to keep it down,” my dad says slowly, making his way into the room. He’s a well-spoken Southern boy with enough charm to still make my mother swoon. He never fully lost his southern accent, and it seems to get thicker when he needs it to.
“All right, we’ll go. Bye, Daddy. Love you.”
“Love you too, princess. Make smart choices,” he says as he raises his eyebrows at the two of us. This makes me almost break out into laughter, but no matter how old I am, I know not to laugh at my dad.
“We will,” I promise him instead. “Bye, Mom,” I say as she emerges from the kitchen, chocolate still on her fingers and a brush of it on her forehead. And I wonder where I get it from.
“Bye, you two. Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks. Love you guys,” I say again, because I’ve learned never to miss an opportunity to tell someone that I love them.
Barrett reaches into the closet and retrieves my jacket. Or, his jacket, rather. His bright red and black letterman’s jacket from Liberty High School, showing his devotion to our beloved Bobcats. Last time I knew, the jacket was hanging in the closet of my bedroom, so I’m not sure how it got down here. I glance over at my mom, who has a huge smile on her face, and my un-asked question is answered.
It’s been a few years since I slid my arms into this jacket. I smell the collar, hoping it still smells like Barrett like it used to. I still remember when he asked me to wear it, and I put it on for the first time. Embarrassingly enough, I actually slept in it. I couldn’t escape his smell if I was sleeping in it, and it gave me such an incredible comfort.
“Get a good sniff?” Barrett asks, a knowing smirk gracing his lips.
“I had to check,” I tell him.
“And? What’s the verdict?”
I make a big show of inhaling deep, and it does, in fact, smell exactly how he smelled when I first put it on. In fact, I’m pretty sure he snuck in and sprayed cologne on it. Sneaky man.
“Smells like some guy I met once.”
“Must be a stud to have smelled that awesome that you remember it.”
“Or stunk. You never know.”
