I Met a Girl Part III - The King of Second Chances

If you haven’t already, you need to read the post from Friday and yesterday before you read this one. 

Today is the end, I promise.

*****
It’s the vortex.  I can see it now.  The gravitational pull gets stronger.

“He kissed another girl at a bar at the end of last year,” she says bluntly.

“Well, that’s a shitty thing to do,” I say, in no mood to defend him.

“Yeah, well, he admitted to it and apologized and said he was drunk and stupid or whatever.  But things just haven’t been the same.  I don’t know if they ever will be,” she says and then takes a long drink of the cold beer. 

“Man…that’s total shit.  Why do guys do that?” I ask off-handedly.

“I have no idea.  Maybe boredom. Maybe he’s just sick of me.  Have you ever…cheated?” she asks.

“Honestly, I haven’t been in too many long relationships, so I don’t know if I qualify…” I say quietly.

“Sounds like you are avoiding the question, which means you probably have cheated,” she says.

“No.  No, that’s not true.  I’ve only ever told three girls that I loved them and I never cheated on any of them.  I would never do that.  That’s not love to me,” I say, looking right at her. “I take that stuff pretty seriously.  Trust is everything.”

“Ok, settle down, I believe ya,” she replies. 

As we look at each other for a long moment, I begin to notice the discussion going on in the grass behind me.  Someone is joking around with RW’s friend Carmen.  It’s Mike.  They are mock-arguing.  Everyone is laughing when Mike takes the play to the next level by splashing a quarter cup of beer into Carmen’s face.  She is laughing nearly uncontrollably now as she takes her full beer and dumps it over his head.

“Uh-oh,” I say, “it’s about to begin.”

“What’re you talking about?” RW asks, a bit confused.

“The party,” I respond, “has just been elevated.”

*****

As RW and I stand up, we turn and see that the crowd of twenty or so is now throwing their cups of beer at the person nearest to them.  RW and I look at each other.  Simultaneously, we react.  Both of our beers go flying at each other. 

Oh, it’s on.

It’s now a rush to the keg to fill up cups and put perfectly good beer to waste for the sake of crazed entertainment. 

Mike has already gotten to the keg and filled a pitcher and dumped it over the Carmen’s head. 

We are all screams and shouts and vague threats of impending doom and fornicating mothers.

Everyone decides to forgo the cups.  Carmen has set up a stronghold at the keg and is spraying directly from the spigot with a finger over the front, so as to send a more refined mist over the masses.  The pressure is not strong enough.  She is overtaken.

And then I notice that Mike is nowhere to be seen.

Oh shit.

From behind the keg, I see Mike emerge with the hose.  The water pressure is set to “Riot Control”.  There is no escape.  It’s a monsoon.

It is over.  Mike has won.

“You guys are all insane,” RW laughs.

“This, is true,” I reply.  “Let’s go inside.”

*****

The whole group is toweling off inside, but it seems to be a futile task.  We are soaked to the bone.

RW and I grab a blanket and wrap ourselves in it together.  We join the others upstairs for a few drinking games.

There is laughing and amity and the kind of please-don’t-let-this-ever-end vibe that only the vortex brings.  Person by person, I notice everyone in the room glancing over at RW and I.  I feel like there is no hiding that I am falling for her.  Everyone can see.

There are whispers.  Something is happening.  Plotting is occurring.

Coming from either side of us, Tim and Mike grab RW and I and wrap the blanket tightly around us.  Our arms are pinned to our sides, we cannot bend our legs and we are face to face, inches apart. 

“Get the duct tape!” Mike shouts.

They proceed to wrap the tape around us, about 8,000 times.  A group picks us up, lays us down in the hallway, turns and closes the door.

We are stuck.

And laughing.

*****

After 5 minutes of talking and shifting and laughing, we are getting numb.

“Ok, guys,” I yell, “this is getting a little crazy.”

Silence.

“Guys?!” I shout again.

Silence. 

A few giggles.

“Okay, c’mon – this is no longer funny,” I say in a calmer, though more menacing voice.

I wink at RW.

Out they come.  Around and around the tape goes.

We are free.

“You two belong together,” someone says.

*****

“Let’s get married!” I shout.

“What?!” she says with a laugh.

Everyone around us begins to shout and whoop.

“Yeah!  We need a marriage tonight,” Tim says.  “I’ll get Buddha.”

Everyone in college has met a guy named Buddha.  Years of experience and the beer belly to prove it.  This night, he is to be our minister.

We all go downstairs to the parlor and everybody gathers around.  Buddha blathers on about something romantic in his drunkenly eloquent way.  I’m down on one knee.  I grab a ring that an old girlfriend had given me and slip it onto her finger.

I say I want to be with her for the rest of my life.

Everyone is quiet all of the sudden.

This weird, wild, strange joke has shifted.

I look up into her eyes and, for a perpetual moment, everyone fades away. 

I know.  More than I’ve ever known.

She turns away.

*****

“I should go,” she says as we walk up the stairs.

“Ok.  I understand,” I say. “Can I talk to you alone first, though?”

“I don’t know…I guess…okay.”

We step into my room and sit down on the couch.  I know that I won’t get another chance to tell her what I know to be true.  I have to say it.

“R, you need to know something.  I love you.  You love me too, you just don’t know it yet.  I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Stunned silence.

“C, I’m practically engaged.”

“I know,” I say, “but there’s nothing I can do about that.  I only know that I love you and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“That’s crazy.  You don’t fall in love in a night,” she whispers.

“Maybe you do,” I say. 

“I should go,” she says. 

She walks toward the door. 

Stops.  Turns.

“Are you serious?” she asks.

“Absolutely,” I respond.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

She leaves.

*****

The next 48 hours are strange and fantastic and unbearable.  There are only shards of moments floating in my memory…

She leaves work for an early lunch the next day and runs the mile or so toward my house.  I meet her partway and walk with her.

When we get back to the house, I pull out my well-worn CD and play “Pride and Joy” by Stevie Ray Vaughn for her.

One of my friends tells me that he just wants to be around us because he has never seen anything like the two of us together.

I ask what she is doing later and she says, “Defrosting my freezer with a hairdryer.”

After work, I call her and tell her that I’m coming to pick her up.  She is, indeed, defrosting her freezer with a hairdryer.

I take her to my parent’s house and introduce her to them.  In 20 years, I have never, ever brought anyone home to meet my parents.  They don’t know what to say or think.  They are even more confused when I say, “I have to get her home, her boyfriend is coming into town tonight.”

I take her home.

And leave.

Her boyfriend arrives in an hour.

*****

It gets late.  I don’t hear from her.

I go to bed.

Next morning, no word.

I look for distraction.

The guys are planning a party for tonight.  I’m in no mood, but I don’t let that stop me.

We start drinking at 7:00.  I still haven’t heard from her. 

I am paralyzed.

*****

We are watching Apocalypse Now.  Drinking.  Everyone is looking at me.  They know that I’m serious about this girl.  They’ve never seen me like this.

A knock in the doorway of the room.

And she is there. 

I cannot stop smiling. 

“Carmen and I snuck out of the bathroom window of the apartment while he was hanging out with his friends.  I couldn’t wait anymore to see you,” she says, looking up at me.

“Jesus,” is all I can manage.

*****

I hug her. 

“We have to get back soon,” she says.

“You should go,” I say.

And she does.

We have the party at the house.  Many, many people come.

Including RW and her boyfriend.

I pace and scowl and avoid.  Please, just let it be over soon.  Please.

After a time, they leave.

We do not speak.

I do not sleep.

*****

The next morning she calls.

“Can I see you?” she asks.

“Is everything…okay?” I ask. 

“I need to see you,” she says.

She comes over.

We go for a walk. 

She says nothing.

“Well, what happened!?” I ask with unrestrained urgency.

“I broke up with him,” she says simply.

She smiles at me.

“R, will you go out with me?” I ask immediately, feeling all of twelve years old.

“If you promise me one thing,” she responds.  “You promise me that you aren’t lying to me.  Promise me you’ll never lie to me.  I just ended a three-year relationship based on what you said to me.”

“I’m not lying to you.  I won’t ever lie to you.  I love you more than you know,” I say, looking into her brilliant jade eyes.

“I believe you.”

As we walk down the street, I take her hand in mine.

*****

Nearly thirteen years ago, I met a girl that I could not have.

Nearly eleven years ago, I told her I loved her.

Eight years ago today, I married her.

Comments

[~Mel]

That has got to be the sweetest, most romantic story I have ever read.

[MJ]

Wow! I guess it really can happen then. ;) Though a bit late, cograts on your anniversary.

[Allan]

awesome story.... couldn't stop reading it... congratulations

[Diana]

That story made my heart beat faster!
It brought back the chaotic feelings only a new and intense love can create.

Thanks!

[smileygirlmt]

That was an amazing story! It just goes to show what can happen when you take a chance on love! Thanks. :)

[Kisha]

That was a wonderful story. :)

[Shirley]

I almost don't believe you, it sounds too good to be true. It's an awesome story. You give unbelievable a good name. Happy Belated Anniversary.

[Balasubramani]

That's awesome. Breaking it up into three parts was a nice touch as well!

[Nick]

Wow reading this made me feel so good inside =)
Great story and I wish you and her the best.

[jasel]

that is fucking GREAT! what a wonderful end to the trilogy :).

[Darryl]

I...I...I think you made my cry...

[Anna]

congratulations on your anniversary, and i hope you have many, many more. your story is so sweet.

[Amy]

Okay, that is such a sweet story. How lucky are you to have the one woman who stole your heart! Thank God she broke it off with the jerk. Don't ever hurt her.

[Mike]

Wow. Great stuff!

[Julie]

Aw, you made me cry..............

[Gina]

I weep. That was better than anything I've ever seen in a movie and most all that I've read in books. Congratulations

[Aussie Owen]

Excellent story, my fiancee and I should have got together about 15 years go when we first met. She now tells me she fancied me when we met but we just didn't get together. Now after failed relattonships and children each, we meet up again. We've been together 2 years and there's no looking back. Love will always find a way. And don't you ever hurt her.

[mike]

oh I burst into a tear when i read the end, man I don't know whis luckier, you or her

[Michelle]

That is the most romantic story I have ever heard. It is nice to know true love is not fictional.

[melissa]

that is so beautiful. i'm without words.

[Marv]

I have a similar feeling over the owner of a pair of blue eyes. No anniversary (or anything else for that matter) in my camp, though. Oct. 27, 1987 I'll remember forever...I doubt she does.

[K]

that ending made me cry. it sounds like something straight from a movie. so beautiful, and I'm green with envy over such a happy ending.

[sue]

I think I saw you out on the lawn...

Amazing. Congratulations. Yes, I too had a similar experience when I met DH. There is such a thing as love at first sight. I'm living proof 25-plus years later. I wish you many happy years together!

[Brandon]

This is a fantastic story. I'll be married on Oct.23rd and I pray after 7 years we will love and laugh at our storied past as well as you do.

[s1rGr1nG0]

That is an amazing story!!
On 9-7-04 my wife and I celebrated our 8th year.
Congratulations!