The Night We Met

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New Year's Eve. December 31, 2017.

It's interesting how this all came about. You've already met my girlfriends Jeni and Bets. We've spent many a New Year's Eve together, playing Settlers of Catan, hanging out, having fun. In early December 2017 Bets had not yet mentioned us spending New Year's Eve together, and I found out there was a dinner/dance event. One of my other girlfriend's Marcia, was going and I thought that sounded like fun and almost felt as if I should go. I think I invited myself and of course Marcia graciously agreed.

Then Bets set us all up with New Year's Eve plans at her house! Oh geesh - I never asked her and now I've been discussing the dance with Marcia. I became super conflicted. I still felt this strong pull to go to the dance, but going to Bets' house and spending it with her and Jeni was tradition.

On the morning of New Year's Eve we got an update from Jeni that her son was sick. That changed the dynamics. Now it would be Bets as part of a couple, another couple, and me. Hmm. 5th wheel. I talked with Bets about it she encouraged me to go to the dance. Thank you Betsy.

I get to the dance and here is the set up: Harley-Davidson tank top, black leather mini skirt, black nylons, tall black boots and a deep red lipstick. Now I'm not saying I'm necessarily proud of this, but it was the chosen wardrobe selection for that night.

Marcia catches my attention and I feel relief, knowing someone as I walked in alone, and immediately I bee-line for her table. She starts doing introductions..

There's this guy.

Yep.

This guy.

He makes a flirty little comment and I notice. Shortly afterwards I do a thorough checking in with my girlfriend to see if she's interested or has dibs. Apparently she thinks of him as almost a brother, so that's a relief.

During the evening the power goes out. I consider leaving, but for some reason I stay. It doesn't necessarily make sense for me to stay, but I do. The power gets restored.

Then the most moment comes when I realize he's seated on my left.

I can smell his cologne.

We start talking.

We talk all night.

We've been talking ever since.

We've been together since that night.

We've been together since the night we met.