Finding Our Forever: (A Defining Moments Novel) by Andee Michelle

lost in conversation that we didn’t notice the time.
    “I guess we better get out of here before they lock us in.” She giggles. “I really had a good time tonight, Eli. I hope we can do this again sometime.”
    And once again, she has surprised me. I don’t think this girl could be more perfect. I mentally make a checklist.
     
    Hot
    Sassy
    Has a career she loves
    Good family
    Great sense of humor
    Hot
    No game playing
    Enjoys beer
    Eats real food
    And she’s hot
     
    Yep, she’s perfect so far. There is only one thing left we haven’t discussed, and that’s past relationships. That’s probably where I’ll get the crazy. I’ve never met a girl who didn’t have a sad story to tell. A drunk dad, bullied at school, crazy mom, or abusive ex-boyfriend.
    I pay the tab and we start to head out, but I can’t let this night end thinking that this girl is perfect. I need to know what her underlying crazy is.
    As we head to the parking lot, I ask the question I’m dying to know. “So, any long-term relationships?”
    She shares a sweet smile and then nods. “Carter. We were best friends for a long time before we actually dated but yeah. We were together for the last two years of high school,” she tells me with happiness in her voice, which is not the emotion I expect to hear in a conversation about an ex. “We broke up when we left for separate colleges and we’ve remained friends. He got married last summer and they’re expecting their first baby in a few months.” She pauses for a moment, looking as though she expects me to reply, and when I don’t, she asks, “And what about you?”
    I’m confused, so I’m not really thinking clearly when I spout off my answer. “Nope, I’ve never been interested in a long-term relationship.” And with that awesomeness, she stops walking and looks at me curiously.
    “And why not?”
    I feel like a dumbass for that answer, but it’s true. I should just be honest with her from the beginning. “Well, I’m only twenty years old. I have things I want to do before I get married and settle down to have a family.”
    “Good answer.”
    “I’m serious. I mean, I know someday I want to get married, settle down, and have kids, but it won’t be any time soon. My parents married really young because they got pregnant with me and Ben in high school. I always promised myself I wouldn’t get caught up in that. I want to enjoy being single until I’m financially stable enough to have a family. Until then, I just want to have fun.”
    She regards me for a moment, and I can’t really place the look on her face. “Eli, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your honesty. I’ve been on a few dates where the guy tried to blow smoke up my ass with the whole ‘Oh, I’d love to get married and have kids as soon as I find the perfect woman for me’ bullshit. It drives me crazy when guys assume that’s what all women want to hear, because for me, it’s not. Do I want to get married and have kids? Sure, someday. But it’s not a priority right now because I’m young and enjoying my independence.”
    And if she could become any more perfect in my eyes, it was right now, in this moment. The idea that I have met the perfect woman at twenty years old is absolutely ludicrous.
    When we get to her car, I open her door for her, but she doesn’t get in. She turns to put her back against the car and looks up at me with those soft chocolate eyes.
    “I had a really good time. Thank you for dinner,” she says with a flirty tone to her voice. I lean my head down toward her face, but I’m so much taller than her that it makes it completely awkward. Just as I’m about to pull back, she reaches up, putting her arms around my neck, and pulls my head down toward hers. “I want you to kiss me right now, Eli, and if that means you gotta pick me up to do it, so be it.” I lift her from the ground and not so gently smash my lips into hers. She takes every single ounce of it and melts into me.