I see him as I get in line for will call at the 9:30 Club and my stomach flip-flops like it did the first time I met him. I feel sixteen instead of twenty-six. What is he doing here? He looks good . Not good as in, nice for someone approaching thirty, or decent compared to the tired commuters I see every day on the Metro. I mean, he’s fucking hot .
If he were a stranger, I’d holler at him from my bike, let out a wolf whistle from my Car2Go Smart Car. But he’s David. My high school sweetheart. He’s still got the same dark curly hair and killer blue eyes, but he’s more filled out, more of a man than a boy. As soon as I realize I’m staring, I panic and look away, turning my gaze to someone else in the crowd. It’s too late, and from the corner of my eye I see him approaching. He’s left his place in line to stand behind me.
“ Alexa! So good to see you!”
Damn.
We exchange the usual pleasantries. He tells me he’s a semi-pro cyclist out in Colorado now, still dating Elise, the girl he’s been with for years and years. The girl who came after me. I already know all of this thanks to Facebook, but I nod and smile and act appropriately surprised. I’ve finally left my group house for a tiny studio apartment and am dating three guys I met on OkCupid, so I basically have my shit together too. I tell him I’m loving the single life and that my apartment is cozy and charming.
“That’s great,” he says.
“Yep, it’s pretty awesome, hahaha.” Nervous laughter. I almost suggest that he should come see the apartment sometime. I think better of it.
We walk inside together. I remember spending three birthday wishes on us, asking God or whoever was listening to make us happy forever, and I used a fourth wish when the first three didn’t pan out to ask that we’d get back together. It’s bad luck to tell anyone what you wished for, but these were long enough ago that in this case, I can make an exception.
“So, what brings you back to DC?” I ask as we wait to get o ur hands stamped. We are over twenty-one, so far over that it’s a little ridiculous, but that’s okay. Josh, the legendary bouncer, killed himself a few months ago. Some young kid is in his place.
“Oh, just some family business, plus I wanted to catch this show.”
“Cool cool. How’s your family doing?”
“They’re doing really well, but I’m actually here to visit Elise’s parents. They’re kind of conservative, so I’m going to ask her dad if I can marry her.”
I’m stunned. I stare at the mermaid Barbie on the door to the women’s room. I wouldn’t mind being swallowed into the sea at the moment.
“That’s great. Good luck , David. I’m really happy for you.” I almost believe it.
“Thanks, Alexa. It means a lot to hear you say that.”
On the next birthday, the one after the fourth wish, I found myself outside of his parents ’ house, my nose about six inches away from his.
“I dare you to kiss me,” he said, and I would have done it if he hadn’t seemed so sure of himself, so certain I’d take him up on the dare. I was with someone new, someone who took the bus all the way to College Park to see me on weekends, but I would have done it if he hadn’t been so smug.
And now he’s going to get married. I need a drink.
“Let’s go.” I weave through the crowd and lead us to the bar. He gets the bartender’s attention and orders two beers. He hands me mine, and I smile. “You remember my favorite.”
“Of course I do.”
We’ve missed the opening bands, and there’s a short intermission while the headliners set up their equipment. We need to stake out somewhere to stand. “Want to go up front?” he jokes, tilting his head toward the throng of people pressed against the stage.
“Sure,” I say.
My answer surprises him. I had always held back at shows while we were together. He’d wrap his arms around me and I would barely move, feeling so lucky, so thrilled that for some reason he found me
If he were a stranger, I’d holler at him from my bike, let out a wolf whistle from my Car2Go Smart Car. But he’s David. My high school sweetheart. He’s still got the same dark curly hair and killer blue eyes, but he’s more filled out, more of a man than a boy. As soon as I realize I’m staring, I panic and look away, turning my gaze to someone else in the crowd. It’s too late, and from the corner of my eye I see him approaching. He’s left his place in line to stand behind me.
“ Alexa! So good to see you!”
Damn.
We exchange the usual pleasantries. He tells me he’s a semi-pro cyclist out in Colorado now, still dating Elise, the girl he’s been with for years and years. The girl who came after me. I already know all of this thanks to Facebook, but I nod and smile and act appropriately surprised. I’ve finally left my group house for a tiny studio apartment and am dating three guys I met on OkCupid, so I basically have my shit together too. I tell him I’m loving the single life and that my apartment is cozy and charming.
“That’s great,” he says.
“Yep, it’s pretty awesome, hahaha.” Nervous laughter. I almost suggest that he should come see the apartment sometime. I think better of it.
We walk inside together. I remember spending three birthday wishes on us, asking God or whoever was listening to make us happy forever, and I used a fourth wish when the first three didn’t pan out to ask that we’d get back together. It’s bad luck to tell anyone what you wished for, but these were long enough ago that in this case, I can make an exception.
“So, what brings you back to DC?” I ask as we wait to get o ur hands stamped. We are over twenty-one, so far over that it’s a little ridiculous, but that’s okay. Josh, the legendary bouncer, killed himself a few months ago. Some young kid is in his place.
“Oh, just some family business, plus I wanted to catch this show.”
“Cool cool. How’s your family doing?”
“They’re doing really well, but I’m actually here to visit Elise’s parents. They’re kind of conservative, so I’m going to ask her dad if I can marry her.”
I’m stunned. I stare at the mermaid Barbie on the door to the women’s room. I wouldn’t mind being swallowed into the sea at the moment.
“That’s great. Good luck , David. I’m really happy for you.” I almost believe it.
“Thanks, Alexa. It means a lot to hear you say that.”
On the next birthday, the one after the fourth wish, I found myself outside of his parents ’ house, my nose about six inches away from his.
“I dare you to kiss me,” he said, and I would have done it if he hadn’t seemed so sure of himself, so certain I’d take him up on the dare. I was with someone new, someone who took the bus all the way to College Park to see me on weekends, but I would have done it if he hadn’t been so smug.
And now he’s going to get married. I need a drink.
“Let’s go.” I weave through the crowd and lead us to the bar. He gets the bartender’s attention and orders two beers. He hands me mine, and I smile. “You remember my favorite.”
“Of course I do.”
We’ve missed the opening bands, and there’s a short intermission while the headliners set up their equipment. We need to stake out somewhere to stand. “Want to go up front?” he jokes, tilting his head toward the throng of people pressed against the stage.
“Sure,” I say.
My answer surprises him. I had always held back at shows while we were together. He’d wrap his arms around me and I would barely move, feeling so lucky, so thrilled that for some reason he found me
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