I want to put up a fight because Danny's going way overboard on this. But it's not very often that Danny asks me not to fight with him. It might the first time. Um, no, it is the first time. For sure. Danny likes to fight with me, I think.
"Fine, I won't fight you on it. It sounds amazing and is incredibly sweet and generous of you. But I have one request. Will you dance at my party?"
"Uh, no."
"Awwww, come on, Danny. You'd put those Thunders from Down Under to shame."
"I'm gonna say no, sorry. So what do you think about surprising Phillip? Like not telling him that you're there? Don't you think he'll love that? I was thinking we'd dress you up and have you come to our suite, like you're a dancer or something."
"He will be all hungover and probably won't even notice it's me."
Danny chuckles. "Jay, you know how it'll be. Phillip will be fine, and the rest of us will be hanging."
"True, Phillip never gets all fucked up does he?"
"Nope."
"I kinda like that about him."
"Well from what I hear, you kinda like everything about him. And a few things specifically. Who knew you were so naughty. And don't you two ever get tired?"
"It's all so amazing with Phillip. And no, we don't. I really don't know why I didn't take your advice and sleep with him sooner. I could've had so much fun."
"Cuz your stupid and stubborn, just like me, and you won't do what anyone tells you is good for you."
I think of something that's been bugging me, so I ask him. "Danny, do you ever think about cheating? I mean you're like this big sexy quarterback making the big bucks, and girls are always throwing themselves at you. Do you ever want to? Are you glad you got married?"
"Did Lori ask you to ask me this?"
"Uh, no, why?"
"Then why are you asking?"
"Well, couple's counseling is sort of freaking me out. The pastor is supposed to be pro-marriage, but it feels like he's trying to talk us out of it. He keeps referring to our marriage as like a dead body. It's going to fester. It's gonna get infected. Then, we're gonna smother it to death! I'm just wondering if marriage is a smart idea."
"Do you want someone besides Phillip?"
"No, but what if I change my mind? What if he does?"
"Jay, you can't do that to yourself. He's either the one, or he's not. Do you think he's the one?"
"It feels like he's the one."
"So why are you worrying about it?"
"Danny, did you pay attention to your wedding vows? 'Til death do you part? Forever and ever and ever? I mean are there out clauses somewhere? Like what if Phillip gets a big beer gut or a hairy back? What if we get married, and I find out something about him that I don't like?"
"For God's sake, Jay, you've known him your whole life. I don't think you're in for any surprises."
"Maybe."
"And just for the record, I love Lori. I'm smart enough to know that a roll in the hay with some hot chick isn't worth losing her over. Are you smart enough to know that?"
"I don't wanna roll in the hay with anyone but Phillip, but I'm afraid he might want to."
Danny's voice sounds concerned. "What's going on? Why would you think that?"
"I don't know. Well, there's this girl he works with that has a big crush on him. Like it's so obvious. Phillip takes his team out for drinks sometimes, and when I get there, she's always sitting next to him and flirting with him."
"How does she flirt with him?"
"She's always touching him, and I'm afraid he likes it because he doesn't stop her. If a girl was doing that to you, and you wanted to be polite because you have to work with her, would you let her touch you? Is Phillip oblivious to it, does he like it, or does he want her back? Or worse, could he already be?"
"Have you talked to Phillip about this?"
"No, I can't talk to him about it! He'll think I'm being jealous, or if he's doing something, he'll just deny it. I have to find out on my own."
"I see now why they wanted you to go to couple's counseling."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Jay, talk to him. You have to talk stuff out in your relationship."
"Never mind, Danny. I'll figure it out."
"You looking hot today?"
"Actually, yes. I have on a really cute new dress and adorable high heels. Phillip likes when I wear heels."
"Your legs are like a mile long. Every man alive likes you in heels. Veryyyy sexxxy."
"Thanks, Danny, your pity flirting is helpful."
"You're hot, Jay. Phillip loves you, and from what I've heard, it's not like he's been ignoring you sexually."
"Oh," I giggle, "well, uh, no. Definitely not. I know what I'm gonna do. He's taking his team out for drinks tonight, so I'll just go and check it out. I mean, I work here now, I'm officially part of the team, right?"
"Right," Danny says.
I touch up my makeup, add a little smokey eyeshadow, three more coats of mascara, and some perfume Phillip loves.
When I get there, as expected, the girl is sitting next to Phillip acting like he's the most amazing and interesting man on earth. Phillip's even drinking a bottle of Dos Equis.
Ha! That kinda makes me laugh.
I'm pretty good at entertaining myself.
I take out my phone and pretend to do something important. The girl laughs and touches Phillip's arm, but he doesn't seem to be interested. He's kind of leaning away from her.
I bravely glide into the bar with my head held high. And not to sound conceited or anything, but I'm over six foot tall in heels, am skinnyish, have what Danny terms as decent boobs, and long blonde hair.
My point being, in a bar, I can usually turn a few heads, and I'm hoping to turn Phillip's.
He notices me as soon as I step into the room. His eyes roll down my legs, and then he gives me an adorable grin. It makes me feel confident, so I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his neck. I also position my body so that it's slightly between him and the girl.
"How's my sexy fiancee?" I coo.
"Mmmm, good now." He swivels in his bar stool and plants a big kiss on me.
Ha! Score one for my team!! I thought I was gonna have to kiss him. It's way better that he kissed me.
One of the sweet girls from work, who must hide out in her office because I never see her during the day, says, "I need to see this ring everyone has been talking about."
Phillip keeps his arms wrapped around me, and I'm still strategically between him and the girl. I hold my left hand out across the table and show off my amazing ring.
"Wow, that's beautiful. Phillip, your dad said you had it designed for her?"
"I had it made," he replies, "but she actually drew the design."
"But you weren't dating at the time, right?"
"No, we were engagement ring shopping with our friend this past spring. We asked her what her dream ring was, and this is what she sketched."
I gush, "And he kept the sketch. That's the amazing part."
"I'm confused," she says. "If you got engaged on your first date after being together for only a week, how did you get a ring custom designed that fast?"
"Oh," Phillip says with a blush.
Is he embarrassed about this? Is it because of the girl? Is he embarrassed to be engaged to me?
He says, "You know, you're the first person that's asked me about the timeline. But you're right. You can't get a ring custom designed in a week."