"You can't?" I say. "Wait, then how did you?"
Phillip blinks slowly and looks at me with sparkling eyes. "I've had it since May."
"Like Cancun, May?"
"It was for when we got back," he says, but what he's saying with his eyes is way more powerful than what he's saying with his words.
Oh. my. gosh.
May.
He thought Cancun was a slam dunk.
He says to the table, "I had it for about three months before our first date."
"You two have the most romantic story," she gushes.
The girl hasn't said a word. She's glowering into her drink.
Phillip pulls me onto his lap. "You look surprised."
"I am surprised. May, huh?"
"I told you. I've known for a while. I just had to wait until you were on the same page."
"I think we're on the same page now."
"I don't know. I think we have some, uhhh, syncing up to do. Plus, it's been a long day. I think you need to take me home and put me to bed."
"Are you tired?" I sorta whisper, but loud enough for the girl to hear.
"Not at all." He grins, kisses up by my ear, and whispers, "God, you smell good. I can't wait to get you home." He throws some money down on the table and says to everyone, "See ya tomorrow." Then he takes my hand and leads me out of the bar.
And I just hit the game winning shot at the buzzer!!
My team wins!!!
After syncing up in bed, I ask him about the girl.
"Phillip, that girl, what's her deal? She's always like, Oh Phillip, you're so funny. When she touches your arm, I just wanna rip it off."
"She's kind of a flirt, but I'm not the least bit interested."
"Then you need to make her stop touching you. It's not work appropriate, not professional. If you're gonna be the boss, you can't allow it. And if you wanna be my husband......"
"Are you actually jealous?!"
"Ummm, well not really jealous, more like concerned. Phillip, I love you. I don't want some secretary to ruin our relationship, and it concerns me that you let her touch your arm. It makes me think you like it."
"Actually, it bothers me, but I haven't been sure how to handle it."
"Maybe you shouldn't be going out for drinks when she's there."
"That would mean I'd never get to go because she's always there. She's on my team."
"I think you should let her know that it makes you uncomfortable. Maybe say something to her, or move your arm away. If you don't move, you're almost encouraging her."
"Well next time she does it, that's what I'll do."
"Good, because I really don't wanna have to say, Phillip, hold my earrings while I beat her ass. That may not be very professional either."
Phillip laughs at me, and then he smiles that smile that makes me melt.
Every. single. time.
I run the back of my hands down the sides of his handsome face. The way he looks at me makes me know that I was stupid, that I have nothing to worry about.
I kiss him. "So, did you really have the ring for three whole months BEFORE we hooked up?"
"Yeah, Danny and Lori were the only people that knew. They sorta thought I was nuts. And after Cancun blew up, I sorta thought so too. I was really disappointed."
"I was really disappointed too. Cancun didn't go at all the way I planned."
"You had a plan for Cancun?"
"Yeah."
"Really? What was it?"
"I was gonna get you a little tipsy, dance with you, then take you back to my room. I never imagined you'd leave me alone with those guys. That was like dangerous, you know, leaving me on the beach, drunk and crying."
"I never left you by yourself. I wanted you to think I was gone because I was pissed, but I kept an eye on you. I had to make sure you'd be okay."
"That was sweet."
"I'm a sucker is more like it."
"No, you're sweet and adorable, and I'm so lucky you didn't give up on me, on us."
"I couldn't. I just had to believe it would work out, but then you started dating that drummer."
"Guitar player."
"Whatever."
"Hey, don't get smart with me, mister."
"Hey, don't tell me what to do, missy."
"I'm gonna be your wife. I can say whatever I want."
"Oohhh, say that again."
"I can say whatever I want? I like that part."
"No, the other part."
"What part?"
"The wife part."
"Ooohhh, I'm gonna be your wife."
"Yeah, I love that."
"I love you."
"I'm not sure I believe you."
"Huh?"
"I think you're gonna have to show me."
"I think I already did."
He pulls me closer and says, "Maybe you need to show me again."
We're back in Kansas City and out at a sports bar with Danny, Lori, some of Danny's teammates, and their wives.
We just ordered dinner, and somehow, the subject has turned to sex.
And not just any sex, but rather, MY sex life.
Lori, who now that she's pregnant, seems to think she can say anything and get away with it. She decides that this is the perfect time, in front of all these people I barely know, to mention that I may have been worried about having an STD for real because I went home that drunken night with Jason O'Connor.
Keep in mind, I would never in a million years think Jason would have an STD. Also keep in mind that Phillip doesn't know I was with Jason this past summer, and Lori knows DAMN WELL that I didn't want Phillip to know this.
I'm pretty sure Danny's whole team knows the STD story, like I said, everyone thinks it's pretty hilarious.
I can handle a little teasing, but when Lori says, "What made it more humorous is that she had a drunken night with this Richie Rich guy, and she was really worried Phillip's mom somehow knew she had one."
To which Phillip glares at me.
Shit.
It's not like Phillip went without sex all summer. I mean, I don't think he did. But we're in a group and supposed to be having fun, and I've had a couple beers. Maybe we can all laugh about it, and Phillip won't care. So I say, "Well, so what, he was a freebie anyway."
And the guys are like a freebie?
"Yeah, I'd been with him before, so he was the perfect one night stand because he didn't count."
Big lineman Marcus says, "Didn't count for what?"
"You know, like your total."
He smiles at me and nods his head in understanding.
Apparently, the throw-Jadyn-under-the-bus sickness is spreading like a virus because Danny says in his twelve-year-old voice, "So Jay, how many guys HAVE you slept with?"
I have to say I'm a little embarrassed by this.
One, it is no one's business.
Two, it's no one's business.
And three, Danny has no room to talk.
"I didn't keep track, but I KNOW you did. Has Lori seen your little, well, make that long ass list?"
He ignores my comment even though I can see Lori's brain going there's a list. "Come on, Jay. It's not like we don't know them all anyway. This would be a good way for Phillip and I to test our memory. You know, challenging your cognitive function is very important as we age. This might be more complex than a soduku puzzle. Let's start with Matt, freshman year."