A KISS For Valentine's Day

The Sixth Date

I picked up my phone, looking at it for a moment. Things were fine between us, I didn't have any reason to worry, I was just overthinking and overreacting. But I still couldn't shake the feeling that we were growing apart despite my best efforts. Or maybe it was because of my best efforts, maybe I was the one pushing him away. Heaving a sigh, I shook my head, giving up and dialing his number.

"Hey shrimp what's up?" Tommy asked. "Hey! Uh...wanna hang out today? Like go on a date I mean," I said, getting flustered for no reason. He chuckled. "A date? What, are you asking to be my boyfriend?" he asked. "Um I-I well I mean y-yeah if you wanted to be boyfriends I guess we could--" He burst into laughter, cutting me off. "Babe I'm just teasing! We're already dating, dumbass! But yeah, I'd love to hang out with you this afternoon, what did you have in mind?" I froze, overwhelmed, trying to come up with a date on the fly since I hadn't actually planned one in advance. 

"Would you...m-maybe wanna go mini golfing?" I asked after a pause, still unreasonably panicked for no reason. "Oh hell yeah! Oh man I haven't gone mini golfing in ages! As much as I love you though just know I'm going to show no mercy and I'll absolutely kick your ass." "I'd like to see you try," I retorted. "Anyway! I'll pick you up in an hour!" "I'll see you then!" "Love you!" I said, but he had already hung up. I took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair. "He just...didn't mean to hang up that early. He probably accidentally hung up before he could say he loved me. Dammit Eric stop overthinking things!" I snapped at myself. 

I tied back my hair with one of the many headbands he had given me before picking up my phone and calling Paul. "Hey Eric! Practice isn't until the week after Valentine's, if that's what you're wondering. We'll meet up probably the 18th." "Did you feel like Gene was going to break up with you before he did?" I blurted out. "Um okay ouch first of all, just ignore my hello like that. And let's see, kind of? He just sort of got a bit more distant and didn't really spend as much time with me and I caught him ogling some groupies so I went to dump him but we just broke up with each other at the same time. At least the first time. Why?"

"No reason, just wondering anyway thanks Paul bye see you later!" I said in a rush, hanging up and letting out a sigh. It was fine, it was all fine, I was just overreacting. But why was I overreacting? Why did I keep getting the feeling from him that it was all going to be over soon, that the love of my life would dump me? "Dammit Eric you did not spent twelve straight days planning subtle little dates to very carefully profess your love for you to lose him on Valentine's Day only a few years later. Now stop freaking out over nothing!" I whispered to myself. 

Still muttering reassurances to myself, I drove to Tommy's place. It felt weird pulling up to the curb. In the past I would have been over here every other day practically, but I couldn't really even recall the last time he had invited me over. Once again, it seemed like I was doing all the work planning dates. Except last time this happened, he didn't even know they were dates. I sent him a text telling him I was out front and waited almost five minutes before the door opened and Tommy walked to my car. He barely muttered a hello, just slid into the passenger seat and stared out the window. 

"Um...you okay?" I asked after a pause. He jumped, giving me a startled look. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, sorry just have something on my mind," he said. Still no kiss, still nothing saying he loved me. Biting back I sigh, I just drove off, trying to remind myself that he was my boyfriend and I was supposed to trust him. Eventually we arrived at the mini golf course, which was thankfully indoors since once again the temperatures had dropped so much it was snowing again. "Shall we?" I asked, holding out my hand. Tommy stared blankly at my hand for a moment and I felt my heart drop before he seemed to snap out of it, giving me a smile and lacing his fingers through mine.

"I mean only if you're ready to get your ass kicked," he teased. "Mm, awfully confident, aren't you?" I said, nudging him in the ribs as we walked inside. "My confidence is well placed, don't you worry," he retorted as I paid for a round for the both of us. We grabbed our clubs and a golf ball each, moving to the first hole and starting the game. 

Unfortunately as it turned out Tommy's confidence was very well placed and it didn't take long for him to pull ahead. I was just messing around at this point but Tommy was still taking things annoyingly serious, meaning it was the perfect opportunity to tease him. He frowned, holding his tongue between his teeth as he squinted at the golf ball, lining up the putter. "Alright Thayer. Focus," he said under his breath. He pulled back for the swing, about to tap the ball, when I let out a loud cough, startling him enough to make him miss the putt. He whirled on me, giving me a scowl. "Eric!" he snapped. "Allergies, sorry," I said with a grin. 

He rolled his eyes, repositioning his club and tapping the ball in for a par. "You're hopeless, you know that?" he grumbled. "Aw come on love I'm just messing with you! You were right, you're winning and all I've done is get beaten soundly," I said with an overdramatic sigh. To my relief, that seemed to put a smile on his face, and he gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Just like I told you you would. Now come on, there's two holes left and after that I wanna grab a bite to eat, I'm starving," he said, prodding me playfully with his golf club. Grinning, I walked with him to the next course, holding his hand in mine.

Six days down, eight to go.