When Matt saw you, he knew you were the one. From the blue head band in your hair to your socks tucked into your boots. There was something about you that nobody could compare to. It took Matt four hours of staring before working up the courage to talk to you. He watched as your made a coffee for one of your regulars.
Matt wasn't the only one smitten. You noticed him when he walked in. You found it rare to be silent, but he was pretty. And you were speechless. He made you nervous and you forced your co-worker to take his order. So you watched one another. After a few hours, you made the first move. Spray bottle and rag in hand, you pretended to clean up around him.
"How-" you began, recognising you weren't the only one speaking
"Is-" Matt looked at you and smiled
"Sorry" you both said together. Those few seconds felt like hours.
"Ladies first" Matt gestured to the seat in front of him, closing his laptop shut. You sat down in front of him. Silence fell between you both before Matt told you how pretty you were and then conversation flowed.
~
It was a rainy October when you decided to invite Matt to a bar that your best friend and her fiancé went to every Friday after classes. Your best friend, Alice, knew you were the object of many men's affection, but she had never seen you as smitten when you arrived home from work with a massive smile on your face. You were afraid, truth be told, you knew Matt was the one for you from the minute he walked into your work.
"You look fine" Alice assured you, pulling you by the arm to meet her fiancé, Jack, at the door. "If you like him and he's seen you at your worst, what are you nervous about?" You shrugged, knowing she was right.
"It isn't him I'm worried about" you said, looking over your Alice's shoulder to see if he was making his way down the street to meet the group, only making eye contact with the bouncer. "I like him. I'm worried you guys won't"
"Who cares what we think?"
That night would become the root of shared stories among the two couples over dinner when they would look back on the good old days. It was the highlight of Alice' speech at your and Matt's engagement party five years later.
That was his gift to you, an engagement ring. Matt was smitten. The love that people thought was only in movies. He was a romantic. Your best friend helped organise the occasion, while your Mom kept you busy for the day.
In the year it took to plan, there was much more discussion. And after a lot of headaches and some arguments, the day was finally near.
"What kind of hen party are we talking about here?" Alice asked, sitting down on your couch. You shrugged. Everything was nearly ready. The date was set, the dress was beautiful and each flower and catering option was picked after heavy consideration.
"Can I be honest?" She nodded. "I would rather sit here with you and get drunk than invite friends and colleagues to a club in uncomfortable dresses and makeup. Everything I need is here"
"Hey, whatever the bride wants"
The same, couldn't be said for Matt. When he found out you didn't want a hen party, he was on the phone to his best man, Chris, to cancel his own. You told him it wasn't necessary and he could have one because you trusted him.
You trusted him.
Matt told himself the night he left Alice's hotel room that it was a one time thing. He said it over and over as he stepped into the elevator up to the room where you, his fiancée, was sleeping. As he washed in the shower, he reminded himself that telling you would be crazy, because it was a one time thing.
