Can I Ask You a Question?

10

June

I watched as Adam stopped and tilted his head. When we visited his grandparent's house in New York a few months ago, he introduced me as his new girlfriend. We had been together for a few months, and it wasn't a secret anymore. Almost everyone knew. My parents found out about it because of Cliff's big mouth. So now we were forced to fly over there during the peak of summer and spend a week there. Right now, we were back in New York for his grandparent's vow renewal. So far, it was the sweetest thing I had ever witnessed. I realized now that Adam had been crying watching them walk down the aisle. He was trying to hide it, but us being in the front row didn't help at all.
Adam's parents sat on his other side. I couldn't help but think he was only crying because his parents had split only a year or two after their marriage and had only seen each other to take care of Adam. Now, in his grandparents, he saw a newness he hadn't seen before. His mom was crying, watching her parents get remarried. I hadn't realized I was crying until the woman beside me touched my shoulder and handed me a tissue. Adam's aunt looked at us with her own tearful eyes.

"You're a keeper." She whispered to me in a creepy but endearing way. I had heard a lot of things and sayings like that today.

"That's your girl, Adam." "She's a good one, Adam. She's gorgeous, too." "Oh, I wish I had her blonde hair. You all would have such cute babies." Yeah, the last one threw me for a loop too. I was going to miss it here a lot. I didn't want to go back to school anymore. I just wanted to stay in New York. In reality, it was too hectic for me, not to mention all the crime in the city. I would never be able to do it, but I would have loved it.

"Sorry," I whispered as I took her tissue with a trembling hand. "Thanks." Tracy was her name? Maybe? I'm not too sure. I have met too many people at this wedding to even think. All I knew was his mom was Mattie, his dad's name was Tim, his grandmother's name was Winnie, and his grandfather's name was Joe.

Adam's hand slipped onto my knee and rubbed small circles on it. I placed my hand on his. We were all sitting forward in our seats like something significant was about to happen, but it was just a wedding. It was endearing. Everyone teared up a few more times, but we all had a blast at the reception.

"Did you want to dance?"

"Not really." I scrunched my nose, and he chuckled.

"I don't think it's optional."

The wedding planner was pushing away all the tables and chairs and having people help stack them to make the most extensive dance floor I've ever seen. The music was loud, almost too loud for me. I tried to drown it out as best as I could.

"Okay, okay, fine." I smiled, taking his extended hand, and he pulled me up from my seat.

"You look pretty tonight, by the way. Your hair is so perfect." The way his thumb grazed over my hip bone and sort of sparked something in me. He could see it in my eyes, and I grinned. He pulled me close to him so our stomachs were touching. I could see the heat rising to his cheeks as I hugged him closer to me and danced with him. We swayed in small steps like we used to in the kitchen. He stroked his fingers through my hair, and I held him like it was only him and me.

"You look handsome, Adam. You're so sweet to me." I breathed out. I could imagine a life with him. I couldn't wait until we graduated and our life would officially start. We talked about staying in the apartment and fantasized about owning the building and renting a place out to Leo. We talked about keeping our home open and loving. I tucked my face into the crook of his neck, and he held me tighter.

"You're the sweetest thing." He whispered to me.

What if we don't make it? I thought to myself. But I immediately pushed the thought away. That's the thought I should have put in a box and smashed it initially. Of course, we would make it.