I hustle to get outside, hoping that I'll be able to unload the surprise before anyone else gets to the car. It was sweet of them to volunteer to help, but I can't let her see what I've made. I give my mom a quick hug, then grab it out of the back, sliding around the corner just as she comes out to help unload. I smile, hoping she'll like the surprise as I hide it behind the dresser in my room, just to be extra safe.
A few days later we're getting ready for dinner. I was ready to be clean and showered from the beach. She's still in a bathing suit. She wanted to hang out at the hot tub a little. The blue behind my dresser catches my eye. My heart beats a little faster.
I can only imagine what her reaction will be. Hopefully no one has given away the surprise. I check it one last time even though I know it hasn't changed since I checked before my shower.
I make up my mind and head out to go chat with them. I want to be near her. The wind pulls at my hair, tangling it and making a mess, but I don't mind. I'm just happy to see her smile again.
The entire time the girls got ready, I rehearsed what I would say. Some smooth line that would sweep her off her feet. How would I hug her? Do I say anything out loud or do I let the sign do the talking? I had time to think, so thinking is what I did.
In the end, standing just inside the doorway, I forgot any semblance of a plan. Someone was going to give me a signal at the right time, and another would be taking a video when it happened, but beyond that, I was clueless about what I was supposed to do.
I had seen her blue romper before going to grab the sign. She was stunning in the thin white flowers. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and give her a huge hug. Maybe spin her around or give her a dip. I fought back those thoughts, bringing myself back to the moment.
There it was: the signal to come out onto the porch.
Audrey was in the middle of taking a picture with two of the other girls. I was cheesing from ear to ear. She didn't look over right away, but when she did, I knew the surprise was successful.
I'm pretty sure I handed her the sign without saying a word. I was too excited, too nervous, too happy that she was happy, to remember how it exactly went down. She gave me a side hug, leaning in against me. I played it safe, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and holding her there. It felt like a fraction of a second, but that same moment felt like a lifetime.
I smiled and smiled some more. I was glad she was happy. Happy to go to prom with me. I was happy to hear the sound of her laugh. Happy to get to take pictures by her side.
Audrey Elaine Mobed was my date to prom. But when the date came around, she was more than that. In a little under 3 weeks after spring break. She was mine, and I was hers.
And it's been that way ever since.
