Match Made

Closure

The only restaurant open is a pizza joint. We order pizza, a salad, and buffalo wings. Then we enjoy our late-night feast. Stuffed, I lie on my back across the bed, while he sits, legs apart, slouched on the couch.

It is nearing two in the morning when he stands. I turn my head to face him as he comes by the bed. As I went to sit up, he whispered, "Don't get up," and then lay down next to me.

Now lying face to face he asks, "Did you ever think about me?":

Rolling onto my back to stare at the ceiling, I answer, "Often enough."

Placing his hand across my waist with mouth to my ear, he whispers, "Tell me about your fantasy on how you once hoped we'd end."

Shaking my head, I say, "You first."

He pants out, "Please go first. I swear I won't change my story."

One lone tear rolls down my cheek, but I grin saying, "My hope was you'd ask me to prom, we get back together then after graduation we'd get married. When that didn't happen, but you called me to see you off for college, I hoped that at Christmas you'd buy me a ring then we'd get married. Once that dream didn't come true when you took me to the show, that Valentine's weekend, I hoped you had gotten me a ring and we'd get married. Then after you called and said my mom hurt your feelings so as her punishment, you'll stop visiting me I stopped dreaming and started living."

He sniffles into my ear, so I try and look at him, but he whispers, "That's it?"

"No, but let me see your face."

"Please finish, Kelly."

"My last hope was when I saw you with my now baby's daddy. I felt as if the stars had aligned for me. I felt flawless that night and you looked flawless. Seeing you that upset over me with some guy after all those years, I went home expecting you to call and say, "Kelly, I still love you, let's get married!" But you never did. That was when I accepted, Aden is gone, Kelly. It's time to move forward. The End. ...Your turn."

With his face nestled in my neck, he says nothing, but I feel liquid. Gently tapping his back I whisper, "Aden, look at me."

He rolls back and his face is wet from tears. Smiling and crying, I wipe them away with my fingers saying, "We were so young. How could we have possibly known how to handle a love so real?"

My tears are flowing now but I continue, "We thought what we had was normal love, but it was far from normal. It was magical. A match made in heaven."

Soon we're in this passionate kiss, but I stop him saying, "No fair! You promised to tell me your fantasy. I want to hear it."

He whispers, "It came true, just decades too late."

Eyes squinted I stare his way, and he continues, "I always knew we'd be successful. Right after I graduated, I had a business meeting in New York. I was 22 years old, but every time I had a business trip or any trip, I'd tell myself, this trip will be the trip we reconnect. I'll tell her I never stopped loving her, we'll get married and live happily ever after together."

Foreheads touching, he whispers, "I'll always love you, Kelly Charlevoix."

We leaned close to kiss, but my phone started ringing. Startled, I jumped up, and it was my husband. Quickly, I answer, "Hey babe."

"Are you up?"

Looking at the clock I say, "Wow is it five already? But yes, I'm up."

Aden was staring at me when his phone started ringing. I hurried into the hallway asking, "What are you about to do? Go back to sleep?"

"Yeah, I guess. What time does your flight get in again?"

"It's a straight shot so it gets there at 10:50 a.m. Do not be late Dre!"

"Hush woman. I'll be there."

"You better. Love you."

"I love you too."

Ending my call, I exhaled and then opened the door. Aden's right there.

"Oh? Who was that? Your wife?" I ask.

Dropping his head he answers, "Yeah."

Wide-eyed I stare his way until he looks up. He sighs, "I'm going to go get ready."

Nodding I mouth, "Okay."

Riding to the airport was slightly awkward. We didn't say much but texted or talked to our spouses. Our seats aren't next to each other on the flight. Once seated I put in my earphones and listened to music until I dozed off. Exiting the plane, I glanced his way, but he was talking a mile a minute to his wife, I'm sure. Sighing out loud I hurried down the tarmac.

Visiting my daughter is an easy trip. I have clothes at her home, so I traveled with one carry-on. Dre pulls up as soon as I exit the building. I'm met with his beautiful, bright grin. My stepdaughter's with him. She hugs my waist as I kiss the top of her hat saying, "Hey my pretty girl."

Dre kisses my lips saying, "Hey beautiful. How was your trip?"

Behind our car, an SUV pulls up. An attractive woman exits, and Aden leans down and kisses her. Removing her lipstick from his mouth with her thumb he grins her way whispering something. With a coy gesture, she sucks the tip of her thumb. Along with his sexy smirk, he shakes his head. Before he enters the driver's side, he pans the area and our eyes meet. He gives a slight nod and then enters his SUV. I do the same then answer Dre, "It was perfect."

"I'm glad. Are you hungry? My dad barbecued. Do you feel like stopping by there?"

"Not really, but do I have a choice?"

Dre laughs, "It'll only be for a minute."

Shaking my head we laugh together and then merge onto the expressway.