Just as with the first date Bryan and my style matches - he is in sweat and a t-shirt as well. He comes in carrying a huge brown paper grocery bag filled to the top with ingredients.
"What's all this?" I ask curiously peeking in the bag.
"Oh no you don't!" he says and rips the bag out of my grip and away from my line of sight.
"Why?" I ask and put on my most pathetically sad face.
"Cause I said. Now come into the kitchen."
He pulls me into the kitchen and sits me on one of the stools by the island countertop. He then blindfolds me the same way he did on our first date and tells me that if I take off the blindfold he will leave and not come back.
I hear him shuffle around the kitchen as he casually talks to me about my day and anything else he can think of. As he talks I hear cupboards being opened and closed, pans knocking together, things sizzling, among many other things. After about ten minutes I begin to smell amazing things. I smell basil, thyme, chicken, and garlic. I don't bother to ask him once again what he is making because of course he refuses. As he says, "What's the point in a blindfold if I'm just going to tell you what I'm doing?"
About 40 minutes after he begins cooking he tells me to open up. When I open my mouth a spoon is gently put in and my taste buds go berserk. Every spice I have smelled earlier and more are introduced and it tastes amazing. I can tell it is a tomato sauce for chicken but that is about it.
I feel him pull the blindfold off and I look out at the dinning room to see it lit up with candles. There is a vase filled all the way with blood red roses and the tablecloth is a deep red as well. He has everything set up with food on my plates that looks delicious.
"Oh my gosh Bryan!" I say looking up at him and giving him a huge hug. "This is wonderful!"
"Thank you, but this is all for you," he says smiling and pulling out my chair for me and then sits in the one next to me.
We begin to eat and the food is amazing. I haven't eaten anything this good in ages!
"Who taught you to cook?" I ask.
"My mother before she died," he smiles warily.
"I'm so sorry Bryan," I say putting my hand on top of his on the table.
"It's alright. She gave me the best memories any person could ask for."
We finish eating and when I start to do the dishes he will have none of it. He sends me to the living room to get comfortable while he loads them into the dishwasher.
When he is finished and I hear the water begin running into the machine, he comes into the living room and sits down next to me. I look up at him as he puts his arm around my shoulders and smile. He kisses my forehead once again and I lean my head on his shoulder while he slowly plays with my hair.
"Brandi?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you maybe..." he pauses as if trying to gather himself. "Would you maybe want to be my girlfriend?"
My head snaps up and I look at him to make sure he is being completely serious. He couldn't be. Why would someone as amazing as him want someone as plain as me?
"Seriously?" I ask dumbfounded.
"For real," he says giggling slightly before continuing. "You're the most amazing girl I have ever met Brandi Marie Hughes, ever since I laid eyes on you I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. I have even dreamt about you. I simply pictured you lying in my arms and it was bliss. I can't imagine myself NOT being with you now."
