The Ride of My Life (an Ansel Elgort story)

Chapter 61

Lucy's POV

We're driving along the highway, Ansel focuses on the road while I hum tunes from the radio. I have no idea where we're going. Ansel won't even give a tiny hint.

"Babe, I'm going to need you to close your eyes." He says.

"What? Why?"

"So you'll be surprised. Do it. Pleeeeease." He glances over at me with a puppy-dog look, complete with the pouty lip.

"Tempting, but not quite enough. My eyes are fine open." I say, stubborn as always.

"Suit yourself."

He pulls onto a gated road. I read a sign and realize we're at a country club.

"I didn't know you were a member of a country club." I say.

"I'm not. That's a reason you were supposed to have your eyes closed."

"Fine." I finally give in and shut my eyes.

I feel the car stop after a while and Ansel explains to me what the plan is.

"Okay. Keep your eyes closed. I'm going to help you out of the car. Don't open until I say you can. Deal?"

"Deal." I say. I hear him get out of the car and come over to my side. He opens the door and puts his hands on my hips.

"Okay. I have you, just step down. You're safe."

After a few seconds of hesitation, hop down out of the car, still holding Ansel, my eyes still shut.

"Alright, now we're going to walk inside. Just hold on to my arm."

"What if someone sees me? They're going to think I'm drunk or something."

"I'm taking you in the back way for that very reason. You think I don't think ahead?" He jokes. I slap his arm.

I am so excited to see what this date is. Ansel is so romantic and spontaneous and perfect. This is too good to be true. We're going to have a wonderful date.

After we've made it up a few steps and through a few doors, Ansel stops.

"Are you ready? Open."

I open my eyes and we're facing a ballroom full of people. The room is fancily decorated and there is a small orchestra ensemble playing classical music. I scan the crowd, but I don't recognize any of the faces.

"I'm confused. What's this?"

"Well, I'm going to sound like the world's shittiest boyfriend, but when I agreed to planning an awesome date tonight, I kinda forgot I had to come to this wedding. So, here we are. Our date. Go ahead and be angry."

I start laughing.

"Ansel, this is a great date. I've always thought about going to a wedding with you. It's perfect." I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. "How will I beat this?"

"I don't know. The best part is, I didn't have to plan any of it!" He says. We both laugh for a while.

We go find the seats we're assigned to. We've been seated with all of Ansel's family. Ansel informs me that it is a family friend's wedding. Well, reception. We missed the wedding part.

We eat a meal of mouthwatering steak and amazing sides. Ansel orders me a Shirley Temple and I am amazed by that too.

After the bride and groom do their dances and cake eating, it's time for the party to start. Everyone gets on the dance floor for the Cupid Shuffle. The DJ alternates between pop songs and classics.

The Wobble comes on and during the moves Ansel grinds on me. I can't stop laughing.

"Babe! What are you doing?" I say through giggles.

"Everyone else is doing it! Just go with it!" He says over the music.

To my relief, the song ends. I am still laughing.

"Alright, folks, we're going to slow it down a bit..." The DJ announces. I hear the start of one of my favorite songs, You and I by John Mayer.

"We have to dance to this!" I say enthusiastically, pulling Ansel back onto the dance-floor.

I put my hand in his and he puts his other hand on my back. I drape my other arm around his neck. We are very close.

"Can you believe this is the first time I've actually slow danced?" I say, looking into Ansel's beautiful brown eyes.

"Really? I'm honored to take your slow dancing virginity." He smiles and I laugh. He spins me around and pulls me back into his arms.

"Ansel, I am so in love with you."

"Lucy, I am so in love with you." He reiterates.

I rest my head on his shoulder and think of how far we've come. I was a completely different person when I met Ansel. I've changed for the better.

"You know, I was thinking.. Cory isn't going to be home tonight. Would you want to stay with me?" Ansel says into my ear.

I lift my head. "Absolutely." I smile.

As the song ends, Ansel spins me again and dips me. He finishes it off with a kiss.

I am anxious to get home. I want to talk to Ansel in private. Thankfully, after about an hour of more dancing, we depart from the reception.

"Thank you for bringing me. Your family is a lot of fun." I say while we're driving back.

"So is yours." Ansel says.

"Ha, yeah. Maybe in an alternate universe. They don't know what fun means."

"I'm sure we can bring out the fun in them." He smiles and reaches over and takes my hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We get back and like Ansel said, Cory isn't home. We go into Ansel's room and he starts taking off his tie.

"Hey, I wanted to tell you something." I say, nervously.

"What's up?" He asks, his full attention on me.

"Well, ummm.." I cover my face with my hands and shake my head.

Ansel walks over to me, moves my hands from my face and says, "Hey, what's wrong?" His eyebrows are pinched together in concern.

"I, uh. . Ansel. I think I'm ready."

His expression automatically brightens.

"Wait, really?"

I bite my lip. "Yeah. I think so."

"I don't want you to regret it. I mean, I want you to be one hundred percent sure."

It's so cute how thoughtful he is. Most guys would've already ripped their clothes off.

"I'm one hundred and ten percent sure that you're the one for me and there's no other person on this planet I'd rather have my first time with." I kiss him in confirmation.

"Lucy. I love you so much. And I feel the exact same way."

I laugh. "Well, then what are we waiting for?"