Page 60 of Beautiful Crazy

Purple: Reasons why I adore you.

“Do you want to open one now?”

She nods excitedly. “Yeah, I really do. But what color do I pick?”

“Whichever one you want, Babe.”

She flips the lid open and closes her eyes, reaching into the jar. When she finally pulls one out and opens her eyes, she smiles at the yellow piece of paper. Unfolding it, she reads aloud.

“The very first time you ever stepped foot in our fraternity house as Wes’s younger sister, you were wearing denim cutoff shorts and a purple tank top. Your hair was in one of those messy top knot things and your earrings were these cute dangly ice cream cones. I thought you were adorable. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. You didn’t notice, but Wes sure did. And that’s why I never pursued you. Until now.”

She holds up the paper, her eyes round, awe transforming her face. “You remembered what I was wearing?”

I nod. “Yep. You walked in with your parents, and I wasn’t sure who you were until Wes gave it away.”

“But what if you would’ve given this jar to me a year ago…when we weren’t together?”

I smirk. “That memory wouldn’t have been in the jar. I added that one just a few days ago when you said I didn’t notice you in college. I wanted you to know the truth.”

“Fucking Wes,” she mumbles.

“Nah, he was right to say you were off limits. I wasn’t up for relationships back then, so I would’ve ruined two friendships before I ever knew what I had.”

“Thank you for this, Emm,” she says, hugging the jar of my thoughts to her chest. “I’ll treasure each and every note.”

“I know you will.”

Without hesitating she leans in and places her lips against mine. Soft and supple, loving and affectionate. Her kiss makes me a hungry for more, but alas, I have a job to do tonight.

“You ready?”

She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug, so I lift her up and walk her down the hallway as she giggles against my chest. I love the sound of her laugh. I let her down and help her get her coat on and then she smiles at me with those big brown eyes of hers and says, “Ready.”

___

Singles Night, hosted by The Watering Hole dating app, is being held at one of the swanky hotels downtown. How smart of The Watering Hole to have this event in a hotel where a bunch of hookups can easily become one-night stands. There are signs throughout the event rooms reminding partygoers to be respectful of someone’s space and that any blatant sexual groping, consensual or otherwise, will not be tolerated.

There are several activities attendees can choose from or rotate to for the evening. There’s a DJ set up on the stage in the main ballroom playing your regular nightclub dance tunes along with a full bar along the back wall. Lights are dimmed and colored strobes rotate overhead. It’s a bit loud in here but several people are already dancing and having a good time.

“I need to say hello to a few clients and find Nancy, but uh, I’m supposed to be single tonight.” She says, a worried expression on her face. Pushing my hands into my pockets I shake my head and give her a reassuring glance.

“Of course. You need to do your thing. I can hang out and mingle with the best of them. Go.” I shoo her away. “Come find me when you’re done. Or text me if you need me.”

“Okay, I shouldn’t be more than a half hour or so.”

I watch her as she walks to the other side of the room where she shakes hands with a few volunteers and other professionally dressed people standing along the wall. They look like people in charge. She holds up her phone and begins to shoot a few videos with them to post on social media. It’s cool to watch her work. She seems like a natural. I’m proud of her.

While I wait for Emily to do her thing with her clients, I make my way to the bar and order myself a bourbon, enjoying the warmth down my throat as I watch my girl flit from group to group.

“Did you see those lights get brighter just now?”

I turn my head to see a woman dressed in a slim fitting black dress with blonde hair grinning at me. Several years ago, she would’ve been one hundred percent my type. But now I only have eyes for one woman. She’s the only one that matters.

“Uh, yeah. I guess it did get a little brighter in here.”

“Your smile lights up the room. It’s just too bad that smile wasn’t for me. You have the look of a man infatuated. Who are ya watching?”

“Oh, uh, no one, really.” Oops. I didn’t know I was smiling but by the way this day has gone, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m a happy man tonight. “Just enjoying watching people have fun.”

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