That Boy

by Jillian Dodd

"Going to what?

  "Do something."

  "I'm pretty sure I already did," he laughs, as he traces my jaw line with his finger.

  I smile, remembering exactly all that he did, but that's not what I meant. "I mean, if I hadn't completely thrown myself at you, what would you have done?"

  "Well, as stubborn as you are, I probably would've had to throw you over my shoulder and carry you up here, kicking and screaming."

  I give him my mad face.

  "But then," he says, as he kisses my shoulder, "I would have done something like this. And something like this." He kisses my neck. "And something like this." He kisses my ear. "And something like this....."

  Okay. I get the picture.

  And I am so loving the way it looks.

  A few more hours later and we're both starving.

  For food, I mean.

  It's nearly ten o'clock, and well, we never did get any dinner. I run downstairs to raid the refrigerator and bring up a tray of cheese, some crusty bread and a bottle of red wine.

  "Isn't that supposed to be for the party?"

  "There is so much food, I don't think anyone will miss it."

  "Probably not, but I missed you while you were gone, Princess. You were down there much too long."

  "It only took me about two minutes," I shake my head and roll my eyes at him, while I set the tray on his nightstand.

  "Two minutes too long," he replies, as he grabs me, throws me on the bed and kisses me.

  "Phillip," I say, finally wrenching my lips away from him, "it's taken you twenty-two years to get me into bed, two minutes should feel like a blip."

  "Twenty-two years? Don't flatter yourself. Maybe like eight years." He gives me a naughty grin. "But I'll tell you this, now that you're finally here, I'm not wasting another second."

  YES!!!

  We feed each other cheese and bread and drink some wine. Unfortunately, the crusty bread was not the best choice because now there are crusty crumbs all over, and I really thought I was being careful to avoid that. Since his mom is such the expert on all things seduction, I'm surprised she didn't tell me about this. I use my hand to try to sweep the crumbs onto a plate.

  "Remind me to properly thank my mother for making the food and for whatever it was the two of you talked about."

  "Phillip, I had already decided about this before I got here," I smile naughtily, "but I am following her advice to relax and enjoy you."

  He laughs. "So, did you uh, enjoy me?"

  "Uh yeah, very much so." I kiss his neck and whisper in his ear, "And I think I would very much like to enjoy you some more. Right now."

  I'm lying all snuggled up with Phillip. He's sleeping and his breath is tickling my neck. I know I should be getting some sleep too, but I can't.

  My brain decided to kick back on, now that my body is so worn out.

  I just keep thinking how incredibly happy I am. I want to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Part of me kind of wants to kick myself for not doing this sooner, but I don't. I'm too happy. I feel, well, it's hard to describe, but I'll give it a try.

  You know how sometimes you go shopping and find a great dress? You try it on and it fits you and looks great on you in the store. So you buy it and take it home.

  But then when you put it on because you are getting ready to go somewhere, you feel like it's just not quite right.

  Like maybe something is missing.

  So you keep looking at yourself in the mirror, trying to figure out what it could be, what it needs. You try on different shoes, another hairstyle, some dangly earrings, a rhinestone necklace, maybe even a wrap. But no matter how you seem to mix it up, there is still something missing.

  Oh you'll look good, maybe even great, in the dress.

  Just not fabulous.

  You won't have that glowing look because deep down you're not confident in the dress.

  That's kind of how it felt with all the boys I've dated in the past.

  Something was always missing.

  I'd try to rearrange them, or me, or what I was doing, but no matter what, I couldn't quite get it right. And the fix is a really mysterious thing.

  I think it's because the fix is an emotion. A feeling. It's not really a tangible item.

  I mean, I've made a few drunken mistakes.

  Who hasn't?

  Well, okay. Phillip. But he is so not normal when it comes to that sort of thing.

  He's always in complete control.

  And I have to say, it's always been a trait of his that sort of bugged me. I'm always trying to get him to loosen up. But tonight, I learned there are many benefits to being with a man who's in control.

  Ahhhhh.

  Oh, sorry, I got lost there for a minute.

  What was I talking about?

  Oh yeah. I was saying that I've made a few drunken mistakes, but for the most part, if I was with a guy it was because I thought he might be the one. Or at least someone who I thought I might want to try to make into the one.

  After being with Phillip, I can tell you that I could put absolutely anything on in my closet, and it would look perfect.

  Well, except for the bridesmaid dress I had to wear for Katie's wedding. Nothing could help that!

  And not because of the outfit, but because of how I feel inside.

  I am positively, one hundred percent, completely complete.

  It's like the line from that Jerry McGuire movie, You complete me. I always thought it was some cheesy movie line. I know that every girl, me included, melted when Tom Cruise spoke those wonderful words.

  But come on. You complete me? Get Real!

  And that's how you feel when you don't understand. All this time I'd been going through life not even knowing that I was incomplete.

  I'm telling you, this is something they should teach you in school.

  I'm a college graduate, and I didn't even know that I had been walking around all this time, slightly defective.

  But I don't care anymore because I know it to be true.

  With Phillip, I am complete.

  I yawn, snuggle up closer to him, and fall into a blissful sleep.

  I'm awakened at dawn.

  No kidding.

  By Phillip, kissing the back of my neck.

  Okay, so maybe things with Phillip won't be totally perfect after all. I mean this morning boy thing is probably going to drive me crazy. He'd better not expect me to start getting up early with...........

  Oh.

  Phillip starts doing something to me that I would be too ashamed to talk about, but I can tell you this. It's worth being woken up for.

  Oh!

  Maybe I will become a morning girl after all.

  It's almost nine and we're still in bed, trying to get motivated to do something besides stay here all day. The Nebraska game starts at eleven-thirty, and everyone is due to arrive around eleven.

  Speaking of arriving, I realize I still don't know if Monica is coming to the party.

  So I ask bravely, "Um, Phillip, what about Monica?"

  He looks at me kind of funny.

  "Look, I know you've gotten kinda serious with her lately, and well, I just need to know if she'll be here today. You know, so I can prepare myself."

  Phillip pulls me close and runs his hand through my hair. God, I love it when he does that. Then my mind wanders to all the other things he does that I love, and I swear, I blush just thinking about them.

  "Why in the world would you think Monica and I have gotten serious? I was just telling Danny the other day that she's been driving me nuts."

  I blink my eyes.

  Hard.

  I am going to kill Danny.

  He told me that to make me jealous!

  He manipulated me.

  And it worked!!!!

  Now he will try to take the credit for us being together, and he will never let me forget it. We'll be sitting in wheel chairs at the old folks home, and he will still be telling me
that I owe him. And I don't think I can take that!

  Shit.

  "Danny told me."

  "Danny lies," Phillip says, smirking.

  Yeah I know.

  "That little ......" I start to say a bad phrase about Danny, but Phillip just laughs and kisses me.

  I'm back in dreamland.

  "We really need to get up and get things ready," I tell him.

  "Nah, I think we should just lock the door, turn off the lights, and not come out all weekend."

  I am tempted. Very tempted.

  But our consciences get the best of us, so we get up and do everything on Mrs. Mac's list. While Phillip runs into town to get beer, I take a quick shower and get ready.

  I'm looking at myself in the mirror and am now thinking that I really wished I hadn't waited so long to get together with Phillip. Aside from all the fun we may have missed out on, I think about how many days I could have looked like this!

  I mean, I look beautiful.

  Incredible.

  And I never look this way. Kind of cute maybe, but not this!

  Whatever this is, if I could bottle it and sell it, I would be very, very rich.

  Quite frankly, I don't know how I'm going to get through the party today. I feel like people are going to take one look at me and know. There's a permanent grin on my face, my knees are weak and my eyes are smoldering, like there's a fire in them that can't quite get put out.

  I might as well be wearing a flashing neon sign. I slept with Phillip. Flash. I slept with Phillip! Flash.

  I don't think anyone will be able to miss it.

  And I'm worried about this because I really don't want people to know yet. I don't need any coaching, or advice, or pressure.

  I want to savor this.

  Oh. And I have a BIG confession to make.

  I think I may have found my prince.

  I always knew I would, and I know, technically he's not a prince, but I don't think you necessarily have to be royal to be a prince.

  I mean he acts like a prince, and he treats me like a princess.

  He always has. What more could a girl ask for?

  I'm half tempted to look at the sky and yell up to my parents, I told you so!

  But then I remember they always hoped I would marry Phillip, so I guess we're even.

  I can't believe that I'm actually thinking about marrying him.

  It is WAY too soon to have thoughts like this.

  Phillip gets back with the beer, and I don't get to attack him again because people started showing up early.

  Damn them!

  What? I missed him.

  And surprisingly, no one notices my neon sign.

  This is amazing to me because every time I look at Phillip, I swear it flashes all the dirty little thoughts I'm having about him.

  I have fun catching up with Katie and her husband, Eric. They just bought a new house and are all excited about it. Lisa brought her new boyfriend, Parker. I like him a lot, and they seem really good together. Other than her big crush on Danny, she hasn't always had the best taste in men.

  I'm happy for her.

  Hell, I'm happy for everyone today.

  I can't seem to wipe the happy off of my face.

  Brandon, Joey and Neil are here too, and a bunch of other old friends.

  I get the big spread of food out onto the kitchen island. While I'm doing that, I can't help but watch Phillip. He's talking and laughing. He's got such an easy way about him. He makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome, and he's so sweet and so handsome and so.....everything I need.

  Pretty soon the game gets started.

  After getting everyone else situated, I realize that there is nowhere left to sit, except the floor. So I get brave and plop down across Phillip's lap. He's sitting in a big cushy chair, and I sit across the arms in the opposite direction. I figured this move would surely blow our cover, but no one seemed to think it was all that unusual.

  I am really worried about my friends.

  They are not very perceptive people.

  A little before halftime, I run to the garage to get more ice out of the dreaded freezer. As I come around the corner, I nearly collide with Phillip, whose hands are filled with bottles of beer. He sets the beer down, grabs me around the waist and kisses me wildly.

  "Do you know how badly I've been wanting to do that?" he asks, when he finally stops kissing me.

  "Yeah, I think I do."

  He caresses my cheek and declares, "I love you."

  Shit. Those three little words have woken up my previously dormant brain.

  "Phillip, don't say that. Okay?"

  "Why not? I mean it."

  "Phillip, I know you love me. I love you too, but do me a favor." He starts to roll his eyes at me, but I give him a stern look and say, "This is important to me. Please don't tell me that you love me until you've spent some time with me, and we have a better idea of whether this will all work out."

  A flash of irritation crosses his face. He thinks I'm looking for a way out, but I am so not.

  "Look, I just want you to wait until you can honestly tell me that you're IN love with me. And I'm not talking friend love either." Then chicken shit in me goes out onto a big and scary limb. I bite my lip and say, "I'm talking REAL love, like the forever kind."

  He smiles at me and kisses me again, very sweetly.

  "I can live with that. Mostly because it means you're serious about this, about us."

  He kisses the tip of my nose.

  "It also tells me you're actually thinking about forever with me. I really like the way that sounds."

  "We should probably get back in there." I tell him, but he ignores that.

  "So you were desperate to be with me last night, huh?" He teases, then flips my hair behind my shoulder and kisses my exposed neck. He's never gonna let me live this down.

  "Yeah, I was prepared to beg," I say flatly, trying to keep my cool. But what I really want to do is kick everyone out of the house, drag him upstairs, and see if I can make him desperate.

  "You know, I think I definitely heard some begging last night." He gives me a huge grin.

  I laugh at that because I know exactly what he is referring to.

  And, uh, I was begging.

  He's got his hands up the back of my Husker shirt, and I swear my skin is practically sizzling. I'm tempted to look over my shoulder to see if there is smoke, but instead I come back with, "Oh really? Well, what I want to know is when you got so religious? I haven't heard God's name spoken that many times in church."

  We laugh at each other and Phillip says, "You know, I keep wishing this game would just get over so all these people would go home. I couldn't care less if they win or lose."

  Phillip doesn't care if the Huskers win or lose?

  WOW!

  Now that's saying something.

  In fact, that may be the best compliment I've gotten in my entire life.

  Sunday morning, Phillip and I are awakened around ten by my loudly ringing phone. Yeah, it's unusual for Phillip to sleep in, but I did keep him up late last night.

  I grope around for the handset, can't find it, so I hit the speaker button on the base.

  "Hello," I say groggily.

  "JADE!" Lori's screaming voice echoes into my room.

  My God, she can't possibly know about Phillip and me already.

  Can she?

  "You don't sound awake. Are you still in bed?"

  "Uh, yeah, but that's okay. What's up?"

  "AAAHHHH. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!! OHHHH. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. YOU'RE. NEVER. GOING. TO. BELIEVE. IT!!!!!"

  "Believe what?"

  "I. AM. PREGNANT!!!!!!"

  "Oh, Lori, that is so awesome!" I look at Phillip, who just rolled over toward me when he heard the news. He has a great expression on his face, and I'm so excited I start to say, "Phil..." Then I stop quickly.

  Because I am not in bed with Phillip right now, as far as my friends know.

  "What did you
say, Jade? Did you say...?"

  I interrupt her, "I said that's awesome, filipping awesome."

  "No, you didn't, you said Fil....OH MY GOD! Is Phillip there? Am I on speakerphone? Phillip, if you're there, you'd better answer me."

  I shake my head no at Phillip, but he doesn't do as I say.

  Sure, now he's a rebel.

  "Yeah, I'm here, Lori," Phillip confesses. "Congratulations, this is so great. I bet Danny is just ecstatic."

  "Um, well, he doesn't exactly know yet."

  "He doesn't?" I ask surprised.

  "NO!" she says, and starts talking very fast. "I know I should have told him first, but after he left for the game this morning, I was getting ready and realized it's been a long time since I've had my period, and I looked at the date and saw I was like two weeks late! I've been so busy trying to get this house all painted and decorated that I hadn't even noticed. So I quick ran to the drug store and bought a home pregnancy test. I was standing here alone when it said PREGNANT, and I just had to tell someone! And I didn't want to call Danny right before his game and just tell him on the phone, like I was asking him about the traffic or something. I mean, I want to do something special." She pauses for a moment.

  "HEY, WAIT A MINUTE! Did you say you were still IN BED?"

  Damn!

  I am so busted.

  "Uh, yeah," I admit sheepishly.

  Shit.

  "FINALLY! It's about time! Phillip, how did you finally talk her into it? I told you it would work out. She is just so stubborn."

  "Hey! You're on speakerphone. I can hear you."

  Phillip kisses me and says teasingly, "I didn't have to do anything, Lori. She just couldn't resist me any longer and begged for me."

  Uh, that's not exactly right.

  So I stand up for myself and say, "I probably shouldn't bring this up now that you're pregnant and stuck with him, but you should know your wonderful husband is a manipulative liar."

  An evil laugh fills my room. "You mean the little Monica exaggeration? Oh, Jadyn, honey, that was all me."

  Phillip laughs. He thinks this is just hysterical.

  I shake my head. "So you're both liars. It's no wonder you're perfect for each other."

  I see I'm not going to win this one. It's a rare thing, but I know when I'm beat.

  I give up.

  Where's the white flag?

  Lori sighs peacefully, "This is almost the perfect day. I'm pregnant. You guys are together. Now if Mark Conway could just get bonked on the head again, Danny could.....Oh. My. Gosh. I can't even believe I just said that, or even thought it! I'm so awful. That is just AWFUL!"