ruin everything. But after it happened, it only confirmed I wanted to be with you so bad that I couldn’t keep on hiding how much I loved you, because being your friend just wasn’t good enough for me anymore.”
“You really love me?” I say and feel my heart pounding out of my chest.
“Megan, I love you so fucking much that I can’t even imagine my life without you.” Ben’s expression lets me know that he truly loves me. It was written all over his face and the desperation in his voice only confirms that this is definitely not a lie. All I can think about is how much I love him too, “Since the day we met, you’ve always had my heart and I’ve always known you were the greatest thing to ever walk into my life. Any woman I have ever been with before you, was just a distraction until I could have the one woman I’ve always wanted. I swear to God Megan, that I have never wanted anything more in my life than to be with you. And I have never been more terrified in all my life as I am right now.”
I open my mouth slightly, because I can’t wait to shout out that I love him, but he interrupts.
“Wait. Before you say anything else, I have something I want to give you - for your birthday.” He pulls a small neatly wrapped box with a pink bow from the pocket of his jeans.
He hands me the gift, and without a word, I slowly unwrap it to find a tiny brown box, beneath all the cream colored wrapping paper and shiny pink ribbons. I look up at him, petrified of what might be in there, but he gives me a reassuring nod. I pry the box open to see a shiny 1952 George Washington quarter on a bed of tissue paper. I know exactly what significance this quarter holds, and I feel the tears well up in my eyes.
“I saved it.” Ben nervously says, “I want you to have it.”
I look at him, and feel the same way I did that night he took me turtle watching in Costa Rica. I love him, more than anything in the whole entire world, and I so badly want to kiss him.
“Megan, please say something. Tell me right now whether or not you feel the same way.” Ben begs taking one step closer and pushes his pelvis into my body. I can feel the warmth of his breath on my shoulders when he presses his nose against my forehead. He places his hand on my cheek and his touch is electric. It sends a tingling sensation up my spine and raises the hairs on my neck.
“I do.” I say and lock my eyes with his.
Ben lets out a huge sigh of relief. He moves his hand down from my cheek, and cups the back of my neck and places his other free hand firmly on my bottom. I tilt my head up to meet his lips and I swear I see fireworks go off in my condo when our mouths finally touch. I can’t believe this is happening; never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine us in this moment. I never ever thought for a second Ben would ever love me in any other way than a friend, or that I would ever be so lucky.
I grip him harder in my arms, and kiss him back, running my fingers through his thick dark hair. We stumble onto the sofa and my heartbeat quickens; my lips part as Ben passionately kisses me and thrusts his hips up against mine. He smells ridiculously good, but it is definitely not cologne. I’m thinking more body wash, or expensive shampoo. Whatever it is, it’s intoxicating and I am lost in him and this moment. My heart has accepted that he is my forever, and more importantly, that is exactly what my heart wants. When he yanks off my blazer, I also accept I am not going to Macy’s anytime soon, and the only birthday outfit I will be wearing tonight, is coincidently the one I was born with.
Ben flips me on top of him, and pulls me upright into a sitting position. He peels my shirt off from my body and flexes his hips, then slowly kisses down my neck and all along my shoulders. He smiles against my collarbone, and looks up at me and says, “This is it Megan.