So I did a thing recently.
A few weekends back, Kelly took me to see her favorite band, ELO, for their farewell tour. I happened upon a David Bowie tribute show the night before and, being MY favorite artist, we went to that too. Great weekend for us both. She splurged for two VIP tickets with ELO, so we got to live the high life for a few hours with some swag, access to the VIP lounge with a few free drinks, food, and chats with some great fans.
We shared a round table with three other couples, all extreme fans of the band. It was great. Kelly seemed to really enjoy the night but, before they released us to our stadium seats, I had one more topic to bring up.
I asked for everyone's attention (everyone at the table, at least), and began sharing with them our history, our off and on friendship from over the years, how she used to date my best friend and how awkward it was for me, years later, to consider asking her out from a weird sense of respect (and guilt!) to a now decades old high school relationship! I added that some year and a half ago, she asked me out to see the movie, Dungeons and Dragons. I did kind of pull that out of her though. "Wanna se a movie?" She asked. "What, are you asking me out on a date?" "Well.... geez. If it HAS to be...." Since then, we've been stuck to each other like house flies on a glue strip, much to the frustrations of most people around us as we express our goofy, Scooby-Doo silliness and idiotic affections.
Back to the concert (and my point), at the end of my ramblings to my captive table mate audience, I paused, took a nervous breath turning to meet Kel's eyes as she firmly shook her head left to right willing me to not embarrass the living hell out of her with whatever prank she has come to expect of me at any given moment, assuming this moment would be no different. In her defense, I did have a few drinks in me by this point, but my energy was from a different buzz.
She had not yet noticed the ring I was holding sheepishly, in my right hand. The others at the table knew exactly what was happening and already had their mobile cameras out and framing us in anticipation of the ask.
I, assuming that she knew what I was setting up, kept smiling in agreement watching her slowly, but very deliberately, mouth the words, "Do NOT do this..." as her head shake continued. She was literally saying no before I could ask, but I was already halfway through my awkward presentation. Too, I had an expecting audience that needed closure at this point, so I swallowed my nerves and disappointment and mushed through for the formal ask and incoming let down believing that I, in all honest goodness, was about to ruin this night for her if she was already saying no.
As she continued shaking her head slowly left to right, I asked, "So, I don't suppose you might wanna marry me, would you?" Her embarrassment broke and a smile immediately took over as she replied, "Yes." Doubtful, I asked again. Then a third time to confirm she knew wtf I just asked of her. She smiled and gave two additional confirmations.
The table clapped and I could hear a cheerful, "Congrats, Noel and Shelly!"
Oh. The concert was pretty good too.
@
doubledenim for when he wakes up again.
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