That night, A.B. decided we should play a few games, because I wouldn't stop talking about how I wanted to sleep on the sofa bed. For him to want to play games for it, I knew it had to be very comfortable to sleep on. My game-playing confidence kicked in, and I was ready to dominate. I was going to win all the games and sleep on the mega-couch bed 3000, and yes I gave it a name. Do I have to remind you of what it looks like?
First, there was Dominoes.
I had one domino left and A.B. had two. This game was definitely mine to win. On A.B.'s turn, he put his raggedy domino in the spot where I was going to put mine. Since I wasn't able to put my domino down and there were none left to play, I got skipped. A.B. put down his last domino and won.
Next, there was UNO.
I still don't know who thought it was a grand idea to allow people to come up with their own rules for this game. Next time, we're playing with my UNO cards. Yeah, I lost It was the back-to-back draw 10 and skip wild cards.
Then, there was Jenga.
Why does this man own the life-size version of this game? That's why I lost! The blocks were stacked so high. After my final attempt to pull one, the came crashing down on me.
At this point, I was ready to go to bed, but A.B. said whoever wins the last game gets the sofa bed. I fell for it, and I participated in the next rigged game that he owned - Checkers!
With one checker, he jumped over all of my checkers like he was playing Hopscotch. Who plays Checkers like that? I got up and walked upstairs to my boring bed.
"Baby!" A.B. followed me. "It's just a game."
"I'm going to sleep! Goodnight!" I told him as I got under the cover.
Not even 10 seconds later, I heard him ask, "You sleep?" It sounded like he was close.
"Yes, I'm sleep," I replied.
A.B. chuckled, "Sleeping up here is better for you, anyway. You'll be scared down there by yourself. Sometimes the wind hits the door and sounds like someone is trying to break in."
I quickly turned over onto my stomach. "Stop trying to scare me."
"I'm not. I really came up here to get a goodnight kiss."
I raised my head and grinned at him. "I'll give you a kiss if you give me the sofa bed."
A.B. thought about it and like the sneaky person I knew him to be, he swiftly stole a kiss and daringly stared at me.
My mouth was agape. "Give it back," I demanded.
A.B. smiled, "I don't think I can do that."
"That's not fair, A.B.," I whined but soon a laugh escaped my mouth. How is it possible to turn into a big kid in an adult relationship?
A.B. sat on the floor, looking at me in admiration.
I blushed. "Stop! Why you looking at me like that?"
"The more I get to know you, the more beautiful you look to me."
I buried my face in the pillow. I know he said that on purpose, but I'm gonna get the chance to sleep on that sofa bed one of these nights.
I felt his warmth wrap around me. "Goodnight, pretty lady." He kissed my cheek.
I fell asleep and had a dream about a killer whale. Let's just say it was an adventure.
The following day, we spent at the beach - swimming, snorkeling, surfboarding, castle building, and tanning under our big umbrella. We even ate on the beach. As the sun began to set, Sebastian the crab and his family members were crawling on the sand, and that's when I was ready to leave the beach.
After a long beach-filled day, we went back to the beach house and cleaned up for the night. When I got out the shower, the smell of brownies hit my nostrils and I ran to the kitchen.
A.B. was taking them out the oven. "You have to wait until they're cool first." He told me.
I sighed, "I like my brownies warm."
"These are hot out the oven and will burn your mouth. I just want to protect you." He winked at me.
I smiled, "Aww, I appreciate it, but you can stick them in the freezer for a few seconds, and they'll be ready to eat."
A.B. chuckled, "Have some patience, baby."
"Okay. I'll find something for us to watch." I started to walk away.
"Jamie, can we have a serious conversation?" A.B. asked me.
I looked at the brownies. "How serious?"
"We've been official for a few days, and it's been a lot of fun... but I'm also thinking about our future. I know we both want to be together, but I just want to make sure we both want the same things," A.B. replied.
I nodded my head. "Okay. I'll get us something to drink."
Soon, we sat on the sofa with milk and brownies.
"You can start," A.B. told me.
"Thank you." I picked up a brownie and took a bite. "Mmmmhhh... Yeah, this is what I needed."
A.B. grinned, "I meant start with the conversation."
I held up my finger. "I know, but I had to get a bite first, Mr. Bravos."
"I'm sorry for rushing, Ms. Sawyer."
I cleared my throat after taking a sip of milk. "Well... I would like to start by saying I'm having a blast. Even though you rigged all the games, this has been the best vacation I've ever had."
"Really?" A.B. asked me.
I nodded my head. "Sadly, I didn't travel with my parents much. I've left the state a handful of times and most of that was when I went to California."
"So would you want to travel together?" A.B. inquired.
"Of course. You know how to explore the scenery just like when you first visited me in L.A. Yellow Sand Beach is our first vacation, and I'll never forget our time here," I admitted.
"Same," he stated. "What else would you want to do together?"
I thought before responding. "Traveling, praying, reading the Bible, and participating in each other's fields like... I know you like giving back to the community, and you have started mentoring at East Grove Community College. I'd love if I could join you and even share my story and experience anonymously, but I think it would be great to be in your corner and for you to be in my corner. Like, I want you to write with me. You already have the rhythmic poetry. Mix that with my lyrical abilities and we'll have literary agents lining up for our projects. Our writing styes would be like a synecdoche or a metonymy."
A.B. pointed at me, "I see and hear what you did there. What other figurative language can you speak?"
I giggled, "I remember a handful so don't quiz me. I'll have to review it when we find a subject to write about. Anyway, if you'd be interested in teaching me your business, or if you're interested in learning what I know - that's what I want to do together."
"I'm glad I asked, because I want to do the same. Do you know how long you want to date before getting married?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Surprise me."
"If I surprise you, I don't want you to say no," he truthfully spoke.
I held out my hand to him. "These rings are special to me. Not because it has your name on it, but because of how I got them and who got them for me. I've never wanted to be with someone so bad before. A.B., I know it's because of who you are. You didn't trip over me not saying I love you back. You've been honest and verbal from the start, and you've been careful to not lead me on or make yourself be someone you're not. The only flaw I've seen from you is how you're unsure about yourself. Once God has approved, don't overthink your next move. Now, I'm talking like I got all the confidence in the world, but one thing I do have now and I actually just noticed it about myself... I now have confidence. This entire experience from getting to know you and having a career as a singer has been eye-opening. I guess you have to have some confidence to be in the public eye. I'm sorry, what did you ask me before?"
A.B. smiled at me, "No, I'm liking what I hear. One thing I'm learning from you is how to appreciate even the tough things I've gone through. Instead of locking yourself away or staying in the music industry even when you were suffering, all I hear you say is how much you've learned from it. It hasn't been long since you left, but when you smile, it's genuine. When you laugh, it's contagious. When you speak, you get my attention. And when you compliment me, I have to stop myself from trying to compliment you more - even though it doesn't work. Baby, I want you to know that I'll always have your back. Just don't forget to look over your shoulder at me." He smiled.
At this point, I was eating my second brownie while tears were falling from my eyes.
"Jamie, don't cry." A.B. used his napkin to wipe my eyes.
I sniffed, "I can't help it. These brownies are the best brownies I've ever had. What did you put in this?"
A.B. immediately laughed.
I finished chewing my food. "Anyway, I appreciate you complimenting me, but do you think I'll be able to concentrate with you behind me? Like sir, it's okay if you're beside me, across from me, in front of me - just as long as you're around, be dependable, be there for me, and don't abandon me when things get hard, I'll be just fine."
"I won't abandon you only love you," A.B. finally composed his laughter. "In all seriousness, though, marriage is a big deal to me. I have very realistic idea of it, and I don't want you to think about marriage wearing rose-colored glasses. And I don't want you to change yourself for me in anyway. I'm attracted to you, and I'm with you because of who you are. So, if we were to get married tomorrow, next week, next month or next year, I want you to know that my main plan for us is growth."
"I'm on board with that," I agreed. "I just have two ultimatums. Number one, mama gotta be at the wedding. Mrs. Sawyer will make sure I don't live past the honeymoon if she isn't in attendance at her only daughter's wedding. Number two, I don't want kids unless we can both stay at home and raise them together. I want to enjoy my kids if I have them."
"That's it?" A.B. asked me. "You know I'm a rule follower."
I chuckled, "Okay! Number three, I want a lot of affection."
A.B. cleared his throat. "I think number three could diminish number two."
I asked, "Are you saying you'll be able to stay at home and help raise the chil'ren?"
"Actually, we can get married tomorrow and start having babies tomorrow night."
"On that note, it's Bible Study time," I warned him.
A.B. shook his head, "Wait, I have three dealbreakers. One, Little Monica has to be the flower girl at our wedding. Two--"
I interrupted him, "No, she ain't! That little girl won't be carrying my flowers or walking in my wedding. Tell her parents to take her to the babysitter if they want to come."
"Jamie!"
"No kids allowed!" I stated.
A.B. lightly laughed, "Okay, what if we have a small wedding?"
"Me, you, and the judge. That's perfect." I took another bite of my brownie.
A.B. pinched my chin before took my hand in his. "I have three dealbreakers. One, words speak just as loud as actions. So, I want to hear you tell me you love me or when you're mad at me or how you're feeling. Don't hold things in. Number two, let's plan what we want for our future even if things don't happen that way. I think just working together on it will be another way we can bond. Number three, always keep God first. There will be times when God will call you to do things that I won't even understand, but I'm always here to support you. Okay?"
I put the plate of brownies in my lap before scooting over next to A.B. I rest my head on his shoulder. "Can I change my three ultimatums? Yours are better than mine."
A.B. rested his head on top of mine. "You can change them as many times as you want. As long as we are communication and going to God, I know we'll survive."
Spoken like the man of my dreams.
Two weeks went by and we were packing up A.B.'s car. I decided to give him a gift before leaving. A.B. did one last check of the beach house before walking to the front door.
"You forgot something," I spoke.
A.B. turned around and dramatically ran towards me and picked me up. "I can't leave without my woman."
I laughed before showing him a small purple envelope. "Read it."
A.B. hesitated before putt me on my feet. "What is it?" He inquired.
"Just read it."
A.B. took the envelope and slowly opened it. He squinted his eyes at me before removing the letter inside. He unfolded the paper.
"Read it aloud," I told him.
A few seconds later, A.B. read the letter:
If love was a lesson, I'd learn all I could
I wouldn't skip a lesson, 'cause the love is so good
If love was a mistake, I'd let it happen
It would be the one mistake I wouldn't wipe away with a napkin
If love was wrong, I wouldn't want to be right
I wouldn't want to argue, and I wouldn't want to fight
If love was a drug, I'd be addicted to the substance
I'd plead guilty for using, and destroying my performance
But don't you see...
Love isn't any of those things
Love is full of blessings, and I pray it never ends
I'd forever count them, because I know love covers a multitude of sins
Love is perfect, and the best emotion known to man
It's the greatest feeling when you come to understand
that Love is right, and when it's real it's never wrong
Love is not blind, it's a spiritual song when the vocals are strong
Love is living, and I know the start
I know this is love, because you have my heart
A.B, I love you
If we were a shape, we'd be a circle
I wrote this especially for you
Boy, the only color you need to know is my favorite - PURPLE
The roar of laughter that came from A.B. was the perfect reaction.
"You like it?" I asked him.
A.B. nodded his head as he folded up the paper and put it back in the purple envelope. "I love you, baby. Come here." He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.
I giggled.
"We can stay one more night and go to the chapel if you want. I'll let you sleep on the sofa bed, again," he joked.
"Let's go!" I wiggled out of his embrace.
We left the beach house together, holding hands until we got to the car. A.B. opened my door and once I was seated, he closed it.
The drove back to East Grove seemed faster than our drive to Yellow Sand Beach. A.B. and I talked about some property he was looking to invest in, some songs that I'd written for other artists, what we wanted to eat, our next date, and most importantly our plans and goals for the future.