“What are you doing?” She turned and stared at him in disbelief.

“I’m chopping broccoli, why?”

I mean, can you really not respond to Warrant’s “Cherry Pie”? I don’t think it’s humanly possible. Some beats and lyrics just combine to be perfect in the moment and BOOM! There you have it.

Once again, she wants to start a game. To see how much torment can be doled out.

“Yes. You do not have permission, of course, and we’re going to test that…”

I really love these life out-takes. I learn, every single time, something more about how you’re thinking, and that whole “anticipatory service thing” we’ve read and talked about. I mean, it’s impossible, really, to know what you want and like until I’ve seen it. Tasted it. Done it.

But that’s also half the fun. Just when I think I’ve gone just far enough, that I don’t want to presume or whatever other excuse is on my mind, you up the ante or change the rules or just flat out stop something that has been a thing before, but now, simply won’t do.

Part 1

“Jess!” I heard my name called down the hall. He sounded frantic and I ran into the bedroom.

You stepped back toward me, “Could you please zip me up?”

“Yes, yes, I can. It would be my honor!” You look at me in the mirror with this quizzical look on your face, then start the smallest of grins.

“Oh, I like that.” You smile at me.

Come here.

He stopped and turned around. She had been right behind him just a minute ago. All he’d done is turn to watch a group of kids playing soccer in the distance. Where had she gone?

He slid in behind her as she stood at the stove, making that sauce that was to die for. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him, slightly back from the stove, he smelled her hair first, then her neck.

“Mmmmmm, smells so gooooooood!”

I’m breathing in these quick, short breaths now. My insides are twitching. My body is starting to shudder.

It’s date night, and you are wearing a gorgeous sweater, an amazing skirt – it seems like an odd combination, but it sure does work. I’m a #luckydude for sure.

“I think Pepper is happy to see us,” said Leah. “She hasn’t moved since we got home.”

It’s my turn to make dinner, I get to dream up something to make, get everything around and get it done while you take a bath, complete, of course, with a glass of wine. Or two.

Janine had been working long hours for weeks and had made sure her boss knew that she was going to be gone on the 17th for their anniversary. The plans had been made two months in advance and she reminded him at least twice a week.

We finally scored a great table on the ship – right on the railing, all by ourselves, just taking time to relax and enjoy our dinner. It was a long day on the water, and the sunset is just the perfect end to the day.

We’ve been enjoying a glass or two of wine this evening, waiting for our table, and then sitting here, we have that perfect blend of attentive, but not around, service. It’s really great.

She was still sleeping while he snuck out to the store to get some fruit, some orange juice and a cheap bottle of champagne. They’d been up late and he figured that he had time to make pancakes and mimosas before she woke up.

It was the third day she had been doing yoga. She wasn’t really into the spiritual side, but she thought it was a good way to start the new year. Who couldn’t use a little peace?

It’s always the same, always looking for the tape, the ribbon, the scissors. It seems like no matter where you put them, she has moved them just a bit out of reach. It’s almost a game to re-find them between packages.

We’re wrapping and sipping and enjoying the fire and this strangely relaxed evening of package prep, getting ready for the holidays and family and all that.

I *hate* wrapping. I’m not good at it, and she’s always responsible for making the packages look passable once they’re beyond “but they have paper on them now anyway” stage. Ribbons? Bows? Frilly decoration-thingies? Forget it.

But, of course, you DO know how to incentivize. “For every package you wrap, we’ll play strip-wrapping – I’ll remove one piece of clothing of my choice.” This. This has me fully engaged in this process, I must admit.

She was in the tub and he had run out to get some wine and a snack for them. She heard the electronic lock open and then a knock on the bathroom door.

“I am so over wrapping presents. Next year, everyone is getting an online gift card.”

He called towards the bedroom, “We’re going to be late. Are you about ready?”

Silence.

She had given him the address and said it was a masquerade party. This was only their third date and he was nervous about meeting her friends.

He had come home from the farmer’s market with a bounty. All kinds of fruits and vegetables that looked amazing.

The lights didn’t even flicker. They were watching an intense scene in the action movie one second and were in total silence and darkness the next.