“Where will you be?”

“I’m not sure yet. But it won’t in this business. Definitely not in this house.”

“Fair enough,” she says after a moment.

“So…what’s next?”

“I have something for you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” she says, and though she tries to turn away quickly, I can tell that she’s blushing.

“Is it a surprise?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Will I like it?”

“I hope so. Let’s see,” she says, pulling me out of the kitchen and down the hall.

The anticipation of everything is completely unreal. It’s almost as if I’m living out the night, compiling memories of every second so I don’t forget what happens. Most of all, I don’t want to remember anything else when I’m with her. Everything should be new and ours, because to be honest, I’m not sure how long I can have her.

She eventually stops when we reach the guest bedroom. Well, at least that’s what it is for now. I have a feeling that it’s simply waiting for a new girl to sinfully inhabit and give the stark walls something to talk about.

“Are you going to turn on the light?” I ask, noticing that we’ve been standing in the dark for several seconds now.

“Promise me something.”

“What is it?”

“Promise me you won’t laugh.”

I started to laugh just on principle, but she looked too nervous for me to be so reckless.

“I promise.”

“Because I’m not very good at this.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard.”

She smiles a little, nodding knowingly, “Very funny. I mean I’m not good at this romantic shit, you know? It’s been a really long time and I don’t know if…”

I cut her off with a kiss, long and slow, feeling every part of it. Hoping she could too.

“Ashley, turn on the light.”

As soon as my eyes adjust, my jaw drops. She’s covered the bed with fresh gardenia petals and there are candles everywhere just waiting to be lit. As well as a bottle of wine with two elegant flutes beside it.

“You did all this for me?” I ask, still finding it a bit hard to speak.

“Is it ok? I mean, is it too much?”

I look at her directly, “Ash, it’s perfect. Look at me…it’s absolutely perfect. Come here.”