Love and Popsicles

I remember that summer as if it were yesterday. I was 15 years old, sitting on the front porch, and eating my quickly melting orange popsicle. I was just licking the remnants from the stick when he appeared from the house across the street. His family had just moved at the beginning of the summer. He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. His name was Ryan Stevens. He was two years older than I was and definitely more cool. I was just a 15-year-old chubby, nerdy girl. 

He

caught me staring at him, and he waved. He actually waved at me. I almost

turned around to see if someone had been behind me. I just wasn’t the type of

girl boys noticed. Oh my gosh! He’s coming over here, I thought to

myself as my heart began to beat faster.

“Hey, Callie,” he stated with his gorgeous smile and perfectly white teeth.

“Hey, Ryan,” I stammered.

“How are you doing?” He asked as he sat down on the step next to me. His arm briefly brushed mine, and my breath caught in my throat.

“I-I’m okay. How are you?” I berated myself in my mind. Get a hold of yourself, Callie, he’s just a boy.

“I’m good. Are you ready for school to start next month?”

“Yeah, I guess so. What about you?”

“Honestly, I’m a little nervous. It’s never fun being the new kid.”

“I’m sure a handsome, cool guy like you will have no problem making friends, especially with the girls.”

If I wasn’t mistaken, I thought I saw him blush.

“Callie, you think I’m handsome?” His tone seemed to change – became more serious.

“Y-y-yes, I do.” It was my turn to blush.

“Well, at least I have you as my friend, right?” He nudged my shoulder with his own.

“Yes, o-of course.” I tried to smile. “Not that being my friend will get you any points with anyone that matters.” Always the friend; never the girlfriend. I rolled my eyes in my head.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at me and look at you. Girls like me don’t catch the attention of boys like you.”

“Callie, look at me,” he said as he put his finger under my chin and turned my face to so I could look at him. I blushed and tried to look away. “Callie, look at me,” his tone turned a little more stern. I looked up into his and got lost in the sea of green. “You are beautiful. Any guy would be stupid not to notice you.”

“Really?”

“Really,” He stated matter-of-factly before he leaned over and kissed my cheek.

I sighed. I hoped it sounded like a sigh of contentment when it was really a sigh of disappointment. I wanted him to kiss me – to kiss me like he really meant it, but he kissed my cheek like we were just friends.

“Ryan,” his mother yelled from across the street. “It’s time for dinner.”

“Well, I guess I have to go. Thanks for making me feel better. Can we hang out again another time?”

“S-sure.” I managed to get out without the tears making their way out of my eyes.

“Great! See you tomorrow!” He waved as he crossed the street to his house.

Ryan and I hung out every day for the month leading up to school. I found myself falling for him more and more every day. We got to know everything about each other. I knew we would never be anything more than just friends, and I knew once school started, he probably wouldn’t speak to me again, at least not when other people were around. The thought made me dread the first day of school, which was definitely a new feeling for me as I loved school.

It’s been seven years since that summer, and Ryan and I are the best of friends. He continued to talk to me even at school. Even though he became one of the most popular kids at school, he still talked to me and hung out with me. His other friends, especially the girls, didn’t like him slumming it with the fat girl, but it didn’t stop him. When we graduated high school, we decided to attend the same college and even shared an apartment. I am closer to him than anyone in my life, outside of my family. Ryan asked me to go out with him to dinner to celebrate our graduating from Indiana Wesleyan University. He told me to dress up because are going to celebrate right.

As I was finishing up the last touches of my look, there was a knock at the door. Even though Ryan was my best friend, my stomach and heart still did flip flops every time he knocked on my door. I took in a deep breath and opened the door.

There stood Ryan in a suit and tie.”Wow,” was all I managed to get out.

He smiled and said, “That was going to me my line. You look amazing, Callie.”

I felt my cheeks flush, “Thank you.”

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I am. Where are we going?”

“Nope. It’s a surprise.”

“Ugh! You know I hate surprises.”

He smiled, “I know.” He grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the apartment. I barely had time to close and lock the door.

He drove us to a fancy restaurant. It was Italian. My favorite.

“I know Italian is your favorite.” He smiled proudly.

“You know everything about me, Ryan,” I rolled my eyes.

“Come on. Let’s go in. We have reservations.”

“Ooooh. Fancy,” I teased.

He came around to my side of the car, opened my door, and helped me out of the car.

“Such a gentleman,” I sighed dreamily.

“Oh stop.” He blushed.

He opened his arm for me to take as we walked inside. I was on cloud nine. I was at this fancy restaurant with the most beautiful man I had ever known. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have a best friend like him, but I hope I do it again so I can marry a man just like him.

“We have reservations for two under the name Stevens,” Ryan stated to the Maitre d’.

“Right this way Sir and Ma’am.”

Being called ma’am always made me giggle. Ryan looked at me and smiled as we followed the Maitre d’ to our table.

“This is beautiful,” I told Ryan once we were seated.

“Yes, it is,” Ryan stated never taking his eyes off me.

I felt my cheeks flush once more as I smiled and looked away.

We ordered our food and drinks. We talked like we always had all throughout dinner.

After we ate dessert, Ryan said, “ Callie, I have something to ask you.”

“Okay,” I responded beginning to get nervous as I had no idea what he was going to say.

“Callie, you have been my best friend for seven years. You know more about me than anyone ever has before. I have tried dating other women, but there was always one problem. They weren’t you. I found myself comparing every woman to the one woman who has always been there for me without judgment.”

What is he saying? They weren’t me? What? A thousand questions made their way through my mind.

“Callie, do you remember that summer we met?” He continued.

All I could do was nod.

“That was the summer I fell in love with you.”

“What?” Tears began to form. “What do you mean?”

“I love you, Callie. It’s always been you. It will always be you.” He grabbed my hand and then slid from his seat and onto his knee.

“Ryan, what are you doing?”

“Callie, I spoke with you mom and dad and got their blessing. I want to know if you will make me the happiest man on the planet and be my wife.”

“What?” Tears began to stream down my face. “Is this really happening?”

“Yes, Callie. It is.” Ryan nervously smiled. “So?”

“Ryan, I fell in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you. I never imagined a guy like you would like a girl like me. Yes, yes I will marry you.” I smiled as he slid a beautiful antique diamond ring on my left ring finger. The ring looked foreign to me as I never imagined there would ever be one on that finger.

It was, then, I felt Ryan’s hands on my cheeks. He pressed his lips to mine. He had never even attempted to kiss me on the lips. It felt like heaven. I was going to be Mrs. Ryan Stevens, and I couldn’t have been happier. I couldn’t wait!

My heart was stolen on that summer day when I was eating my melting orange popsicle. Little did I know that summer would lead me here – to this man, to his heart. It is pure bliss.