Here I am, at the airport, waiting for Ashley. I’m wearing the clothes Carmen helped me pick out. Her flight has landed and people are starting to come through the doors. I can feel myself getting more and more anxious with every person getting off the plane that isn’t her. After the first 20 people, I go into panic mode.

Did she miss me? Maybe she found a nice little Italian girlfriend and doesn’t need me. Is what I’m wearing ok? What should I do when she gets off? Hug? Kiss? KISS?? What am I thinking? We’re not together, I can’t just go around kissing girls that I’m not dating.

My mental rambling comes to a halt when I spot her. She looks beautiful, and sophisticated, and she hasn’t spotted me and my ridiculously large smile yet. She’s looking around and biting her lip, and I can’t help but stand there and enjoy it for a second.

I put my hand up and give a wave, trying to get her attention. She sees me and smiles.

“Ash!” I call over to her, and then head in her direction. We finally meet halfway and she drops her bags and wraps her arms around me.

“I’m so glad to see you” she says still holding on.

“Me too, I missed you” I told her.

“Babe, you have no idea” she laughs “lets get out of here”

We walk to my car, and I’m helping her with her bags.

“I have a surprise for you” I tell her, and she looks amused

“What is it? Tell me!”

“you’ll see…” I tease

“can I guess?”

“You can try”

“ok hmm…” she makes her cute thinking face with her nose scrunched and lips pursed. “You learned how to cook?”

I gave her the “Yeah right look” and she went on

“You hired a marching band to welcome me home?”

“No”

“Is this one of those things where you break into my apartment and have a TV show redecorate and make it jungle themed?”

“What?” I questioned “where did that come from?”

“I saw it on the plane ride here”

“No, you’re apartment is fine” I laughed

“IS MY CAR OKAY????” she freaked

I pretended to look guilty, and she slapped my arm