Her name was Lindsey and she was so fucking perfect.

We met at a Vineyard in Cali. I noticed her watching me walk to her, smiling. Her smile was the light that I needed that day.

We ordered our food, sitting outside amongst the beautiful landscape and garden of tulips and roses.

We talked, we laughed, we snorted a little. Okay, I snorted a little from laughing. It was refreshing. Easy.

There was no music and for the first time in the night, she pulled her phone out to play, ‘Sky is the limit,’ by Mark Ambor. I had never heard it before. It’s so very lovely. We danced and in that moment, as I’m embraced by her, I smiled. Without even thinking. I smiled.

It’s the fairytale I’ve been waiting for. But the song was too cheesy, even for a couple of cheeseheads, so she quickly pulled away from me, took her phone and I started laughing as Nelly’s ‘Hot in heree’ is blasting through the speakers. We both bust out our best moves. Parts of me never wanted the night to end. I was enchanted.

The staff came out to tell us that they were leaving and basically to get out. We apologized and started moving toward the only two cars in the visitors lot.

She walks me to my car and suddenly I am nervous. “Will she kiss me? Do I want her to kiss me? What if I have spinach in my teeth from earlier? Did I check when I excused myself?” She is beautiful in the moonlight and the first words I speak are, “You’re so beautiful in the dark.” What is wrong with me? We laughed.

She’s got a great laugh that’s incredibly infectious. She grabbed me and pulled me close and kissed me. Passionately. With intent. A kiss that was meant to be remembered.

We say our goodbyes and even plan our next adventure in our home states. I climb into my rental and as I’m heading to my hotel, I am uncontrollably smiling. Replaying the nights events.

I hadn’t checked my phone in five hours to see if you texted me. No missed calls from you, which since you don’t like talking on the phone, that’s no surprise. I can smell her on me. If I close my eyes, I could feel her lips on mine.

But there you are.

Always on my mind and I don’t know how to get rid of you.

If only I had met her first. 

JMS