We thought it might be neat to see a few images to go along with the story.

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Part 5 –

Around ten, I suggested we call it a night and head back to the hotel.  He was receptive to the idea, so we got into the Jeep, rolled all of the windows down, and took off.  The drive from the dance to the hotel was nearly an hour long.  We listened to The Fray, who were at the time, my favorite musicians.  I remember passing the drive by thinking about the events of the day.   Wind was whipping my hair all around – a blessed freedom since I had pulled it down from it’s french braid.  I was letting my right hand trail through the air as we drove.  You should just hold hands with him.  Take his hand!  What is the worst that could happen?  Those were the only thoughts I could hear, and they ran though my head again and again.  The CD switched to “How to Save a Life” just as I had decided that I was brave enough to make the first move.   I stiffened my resolve, began to lift my hand for his, and he beat me to the punch.  Eyes wide open, I looked up at him in surprise as I felt him take my hand and pull it towards him.  An electric shock, as real and powerful as voltage, ran through my body at his touch.  My skin vibrated with the sensation of him rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.  My cheeks ached with a smile that I thought I had forgotten.  Neither of us said a word as we drove, listening to The Fray and struggling to pull our thoughts together.

We weren’t the only couple to decide to go back to the hotel early.  The hot tub was full of Brock’s relatives that had skipped out on the evening celebration.  We climbed into the warm water with every one else, and held hands under the water.  We both smiled our little smirks of a secret known to only us.  Foolishly, we thought no one else had noticed.  Not long after, on his suggestion or mine, we went back to the hotel rooms and changed into our pajamas.  Brady was sitting on the couch watching Family Guy, so we pulled up some pillows and a blanket and sat on the floor next to him.  We held hands under the covers.  I hadn’t felt as giddy since I was in high school again, silly with a crush.  At one point, Brock leaned over and brushed a sweet kiss to my temple.  It was a thrill and shock all over again.  I had wanted it, and wished for it, and yet still not expected it.  It must have taken Brady by surprise as well, because startled us by lifting himself up off the couch, and walking quickly out to the hot tub.  He didn’t once look back.  A giggle escaped my lips before the door had clicked completely shut, and Brock joined in with a belly-shaking laugh.  Foolishly, we thought Brady wouldn’t notice.   The absence of his little brother must have been all the encouragement he needed, because he then reached down, took my chin in his fingertips, and pulled my face up to his for a real, perfect kiss.  It was a perfect kiss, in a perfect moment.  Lips to lips, was sat there smiling neither shy nor embarrassed of our new-found affection.  We found out the next day that Brock’s aunts had begun a pool, betting on what day he would finally kiss me.  Foolishly, we thought they couldn’t tell… but everyone could see. 

Since that perfect moment, we have shared silly smiles, and tender kisses.  It wasn’t much more than a heart beat after that Brock and I ended up together in North Carolina.  July 15th will be the anniversary of our first kiss.  I can think of no better way to remember it than this… a story of how it happened.