Dear Boyfriend

This is part of a story series that can be read in any order. Read on to discover the biggest shake in our early relationship–written in July 2015.

Yesterday you called me to tell me you had lost your job. I thought you were pocket-dialing me, because you had just arrived at work (your late-arrival morning of the week) and I was working, too. But I picked up the phone to hear your voice on the other end.

“Hey, beautiful, are you on your lunch break yet?”

Confused, I told you, “Not quite yet. But you just got there.” Then someone came into the office and I had to put you on. hold.

When I picked up the phone again, you told me what happened and my response was, “What?” My heart fell into my stomach. I knew next to nothing at that point. Like the details.

Like how I was your first call. Like how you would tell me an hour later that, while you were still in the office listening to them explain about your benefits, all you could think about was talking to me. I screenshotted that text message.

Now, as I write this the next day, I still know little. What will happen next? Where you will apply or whether your home business will take off. I am praying for you.

You came to my office and watched me stack papers so I could leave for a lunch hour spent with you. I looked up from my desk and saw you, sitting in the chair, and for the first time, I wanted to kiss you.

We had already decided not to kiss until/if/when later, so I didn’t. But for the first time, I looked at you and knew I wanted to. I had wondered a time or twelve before. But this time I knew. And you knew, too. You looked at me and asked me what I was thinking (you’re oh-so-good at that). I said Nothing and you said, looks like Something.

So we walked to the truck and drove away and spent the next hour talking over Chick fil a Frosted Lemonades. You talked about your to-do list and plan-of-action, and for the first time, I didn’t understand you. I know I would have reacted to something like this with tears and a need for a nap, a day off to rest and recuperate from the emotional trauma.

You sat there instead, trusting God and touching my hand and telling me we would be fine.

Yesterday you became taller to me. You wrote out a list of things you needed to accomplish. You came up with a plan that may change over the course of the next few days and weeks, but still, you have one.

I always knew you were stronger than I. I always knew you were steadier than the girl who ran from you for three weeks–until you caught her and asked her out. Yesterday I realized something: this will bring us together like nothing in the last four months could have done.

In the first four months of our relationship, you walked through a book release, a birthday, and a big move with me. I walked through things with you, too.

But this? This just might make our Forever stronger, handsome, and I’m looking forward to how.

Love,

Me