Word: Jo

jo

[ joh ]

noun
Scot.
beloved one; darling; sweetheart.

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            Chris felt his heart beating like a drum.  He was not sure how he managed to keep from ruining his clothes with sweat, but he did.  He fought to keep his hands above the table instead of fumbling in his pocket.  That would have given it away.

               He was so nervous that he almost missed what Kylie was saying.  Fortunately, almost was not the same as completely.  He was able to hold the conversation well enough that she did not notice his nerves.  And it did not help that she looked gorgeous tonight.  Oh, sure, most people would not call her beautiful.  Most would just consider her kind of pretty.  But Chris thought she was the loveliest woman in the world, and nobody could convince him otherwise.

               And tonight, she looked especially radiant, which made focusing on his task that much harder.  The food could not come soon enough.  That would give him something to focus on.  Maybe it would help calm him down enough to go through with it. 

               Chris looked around the quiet, moderately upscale restaurant for their waiter.  Kylie noticed and began asking what was wrong.  Chris just hand waved it all away, telling her he was wanting more water.  It was enough, but she still eyed him warily.

               The food came far later than Chris would have liked.  He dug in, using the taste of his steak and mashed potatoes to try to work up the courage he needed.  He thought he had it all under control.  He had planned it all out.  He had worked up the courage needed to do what he knew had to be done.  But now that the moment was upon him, he found all the courage had fled.  Gone, as if it had never been. 

               The meal did much less than he would have hoped.  Oh, it was a very nice meal, sure.  The food was perfectly cooked and delicious.  But that did not settle the butterflies dancing in his stomach. He needed to do something, and food was apparently not going to help.  But it was not yet time.  He had to wait. 

               It was time for dessert.  If anything, it was even harder to get through.  Somehow, watching her happily eat a slice of chocolate cake made him even more nervous.  It meant it was time.  He was going to have to do it.  Once they were both done eating and before the bill came was his window of opportunity.  One he had to take.

               He took a deep breath and stood.  He could hear his heart beating, it was so loud.  He hoped that nobody else could hear it.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box he had resisted touching for the entire night.  Kylie’s eyes widened when she saw it.  Breathing was difficult now.  But there was no going back.  He got down on one knee and saw tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes.  Was that a good sign?  Were they happy tears?  They probably were.

               Chris, drew on what little bravery he had left and asked the question. 

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Happy Singles Awareness Day everyone!  

What?  You mean it's not Singles Awareness Day?  Valentine's Day?  Oh, right, there's that too.  Happy Valentine's Day, I guess.