A KISS For Valentine's Day

The First Date

"So are you excited for Valentine's Day?" Eric asked, tapping his drumsticks against his thigh. I shrugging, running a hand through my hair before letting out a sigh. "Honestly...not really," I mumbled. "Oh no what's wrong?" he asked, smile immediately shifting to a look of concern. "I dunno, things have just been weird between me and Tommy lately. He's been kind of distant recently and I don't know why."

He frowned, giving me a curious look. "That's weird. Maybe talk to him?" he asked. I frowned myself, staring at my drum kit without really seeing it. "Yeahh I probably should. I just don't know how to! I'm afraid he like wants to break up with me or something and he's just trying to figure out how," I said, feeling my heart clench just at the thought. Eric's frown deepened. "I don't think he's doing that. Your relationship is probably just hitting a slow spot! It happens all the time. Bruce and I went through that before we ended up married and stuff." "What'd you do about it?" I asked. His frown turned into a fond smile just like it always did whenever he talked about Bruce. "Oh we just went on a bunch of dates together!" he said. 

I stood up abruptly, giving him a wide smile. "Oh! Eric you just gave me the best idea!" I cried. "I'm gonna take him on a date every day until Valentine's Day! Then on the 14th I'll take him on like a super fancy date and if things aren't better between us I'll talk to him. But hopefully I can like snap him out of it. You're for sure looking forward to Valentine's Day aren't you though?" I teased.

His face went pink, smile getting wider. "Hell yeah I am! It's my fifth wedding anniversary, how could I not be happy?" I grinned, shaking my head. "Right, right. Who proposed?" "Um...well I was going to but I was too shy so I was gonna have Gene figure out if Bruce would say yes, the same way I had Gene figure out if he liked me, but Bruce beat me to it and proposed after Thanksgiving dinner and then we got married in February!" he said, before looking at his phone. "Oh my husband's here! Good luck with Tommy I'm sure it'll be fine! And practice was fun, you're a good replacement for me!" he said, giving me a hug before running out the door.

Shaking my head with a smile, I locked up the practice room and headed home, already forming a plan for my first date with Tommy. I walked through my kitchen, trying to see what I could throw together for dinner, before my eyes landed on a fondue pot in the back of my cupboard. A smile spread across my face and I grabbed my phone, dialing Tommy's number.

"Hey shrimp what's up?" he asked, still using the same pet name for me as always. "Again, I'm not that much shorter than you," I grumbled, and he laughed. "I've got six inches on you love, you're short. But anyway, what's up? Why're you calling?" "What, I can't just call to talk to my boyfriend?" I teased. "Of course you can! But you usually don't surprise me with a phone call unless you've got something planned. So come on, stop beating around the bush! What's up?" "Wellllll are you free tonight?" I asked, trying to drag it out as long as possible just to tease him. "For you, of course. Why?" "Mm well I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come over tonight? And have some chocolate fondue?" I asked casually.

"Mmm that sounds delicious. You bet your ass I'll be there for that! Does nine work?" "Nine works perfectly! Love you babe, I'll see you then!" "Love you too!" He hung up and I immediately grabbed the fondue pot, setting it on the stove and fumbling for a recipe for chocolate fondue. By the time 8:30 rolled around, I had gotten everything ready. The fondue pot was simmering on the table, chocolate bubbling gently. There were a few tall candles casting a soft glow across the table, along with two glasses of wine and a bunch of fruit and marshmallows and other things for dipping in the chocolate. 

The doorbell rang and I smiled, pulling open the door. Tommy gave me a smile, lifting my face toward his and kissing me. "Hello handsome," he said. I kissed him back, slipping my arms around his neck and playing with his hair. "Hello love. Ready for dessert?" I asked. He handed me the bouquet of flowers he had brought over, taking my hand and walking inside with me. "I am so very ready." "Well go ahead and sit at the table, I'll put these in a vase," I said, grabbing one out of the kitchen and filling it with water as he headed to the dining room. "Damn Eric! This looks delicious!" he called. "Thanks! I wanted to make it nice for you!" I replied, finishing up the flowers and joining him at the table. 

I sat next to him, grabbing a fondue fork and stabbing a strawberry. "Cheers!" I said, clinking my fork against his before dipping it in the chocolate. Tommy did the same with a banana slice, eating it with a smile. "Mm that's good," he said. "It is good," I agreed, and he grinned, rolling his eyes. "Alright you don't need to compliment yourself too much there," he teased. "Hey! I worked hard on this!" I protested. "I know, I know, I'm just kidding. Love you," he said, leaning over and kissing me before stealing the strawberry off my fork. "I was gonna eat that!" I cried. "Well now I ate it," he said with a shrug. 

"Whatever," I grumbled, getting myself a fresh strawberry and eating it myself this time. We fell into a happy conversation, although it still felt like something was off. He didn't smile quite as often or as brightly, and he seemed a bit distracted the whole time, always looking pretty much everywhere but at me. I tried not to show how suspicious I was of him and just did my best to ignore it. After a few hours, long after the fondue had been finished and we had moved to the couch, Tommy rose to his feet, giving me a kiss.

"Alright babe, it's getting late so I'm gonna head home." I walked with him to the door, taking his hand and standing on my toes to kiss him. "Want to meet up tomorrow? We could take a hike!" I said. He frowned, mulling it over, and I held my breath before he smiled. "I'd love to. I'll see you tomorrow!" he said, giving me a quick hug and an even quicker kiss before heading to his car, driving off with a wave. I heaved a sigh, shutting the front door. "Well...it went pretty well!" I said to myself. I'd figure out what was bothering him and fix our relationship if it was the last thing I did.

One day down, thirteen to go.