Page 10 of Here You Are

“Okay, team. I have a confession,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “I have been practicing.”

Syd rolled her eyes. “Oh my god, what have you been practicing?”

He took his shot and giggled. “Sweating to the ‘80s. My mom had some old VHS tapes.”

“No,” Syd says, slowly backing away from the table. “I was wondering why you had been over at your parents’ so much. What’s your plan here, big guy?”

“Honestly, I can’t wait to show you. I think you’re going to be really impressed,” Tim replied.

Luke interjected, “I would just like to say that I don’t think my man Arnold was much of a dance aerobics guy, so I’ll probably have to sit out of whatever you have planned.”

Tim glared at him. “Unacceptable. You guys are my best friends, and you have to support me.”

“Well, we are going to need another round of shots then,” Luke declared and headed back over to the bar.

About 30 minutes later and three or four drinks in, a very familiar ‘80s dance song starts.

Tim jumped up and shouted, “Yes, guys! This is it! This is what we have been training for!”

We all roared laughing, watching as Tim did an enthusiastic Richard-style run out onto the dance floor.

Tim started yelling along to the song She’s A Maniac, “Okay, everyone! Let’s get ready to move—five, six, seven, eight! Step to the right and snap. Step two, three, four! Now, let’s run in place, maaaaaniacsss!”

None of us could resist, so we got out on the dance floor, following along to his instructions. While I noted how insane this behavior was, I also realized that he really practiced. Like, I’m pretty sure he was actually going to make us sweat. We followed his lead, laughing so hard we were crying, and the tears were mixing with our sweat.

The song ended, and we stopped and congratulated him on all of his success in fulfilling his dream of becoming a dance aerobics teacher. Luke started back toward the table, and Tim yelled, “Hey! We are just getting started!”

Another very notable ‘80s dance song started, and Tim was yelling for everyone to get on the dance floor. And they did. He started shouting the moves for the new song. Soon, there were at least twenty people on the dance floor of that little bar following along.

“Back—two, three, four. Front—two, three, four. To the side—two, three, four. Side—two, three, four. I’m taking you all on a free ride! Step to the right and clap. Step to the left and clap. Now bring it all the way back. Scoop—two, three, four. Scoop—two. We’re on the highway to health, everybody!”

The song ended with us running in place, while screaming, and everyone on the floor kicking their feet in the air. After the song finished, we were still lying on the dance floor, clutching our sides from the unexpected workout and laughing so hard. Luke came over and announced he needed a bathroom break and “I’ll Be Back” in his best Arnold voice, and I said I would go with him. As we were waiting in line for the bathroom, he leaned over and said, “I’ve never had as much fun as I do when I'm with you.”

I pulled him close and said back, “I think the fun you had tonight was the direct result of Tim being clinically insane.”

“I wouldn’t have had as much fun if you weren’t here. I miss you all the time when we aren’t together.”

He pulls me in for a scorching kiss, just as the door to the bathroom opens.

“I’m coming back for more of that later,” I said, running into the bathroom.

I looked in the mirror, and my ‘80s makeup was not holding up well. My banana clip had migrated to the side of my head. I looked like a disaster. I didn’t care. I felt confident and fun and silly, which are words I would never use to describe myself, but I am happy to be fully embracing the lightheartedness of the night.

I met Luke back outside of the bathroom. He had drunk eyes, mixed with sex eyes, which indicated it was about time to head home. We made our way back to the dance floor, and Tim was still out there dancing. His rhythm seemed a bit off, and the dance moves weren't quite hitting the mark. Syd was at the table watching him live his best life. We decided it was time to move out, so we went toward the dance floor to round up Tim. He interpreted our coming to get him as being time for an encore. The four of us laughed and danced for one more song before heading home. On the way out, we noted Tim had clearly become the MVP of the party because everyone was shaking his hand and patting him on the back like he was a local celebrity. We had walked to the bar, which meant we had a riotous laugh on the walk home, which took twice as long as the walk there.

Luke and I went toward his bedroom, where we could already hear the sounds of Syd and Tim enjoying themselves. They had wasted no time, apparently. One of the joys of roommate life is being able to hear every time the other person in the house is having sex, and just accepting that is a normal part of life. I had to admit, it did sometimes inspire Luke and me to join in the fun—in our own room with the door locked and music playing, because we aren’t animals. Luke pulled me in for a searingly hot kiss, and I melted into him. It was hard to believe he still affected me this way after being together this long.

In what felt like a sex scene from an ‘80s movie due to our wardrobes, we peeled each other's clothes off and fell into bed together. It felt like the perfect moment in time. So much of my life, I’ve felt like I have been waiting for something. Waiting for the right guy, waiting for the right job, waiting for the right friend group. Tonight, I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be.

Chapter 6

December 2011

It was Christmas time. The weather was giving us light snow and seemed to be setting the scene for a perfect holiday. Luke and I had made plans for spending time with our families, both together and separately. We saved the night of Christmas Eve to spend time with just the two of us and exchange presents. His roommate had recently moved in with his girlfriend, so we had the apartment to ourselves.

“Come over by the tree. I want you to open your present. I can’t wait any longer,” Luke said, bouncing up and down a little, which made me chuckle.

“You open yours first,” I replied. I had saved all year to buy him some new golf clubs he had been eyeing. I couldn’t figure out the logistics of surprising him with the obviously shaped gift, so the clubs were hidden at my apartment, and I had wrapped up a picture of them with a box of golf balls.