It happened again Junior year of high school. He sat next to me in speech class. He talked loudly. He walked with his chest puffed out and his arms swinging. He wore black K-Swiss canvas tennies. His favorite color appeared to be plaid. He drove a Z-28 when weather permitted. He would jump up in the air, ram his ass in his friends face and scream "Booty Bust!!". He was an asshole, but boy was he cute.
It happened next in spring right after I had turned 20. I was roller blading and had stopped at my roommate's sister's little league game. His sister also played on the team. Not sure if it was the butt length bottle blond hair, the newly minted tattoo of badassery on my back, my deep tanning bed color, eyebrows I hadn't tweezed even once yet, or my sleeveless Michael Jordan t-shirt, but I couldn't believe what happened next.
Friend: Um, Adam Newman is staring at you.
Me: Really?? (I look over. Smile, wave)
Friend: He's still looking. Oh my God, he's walking over here.
Me: (while being careful not to look at him) Are you sure? Is he sitting with us?
Friend: Yes. Shh.
Adam: *Flirt, flirt, flirt. Be cute, be cute. Say smart witty things.* Well, maybe I'll see you around this summer. (walks away with chest puffed out as we stare. He turns around mid stride and catches us)
Friend: He is really, really hot.
Me: Seriously. If I could just get like, 20 minutes in a room alone with him.
Friend: Forget it. He's like... out of our league. (true story, she really used those exact words)
Me: We'll see about that. (never said, but wouldn't it have been cool if I did?)
We had both just come from crappy break ups that involved our significant others actually hooking up with each other. Really peachy situation. After word of our softball field flirting had travelled around town (it took about 30 minutes), 2 mutual friends got us in a room together by telling the other "He/She has been asking about you, I think he/she would like to go out with you". It was a very well-executed rebound operation. We were in an apartment above our local tavern. Visiting, catching up, having several 6 packs with our 2 friends, when he flicked his bottle cap, casually leaned back against the kitchen counter, locked eyes with me, and said the sentence that launched it all....
"So... tell me how you feel about me."
For the first time that I can ever remember, I was speechless. Then fumbling for words. Who says that? Adam H. Newman, that's who. We ended up having a great time, laughing a lot, and sleeping on a floor next to each other that night. About 3 hours into him thinking I was asleep, he put his arm over me and the biggest grin ever spread across my face. And for the last 14 years, I have smiled that smile a million more times when with him.
He has been the best friend I could ever hope for. I was having a hard time in life when he came into it and it was about to get a whole lot harder. Without him, I honestly don't know what I would be like today. He brought me back to life several times I could have just given up. He forgave me the unforgivable when I wouldn't forgive myself. He has always been honest with me, even when it wasn't what I wanted to hear. He has always pushed me to be better while never telling me to be anything other than myself. He has given me the best, most loving compliments I have ever heard. He held my kite strings when I could have easily floated away in the madness of Los Angeles. He let me be and stay a part of his family since we met. (that little sister from above? I'm in her wedding this fall) He makes me laugh, he pushes me to the brink of insanity when arguing, and he gets my food or coffee order right every time. He pulled me out of bed when I wanted nothing more than to stay there, got me Krispy Kreme, and took me to see Transformers. All while claiming not to be embarrassed by my cut off sweats and dirty t-shirt. He is the best, most consistent, good-hearted person I have ever met. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him and I am ridiculously lucky that he's my best friend.
He is 11 months older than me and turns 35 today. He's also growing a bitchin' 'stache right now for March, so if you see him around, be sure to compliment him on it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM H. NEWMAN!!!
You're aces!
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