~Monday, January 03, 2011

New Year's Eve

"You know what they say, the way you spend New Year's Eve
is the way you'll spend the rest of the year."
-- Hailey Nichol, The O.C.

I chose not to spend New Years with Valdosta. Or rather, I chose to spend it with my friends. Valdosta could tag along or he could not: those were the only options in my book. He accepted a party invite to his best friend's girlfriend's apartment.

New Years was intimate this year. It was just Harvey, her husband, me, Schmoozer and Swayze. For the first time the guys outnumbered the girls.

Before the boys arrived, I talked with Harvey and her husband about Valdosta. I shared that we still haven't had the DTR yet. Harvey's husband was very adamant that if he was sleeping with someone, he wouldn't want her to be sleeping with other people. I smirked and said that's why he's married and all the other boys are not. Either way, neither Valdosta nor I are sleeping with other people; we're still in the awkward limbo of dating and relationships. I don't want to say anything, mainly because I already did too early and I don't want to look desperate.

A couple of weeks ago, Government Mule was quick to advise to not pressure him to commit. At his Christmas party, Schmoozer had given me some great advice. He had said that girls tend to take the reigns and plan all of these activities for the couple to do together. He shrugged. "What do they need me for then? It makes me feel useless."

Valdosta does a great job of taking the lead. I don't call him ever. When I leave him in the mornings, he always makes a list of the upcoming week and our pending activities and days that we're both free. So I'll see you Thursday, he'll say. For a movie at my place? Instead of trying to control things, I'm letting Valdosta have the lead. It's not really something I've done before, but I'm confident that when he's ready, he'll say something.

"Relationships tend to work out when they're easy," Harvey said in a rare moment of seriousness. "Dating my husband was the easiest thing I've ever done."

I sighed with relief. For now, it is easy. But it's also easy for married people to give advice. Neither of these people have dated anyone outside of college.

Then Harvey's husband scolded me for my New Year's plans. "It's okay to not spend every moment with us," he said. "Eventually you guys are going to have to compromise on how to spend your time."

"No I won't," I said. "All of Valdosta's friends are coupled up, so I automatically win because I have the fun friends."

"Maybe he's looking for someone to do the coupled-up stuff with."

I scrunched up my nose. Just then Schmoozer and Swayze walked in the door. The conversation was over. We drank wine, played beer pong and watched Ron White.

Harvey poured the champagne and we counted down. "2010 was the best year of my life!" I cheered.

Harvey's husband was taken aback. "Very cool. I've never heard anyone say that ever." I guess the possibility of the new year overshadows the accomplishments of the previous year.

The new year rang in, kisses were exchanged and the champagne was drunk. I typed out a mass text message to my friends that couldn't be there. Because it read, Happy New Years! I love you! I did not send it to Valdosta. My phone vibrated from my back pocket.

"Hey, baby! Happy New Years!" said Valdosta from his party. I stepped into Harvey's foyer to hear him better. "Everyone here is kissing and it made me think of you, so I'm calling to give you a phone smooch!"

Harvey ran into the foyer. "Happy New Years, Valdosta! Baahhhh!" she screamed into my phone. "Bahhhhhhhhh!"

"Okay, I'm ready for my phone smooch!" I giggled.

"Oh, you're going to make me actually do it?" he asked.

"Yup."

"Just for you." He made kissing noises into the phone. "I'll give you a better one when I see you." He asked me to come to his party to meet his friends and he sent me the address. I guess Harvey's husband was right.

I left Harvey's house in suburbia and headed back into the city. Valdosta's party was in Midtown. Amazingly enough, I found free parking on 3rd street and walked four blocks to the skyrise. Valdosta was waiting for me outside under the building's awning.

"Valdosta!" I cried as soon as I saw him.

It was 1:45 a.m. and the streets were lit like daylight, but it seemed like we were the only people in Midtown. The ball drops in Downtown. He opened his arms and gave me my New Year's kiss. I love the look on his face every time I meet him; it's a mixture between surprise and excitement. The only other one who greets me like that is my dog.

He took my hand and led me into the building. The party was thinning out by then, but I got to meet the main players in Valdosta's life, the ones he had told me about. His friends consist of a few guys he's known for eons. To my relief, they seemed normal.

We stayed for a glass of champagne and said our goodbyes. I took Valdosta back to my place.

He groaned while he slipped into my bed, "Your bed is almost as comfortable as mine. What are your New Year's resolutions, baby?" he murmured.

"I don't have any," I said honestly. "I think my birthday list is enough."

He scooped me up and brushed back my hair, planting kisses on the nape of my neck. "I'm going to get in shape," he whispered. "I want to be in the best shape of my life for my 30th birthday this year. I'm so glad I got to see you tonight, baby."

"You are?"

"Yeah."

"Me too," I answered.

"Let's watch movies tomorrow."

19 comments:

Dawn said...

Honestly, if you're not in love with this guy, that's OK... because I am. :)

Don't worry. I'm too old for him and I'm married.

But, seriously... he sounds like 50 kinds of awesome.

And I'm really happy for you. And for him. But mostly for you. :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an absolutely wonderful New Years! :) He sounds absolutely dreamy and I love it when guys use the endearment "baby"!

Meghan said...

Long time lurker . . . .

I love reading about Valdosta. I think you could write anything about him or yourself and him or yourself and your thoughts on him and I would think it was wonderful.

I'm so happy that you've found happiness!!!

Simmarah said...

Gosh, I love your blog. It's like a movie. I'm still rooting for Valdosta :) Glad you had a great New Years with him!

DL White said...

Awesome! Happy day!

Anonymous said...

Super cute! I know how it goes when it comes to spending time with friends. I for one am always a little stressed about it.

I'm glad you did your own thing AND still got your kiss :)

Lau said...

Ooh! A very happy new year!

Lovely stuff :)

Anonymous said...

Your smile is reaching all the way to DC, and it is BLINDING.

Good for you, Cookie. Good for YOU.

Arwen said...

@simmarah - the best movies have happy endings.

Sarah ... I think Valdosta sounds wonderful. I hope that's the whole story because if so, you are one lucky lady!

Anonymous said...

love this! kinda jealous too. enjoy every moment.

Danielle said...

I think your friend Harvey is right, dating is easy when your dating the right person. Even if it is a different dating decade.

Sounds like an awesome start to the new year!

Bathwater said...

I agree with Danielle and Harvey dating should be easy. Does the man have no flaws ;).

jo said...

reading bout valdosta makes me as happy as if i'm the one who's dating him. he sounds awesome. happy new year!!

Hope said...

Le sigh. Le sigh. Le sigh. :)

Happy New Year, Sarah. I hope it's even better than 2010!

Angela said...

Lurker, here, who is also smiling and feeling jealous in a good way. :)

treacle said...

Whoop!

Happy New Year Sarah, hope that when you are at the next NYE party you say exactly the same things you did a few days ago. x

Michelle said...

Happy New Years!

PS: I just spent nearly 3 months reading your entire blog up until today when I finally finished. Your growth from 2005 until today is amazing and love the fact that Valdosta is in your life at the time he should be. I hope to comment more often now that I can keep up!

-Here in Ottawa, Canada

Miss Devylish said...

I know I haven't checked in for a while, but that made me so happy for you to read. I'm smiling like a loon over here for you, my virtual friend. Sending hugs. Here's to another good year for you and a much better one than last for me. xo

Elle said...

Your friend Harvey is right. Dating is easy when you're with the right person. When I met my boy I couldn't believe how great things were, how easy things were. It's been 15 months now and it is still easy and I'm told by those much wiser (ie: older) than me that yes, this is how it should be!!

 

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