The Friending

Abraham and I were watching How I Met Your Mother and kissing during the commercials, per my request. Things were good. The mood was light.

CBS switched to commercial break, and Abraham leaned over me.

"I'm ready to meet your friends," I announced. "Why haven't I met them yet?"

Abraham's face softened. He didn't squirm as he normally does when I put him on the spot. However, this wasn't the first time we talked about our friends. We've laid in bed on several nights and counted our friends on our fingertips as we described their personalities and how long we've known them. He knows Harvey, her husband, Swayze and Mel by name. I know the same of the major players in his life. We've talked about going on a double date with a girlfriend of his I got to know during kickball season. I guess instead of feeling put on the spot, this was more of an ongoing dialog.

He shrugged. "I guess sometimes I feel-- Oh look! How I Met Your Mother just came back on!" He leaned away from me and sat back into the couch.

I ripped the remote from his hands and paused the television. "No! You were about to say something important. I want to hear it."

"Sometimes I just want to go out and relax and have a good time without worrying about someone else's feelings."

I relaxed. That was it? That wasn't about me at all. It turns out that most things aren't about me.

I know what he meant though. There have been events that I specifically didn't invite him to because I know I'll spend my time worrying whether he's having a good time, and I won't enjoy myself as much if I were alone. I understand this sentiment.

"It won't always be awkward, Abraham. Only the first time," I said.

He sighed. "You're right. I guess I just have to get over that initial stage of awkwardness."

"And there are friends of yours that I already know. Like your kickball friends. Why don't we start there?"

While How I Met Your Mother was paused, we set up plans for that double date to take place.

"I want you to meet my friends too," I added. "I'm proud of you, and I'm proud to be with you, and I want to show you off to my friends. They are asking for you too."

I met Abraham's eyes. His lashes fluttered. How could he resist a pitch like that?

"Okay."

"Really?"

"Okay."

"You know you would have to miss a random Friday or Saturday with your friends to spend time with my friends?" I clarified.

"I'm aware of this." He rolled his eyes.

I laughed. I had completely relaxed.

"They've been asking when they were going to meet you," I said, referencing Schmoozer in particular. "And I had been saying 'Never.' They make fun of me a lot and I didn't want you to hear them make fun of me. I made them promise not to do it if I ever brought you around."

Abraham blushed. "Me too. That's another reason. But my friends would never agree to stop making fun of me."

"Really?" I asked. "That's the real reason?"

His blush deepened. "Yeah."

I don't have a problem being honest and admitting my deficits. Sometimes I forget that others still want to put on a brave face. I remember sitting in a hot tub with Swayze one drunken night in December. We were talking about our families and our hopes.

"I don't want kids," Swayze had told me.

"Really? I want kids. I just worry that I won't find anyone to have kids with," I admitted.

"Yeah," Swayze shrugged. "Me too. When I say I don't want kids, it's because I don't know if I'll find someone that will want to have them with me."

I'm used to admitting something and having others follow with Me too.

"Don't worry," I said to Abraham as I leaned in to kiss him. "There's nothing they could say that could make me not like you." I leaned back and looked him in the eyes. "So we're doing this? We're meeting the friends?"

"Yes."

I squealed and kicked and thrashed. "I'm so happy!"

As I'm spazzing out, Abraham held me down and planted dozens of rapid-fire kisses across my nose, cheeks, eyes and forehead. It was an homage to me: it's what I do to him when I'm extremely happy.

I let go and allowed him to kiss me everywhere. Then I tilted my head back and screamed, "YES!"

How I Met Your Mother was good too.