Baby, Just Say Yes, James

Chevy Chase
Washington, DC
June 2, 2011
11:37 AM


Bridget Marin was a senior in high school and so close the freedom that she could practically taste it. She didn’t need freedom from classes or from school. She loved school in a total nerd kind of way. She needed freedom from her parents, her family, and from home in general. Bridget was the typical girl-next-door-geeky-wallflower. She was usually too well-hidden behind a book for anyone to notice her. She didn’t like to be the center of attention or anywhere near it, so she usually blended into a crowd. Bridget was shy, innocent, and quiet, but she was smart as hell. She attended an all girl’s catholic school for high school and hated every second of it. Girls were horrible things. They were vicious, they were gossipy, and they had no regard for whether or not they hurt another girl as long as they did it in the most cunning way possible.

Bridget was just barely sixteen years old when she met James MacDonald. He was older and he was complicated. She didn’t know how it happened, but she found herself drawn to him. She tried to fight it, but her efforts were futile. Now she was a couple months away from being eighteen and she was head-over-heels in love with him. He was her first for a lot of things and he would also be her last. She couldn’t imagine ever being without him and she didn’t want to. They could both be headstrong, at times, and that usually led to fights, but they always worked through it.

Today was a standardized testing day for Bridget’s school. Since she was a senior and about to graduate, there were no tests to take and the seniors had the day off. She decided to head into DC and surprise her boyfriend. James had just gotten home from college and she hadn’t had a chance to see him yet. Bridget woke up early and spent extra time getting ready. She wanted to look her absolute best for him. She packed up some sandwiches, fruit, and cake that she made last night. She thought that maybe they could have a picnic at Constitution Gardens and then whatever he wanted to do for the rest of the day, they could do it.

Driving through DC was always a nightmare and parking wasn’t any better. When she finally managed to find a spot about a block away from his place, she snatched it. Bridget checked herself in the mirror to make sure she didn’t look absolutely horrendous before stepping out of her car and locking it. It was the perfect day. The sun was warm, but not blazing and there was an almost unseasonably cool breeze in the air. Bridget bit her lip as she stood in front of his door. She knocked three times and waited excitedly for her love to answer.

James was a freshman in college and a recently announced all state baseball player. He was the first freshman to be given the honor in seven years. James loved baseball; it dominated his life when he wasn’t in school or with Bridget. He saw the game as a art form, in a way that most people could never understand. Baseball was the epitome of struggle. An at bat was the most personal thing in sports as far as he was concerned. It could be over quick, or it could be a long dragged out affair, but in the end someone ended up winning. That was the story of his life, everything was a battle, that’s why he loved baseball so much, it was like life training for him. James had always appeared to be strong, confident, and loud. But for those who truly knew him (those people being far and few in between) he was always in a constant state of stress. When baseball wasn’t on his mind, school was, and being a double major in physics and civil engineering was definitely taking its toll. But for all of the stresses in James life he had one thing that kept him up, that kept him going.

That thing that kept him going, that kept him full of drive and desire, was his beautiful girlfriend Bridget. James was seventeen and finishing high school when he met Bridget. She was shy, withdrawn, and humble; all qualities he was lacking. James had between notorious for dating the hottest and most popular girls in school, but things were different when he met her. She was the single most beautiful thing he’d ever laid his eyes on, she always calmed him, she loved him for him, something he’d never had before. He had been with many women, and she with few men. He had been her first for many things, and although it was her first time in many things, it was always the most amazing time for him. He loved her in ways he could never hope to describe.

James had gotten the day off from helping his father at his company headquarters and was spending it at their house in D.C. The house in downtown D.C was very spacious and well decorated, keeping in touch with his family’s obsession with wealth and power, and the displays of such things. Frankly these were things James wasn’t all too fond of. He was more than comfortable with living the white picket fence dream. Decent sized house, his wife, two kids, a couple cars, and a white picket fence were all he wanted. His family member filled their emptiness with material items, and he had no quarrel with them for doing so. But he found himself fulfilled just by being in Bridget’s presence. He usually would spend the day working out for baseball but he decided that he would treat himself to the day off, considering what he was planning on doing today. Reminded of that he ran over to his cabinet and pulled out a little black velvet box marked “Cartier’s” and put it in his pants pocket.

James had heard a knock at the door and rushed down the stairs and to the door. In his rush he had forgotten to even put a shirt on, not that he could honestly care. It was his house and if he wanted to roam around it half naked he was well within his rights to do so. He had on his black Levi jeans, black vans, and his smile. He had been growing his hair out for baseball, as he thought it looked good long and curly coming out of his batting helmet. He also got rid of the little beard he had been growing, opting for a clean shave, for Bridget’s sake. He didn’t want her to feel like she was dating a homeless man. He opened the door and his eyes lit up at the sight of Bridget, if a picture was worth a thousand words than one of his face at that moment would speak volumes. "Bridget, I've missed you so much" he said to her, caught up in emotion he went to hug her and kiss her passionately.

Bridget would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous. It’s felt like forever since she’s seen James. They still talked, of course. They called each other, texted, there was Skype, but it wasn’t the same as being with him. Everyone from her friends to her family told her it wouldn’t work out. He was going to college halfway across the country. He was growing up and moving on with his life and she was just going to be some girl he left behind and forgot the second he was surrounded by all of those college girls. Bridget blew off all of their concerns, insisting that James wouldn’t drop her like yesterday’s trash, but really she was scared. The truth was, college did change people. He was in a whole other chapter of his life and she was stuck behind playing catch up. There were times when she wondered if they would make it. There were times when it definitely would have been a lot easier to break it off than to truck through it. She tried really hard not to become that crazy possessive girlfriend who freaked out when she heard some girl calling his name in the background at a party or saw a picture of him on facebook with his arm draped around a girl with hardly any clothes on. They had been together for over a year and she was still nervous that she wasn’t good enough. She didn’t have that perfect, hot body. She was shy and timid compared to a lot of girls. She was absolutely certain that he could find a better girl and she was terrified that he would.

The door swung open and revealed a half naked James. Bridget’s eyes grew wide as they trailed over his bare torso. She forgot how to speak for a moment there. She wasn’t the type of girl that easily got distracted over hot naked men, even if that hot naked man was her boyfriend, but it had been so long and he looked damn good. She could hardly believe that he was finally here, he was finally home. Seeing him triggered an entire avalanche of emotions she had been suppressing for the past nine months. She finally let herself realize how much she missed him, how much she needed him.

Bridget was finally able to compose herself. Her lips broke into a huge grin. “Surprise!” She said excitedly and before she knew it, he was pulling her into a hug and then his lips found hers and she was reminded of how much she missed him once again. She rose onto her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing herself closer to him. Her fingers curled around his hair as she gave into the kiss. She didn’t care that they were technically outside and anyone on the street could see them. All that mattered was that she was with her boyfriend again after so long.

It was so easy to get lost in him, lost in the way he kissed her and held her. Lost in the way he smelled and felt against her. She broke the kiss when her poor little lungs couldn’t take anymore, but she didn’t pull away. She held onto him as if he would disappear the second she let go. “I missed you so much.” She said softly in his ear before burying herself in him. She didn’t ever want to let go, but she had a plan and if she didn’t let go soon, she didn’t think she’d have the willpower to see that plan through.

Reluctantly, Bridget let go of him and took a step back. “Come on, I’m kidnapping you.” She said, grinning. She was a tiny little thing and if he resisted, she sure as hell wouldn’t be able to force him to go. He’d just have to go along willingly, but she was sure she could persuade him if she needed to. Something told her she wouldn’t need to. Her fingers trailed over the smooth bumps on his chest and torso. “As much as I love this—” She said, running her hands over the bare skin. “—I think you’d better get dressed.” She finished, giggling.

James had been away for a year and he had missed Bridget everyday of that year. That being said he always had a bit of a fear that she might find somebody else while he was gone. He was halfway across the country away from her, and she might finally have had enough of it. He tried to call and text as much as time would allow but there were times where it had become incredibly tough, especially during baseball season. At the height of the season he would have to go on an eight game road trip across the country, on top of doing homework and studying for his twenty-one units worth of classes. Needless to say he was strapped for time, and was consistently tired. There were many times where he would resort to downing Red Bulls and other energy drinks to stay awake and do his homework after a game. But even through all this he always did what he could to talk to her, even if that meant a little late night Skype conversation he’d take what he could. But had she dumped he probably would’ve lost it, baseball and school be damned, she was the most important thing in his life.

Seeing Bridget stirred emotions in him that he hadn’t felt in the longest time. Since the night they had spent together just before he left. That had been a night that he could only classify as amazing, and one that he would never forget so long as he lived. All of those emotions rushing to him caused the lightest tint of a blush to come across his face, although it was clearly visible outdoors. He wasn’t prepared for her to come by and thought he looked like a complete mess. “Jesus first time you’ve seen me in months and I look like a bum” he said somewhat remorsefully. When he was going to see her he wanted to look his best. He wanted her to feel like she had waited for something good, like something worth waiting for.

As they kissed he felt her hands flowing through his recently grown long hair. One of James’ major turn-ons was getting his hair played with; that combined with the intensity of their kissing and the proximity of their bodies was leading to him becoming more and more passionate. He knew they were outside, and that people were passing by and probably looking at them, but he didn’t care. As a matter of fact he wanted everyone to see, he wanted the whole world to know that this beautiful girl was his, and he was hers. His arms wrapped around her waist as her wrapped around his neck, he pulled her as close as he possible could to himself.

As she told him that she had a surprise for him and had made plans a smile shot across his face. Not only was he excited to see her and finally be with her, but she had taken charge. Never had she taken charge like that. She made the plans. She came and got him. And now she was telling him to get out and go. This wasn’t the same little shy Bridget he left a year ago. This was Bridget the woman, not Bridget the little girl and he loved it. “Well my dear, when you put it that way I have no choice but to accept your proposition.” He said smiling. He still was shirtless and could tell she was a bit mesmerized by it. He kind of liked. Okay, that was a lie he completely loved it. All of those baseball workouts had kept his body in pretty good shape, as evidenced by Bridget’s staring and the many college girls who had tried to unveil it. He pulled a nearby shirt and slipped it on. It was a Nike Pro-Tec shirt so it clung to his body, and only more defined his muscle. “Where are we going dear?” he asked.

Bridget had planned this day out very carefully. Her plans were simple, but she thought over every detail, over thought every detail, went back and changed details, and then repeated the whole process. She wanted to see him and do something special for him, but she didn’t want to seem desperate and she didn’t want to overwhelm him. A picnic in the park seemed like a good idea. They could spend as much time there as they wanted and there were enough things to do in the area to keep them occupied. They could walk around DC or they could just stay at the park. She’d leave the decision up to him when it was time for that.

Bridget put together all of the food in the picnic basket that was sitting in the back of her car with the help of her mother. She made the sandwiches, the cake, threw in some drinks, but her mother was the one who added her famous potato salad. When Bridget told her mother what she planned on doing, the woman was eager to help. Bridget’s parents liked James. Her mother loved him and her father, being a father and all, approved but just barely. He was overprotective, naturally, and didn’t like to see his baby girl growing up. They were both weary of the age difference and the fact that he went off to college while she stayed behind, but so was everybody else. Bridget actually spent more time reassuring other people that they would be fine than herself.

Bridget was normally shy and passive, but she had put a lot of thought into this day and dammit! It was going to go smoothly. She was comfortable around James anyhow. He made her feel confident, which was something she never really had before. She wasn’t anywhere near as confident around most people. She was brilliant, but she was also easily intimidated. Most of the time, it didn’t matter how smart you were if you didn’t know how to use that intelligence to your advantage. Bridget wasn’t sexy and she didn’t know how to manipulate a room. She was quiet and understated. She let people go if they pushed hard enough, she didn’t try to fight her way past them.

Bridget bit her lip as she watched him throw a shirt on. Her boyfriend was incredibly handsome and she couldn’t really figure out what it was he saw in her when he could have any pick of girl he wanted. He was strong, popular, athletic, and hot. She was weak, quiet, nerdy, and average. No one ever thought little Bridget Marin would ever be able to sink a guy and to be honest, she didn’t think she would ever be able to either. She lacked self confidence. She couldn’t see what anyone else could possibly see in her. It was kind of funny seeing all the looks on her peers’ faces when she brought James to a school dance for the first time. Bridget wasn’t superficial like that, but she felt kind of victorious having the hotter, older guy on her arm.

“Ready?” She asked, pulling her head out of the sky. Bridget grabbed his arm. She reached up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before dragging him out the door. “It’s a surprise!” Bridget said again. “You’ll see when we get there.” She led him down the block to her car and opened the door for him, something he would normally be doing for her. She giggled as she shut the door after him and climbed in on the driver’s side. She reached around to the back seat and grabbed one of her father’s old ties that she picked out earlier. He wouldn’t miss it. “Hold on.” She said as she wrapped it around James’ eyes and waved her hands and made sure he couldn’t see through it. “There.” She said triumphantly. Bridget was excited as she pulled out of the parking spot. She took another bold move and placed her hand on his thigh, giving it a light squeeze. She glanced at him every so often as she drove and each time she did so, her lips broke out into a huge grin. She couldn’t believe he was back and he was all hers again. She felt a little badass doing this on a school day, even though they technically didn’t have school.

In about ten minutes, they arrived at the park. Bridget brought the car to a stop as she pulled into a parking spot. She went around to the trunk and grabbed the basket and blanket before opening the door for him. “We’re here.” She said, helping him out of the car. “Keep the blindfold on.” She instructed. She was being bossy today, it was different but she kind of liked it. Bridget held his hand with her free hand and held the picnic basket and blanket with her other hand so he wouldn’t be able to feel them. She led him to a spot under a tree. “Wait here.” She said softly as she set up the blanket and their meal. When it was ready to go, Bridget walked back over to him. She grabbed his hands and reached up, brushing her lips against his softly. As her lips were on his, she lifted a hand up and removed the blindfold from him. “Surprise!” She said again, softly. She stepped back so he could see the surprise and waited to see his reaction. “I hope you’re hungry.” She beamed, proud of her hard work.