This Is Not a Love Story

A couple months ago, not long after The GF and I moved in together, my ancient washing machine crapped out on me. It didn't just die, no. It crawled to its deathbed with an unholy stench. (My guess what that a motor or something in there went out, hence the reek if I tried to use it...)

I did what I always do in these situations--I ran to Craigslist. I found a few, made some calls, sent a few emails...and asked The GF to keep an eye on my email and maybe try checking Craigslist again laterin case someone sent word about a machine or posted about a different one while I was at work.

She didn't check my email. She probably didn't even wait five minutes after I'd left to start a search of her own.

But I didn't know that.

I came home from work like I usually do. I came in, went to the bathroom, washed up a bit, changed clothes...yadda yadda...

The Girlfriend was sitting on the couch with an expectant look on her face.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, I guess," she said. She seemed disappointed. I was definitely confused. I got up to get my phone, which I'd left in the bathroom when I changed. Again, The GF had a big smile on her face--and, again, I was confused.

"You're unbelievable," she said.

"What?" I asked (starting to see a pattern, are we?)

She took me by the hand and led me back into the bathroom. (At this point, it would be helpful for you to know that, in our duplex, the washer and dryer connections are in the bathroom.) She closed the door, and looked at me expectantly. (Again.)

I still didn't get it.

Finally, she pointed to the washing machine. HANG ON! The BRAND NEW WASHING MACHINE!

"Whaaaaaaaat?" (That's me. Again.)

Yeah, I'm oblivious.

It was one of those so-real-you-feel-like-you-didn't-sleep dreams. In this dream, I woke up and The GF was nowhere in sight. Now, I'm not one of those dainty princess types--I guarantee you I'd be the last one to notice if there was a pea in our bed...but normally, when she gets up, it wakes me. Usually though, when she gets up, it's in the middle of the night, not bright and early in the morning, with sunlight streaming in our windows like it was in my dream-morning. 

This is highly unusual, as she sleeps like a hibernating bear, and is almost never awake before me. I can only think of two or three occurrences in our entire relationship.

Anyway, she wasn't in the room, so I stretched, rolled around (looking for my phone to check the time--and decide if I would get out of bed...or linger). About the time I found the phone and concluded it wasn't "daylight" enough to get out of bed on a Saturday, The GF arrived with a breakfast tray containing all her specialties: cheese omlettes, toast with cream cheese and strawberries, perfectly flavored coffee...mmm. (Now I'm hungry. Great.)

We eat. We laugh. She gives me one of her long, meaningful looks (that I am obviously NOT getting the meaning of...) and finally laughs and says, "This is worse than the washer thing."

(Of course, most of you readers have no idea what that means--don't worry, I'll tell you soon.)

I, of course, am still oblivious as to what she's laughing about--but thankfully, she didn't leave me hanging too long.

"Look at your left hand," dream-GF says. I do, and wouldn't you know--The Ring was on my finger. And then dream-GF got down on one knee and proposed. (Of course dream-me said yes.)

And then I woke up.
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A few days later, when real life-GF was sleeping like a hibernating bear (like she's supposed to!) I slipped The Ring on her finger...and went on to work. I called her around lunch time, as usual. She didn't say anything about having The Ring.

A few hours later, I called her again during my afternoon break. She STILL didn't mention it. So, being an Aries woman, and therefore the most impatient person on the planet, I asked her if she'd noticed anything different about her hand.

And she freaked out. Not as romantic as the breakfast in bed on a lazy morning--so I'm not counting it as official. I am, however, using it as proof that she's just as oblivious as I am. 

I didn't think she'd actually do it. We'd joked about it a lot during the period before The Compromise, but I thought it was just that--a joke.

I was wrong. (That tasted like vinegar. Or straight fire sauce.)

Yes she did. I almost didn't believe her at first.

And yes, I kept the original packet. I am, after all, a sentimental girl. (Way, way, deep down inside. Somewhere.)

(Two down.)

I didn't exactly start this whole compromise thing off on a good note. See, I stole The Ring from her because we were going to be apart for several hours (heartbreaking, I know--I even make myself sick at times). It makes me feel better, like a security blanket.

So, while I was out, I happened to be listening to a certain radio station. The stations playlist includes: 1) extremely sad songs that make me cry (because I have a vag), 2) sappy love songs that single girls cry (see #1), and, apparently 3) happy love songs that make a girl who isn't supposed to propose to her Girlfriend want to do exactly that. Really, really badly.

The offending song: Brown Eyes by Beyonce. Yep. So, when I got home (to finish dinner/feed us) I immediately fired up the laptop, brought it in the kitchen, and added this song to my "cleaning/cooking playlist" and left it going while we ate. After we finished eating our delicious dinner (of course it was, *I* cooked!), I invited The GF to dance around the kitchen with me, knowing that "the" song was next. As we danced, I sang her the song (yep, I can do that too!) and when it was over, I put the ring back on her finger and asked her to marry me.

I cheated. She didn't care. (One proposal down.)