"I never said it was big. I will just say it is very simple really," he smiles and you can tell by his expression that he isn't going to reveal the surprise.
"Ok, so you wanna be sneaky about this?" You playfully question.
"Well, that is kinda what a surprise is all about," he says sarcastically. He casually pays the bill.
"Ok, fine!"
He just smiles at your remark. "Ready to get going again?"
"Sure."
"Ok, wait, first things first." He takes a neatly folded and clean napkin from the tabletop and stands behind you. He kisses your cheek tenderly before blind folding you. "There, now no peeking, sweetie!" He laughs and you can picture his smiling expression even in the blackness.
"I don't think I could, even if I tried."
Picking up your hand, he gives you a slight tug and moves you onto your feet. "Right this way, mademoiselle."
You stumble yet don't fall as your foot swipes a chair leg. Despite the pain, you continue to nervously follow Brian.
"This is like leading a blind woman."
"Well, now whose fault is that?" you snap and rub your injured ankle.
"Aw, Honey, I am sorry. Are you mad?" His voice is so incredibly soothing.
You smile, even in the shadows of the blindfold and remark, "Of course not, silly."
You feel a warmth on your lips and recognize Brian's lips. You joke, "I hope those were your lips, Brian."
He chuckles, "Guess you'll never know."
You continue to follow Brian until you are safely seated in the car. "Ok, stay put, Hun. I have to go pick up something really quick. I will be right back." He squeezes your hand and kisses your cheek.
"Lemme guess... it is for the surprise?"
"You betch ya!" The sound of his footsteps echo and you hear a shop door open. You are extremely confused... what store could he possibly be in?
A short amount of time passes but it feels like an eternity as you await in the darkness of the blindfold. Temptation begins to play with you but you are having so much fun with Brian that you wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.
Suddenly the driver-side door opens and the car starts. "Brian?"
No answer.
"Brian? Is that you?"
No answer and your heart falls.
After a silent pause, laughter meets your ears and your tension is dismissed.
You swing your arm with the intention of hitting Brian, "You jerk, that seriously wasn't funny." Your arm whips through the air.
He laughs louder.
"Nice swing, slugger!" Brian jokes and cracks up.
You just laugh and flash a smile.
"Hey Brian?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you know your way around here?" You ponder nervously.
"Yes, you were a fabulous tour guide."
"Ok, I am trusting you, Brian."
"Good," he squeezes your hand and then keeps his fingers interlocked in yours.
After driving for roughly 10 minutes in silence, Brian says, "What ya thinking?"
"How much fun I am having with you and how great you really are."
"You're so cute."
"No, you are, Brian."
"Lets not argue about this!"
"I wasn't, you are too adorable to argue with! But this is like a dream for me. I mean, spending the day with the one and only Brian Littrell."
"You build it up so much, you make it sound like I am someone special, like a Backstreet Boy or something!" He laughs and you join in. "I am just a normal guy."
"Don't be so modest. I mean, technically you are, but you treat me so much better than any so-called "normal" guy I have ever met."
"Thanks," he pauses,"I really like you," he says sincerely.
"I know we just met and it has only been one day, but I really like you too, Brian."
He draws the blindfold up onto your forehead and you squint as your eyes catch the setting sun before you. Focusing his concentration on you rather than the road, he stares deeply into your eyes and you gaze back into his. He closes his eyes as his lips contact yours. This kiss out did the previous contenders. You felt as if his body, mind, and soul were with you and only you at this moment.
He pulls the blindfold down, "Were you peeking? You little sneaker."
"You made me," you put your hands up to demonstrate your innocence.
"Sorry, I just couldn't resist."
"Me neither," you lean and rest your head on his shoulder. You wrap your arms around him and hug him tightly. You feel so safe even though you cannot see anything through the blindfold, talk about vulnerability. His hand firmly pats your head and he strokes your hair.
Brian breaks the silence, "Ok," he turns the car one last time, "this is it," he shuts off the car.
You begin to pull off the blindfold.
"Not so fast," Brian interrupts. He leads you from the car and you carefully ascend a seemingly narrow staircase, turn sharply to the left, walk down a narrow hallway, bumping against objects to the sides of you, and finally sit on something soft, a couch or chair maybe.
"Ok, you can look now."
