It was the summer of 2005.  Mario’s Let Me Love You, Mariah Carey’s We Belong Together, and Chris Brown’s Yo ( Excuse Me Miss) were all radio hits.  The final season of the Newylweds (which I am STILL devastated about) had aired.  I’d just graduated high school and started my first job.  Before I graced the campus of THE Virginia State University, I had finally been asked out by my long-time crush. 

He was tall, dark, laid back and most of all respectful.  I’d had a crush on him for years but played the “big brother/little sister card”.  Some of you KNOW what I am talking about.  That one guy that may have been in your circle that you were crushing on. Unsure how he felt about you, you played it cool and called him your “brother” or my personal fave “best friend”.  Anything was better than nothing.  Never being the type to be forward or one to “shoot my shot”, I let those feelings linger.  We’d known each other most of our lives growing up in the same church; but never had anything more than a few exchanges of laughs. 

One night after a church service he had asked me out.  I was caught COMPLETELY off guard and thought that he was joking around.  He had never expressed an interest in me nor dropped hints that he may have liked me in any other way than the “big brother/little sister” dynamic I had fostered.  Feeling uncertain about how serious he was I laughed it off and never gave a real response.  A week or so passed and he asked me again. Maybe he was serious the first time after all.  We picked a Friday and decided he’d pick me up from work.

Yall! I was nervous as can be.  Growing up in a house with a father that was present caused my dating experiences to be limited.  He never technically said I couldn’t date.  Just assuming the answer would be  “NO” I never bothered having the conversation with him.  In high school there was no dating, no one was taking me out, I tried my best not to get close to any guys so I wouldn’t be asked out on a date and have to tell them no.  Asking my dad if I could go on this date had me shaking in my boots.  The only reason I was probably even allowed to go was because my father knew he came from a good home and knew his family.

I remember it like it was yesterday.  That entire night before and all day at work I was so nervous my stomach was in knots.  He arrived at my job.  I opened the car door and the smell of Curve cologne greeted me as Bobby Valentino was playing.  He could definitely sense my anxiety but I do not know if he knew this was my first time ever going on a date.  I’m sure he did his best to make me feel comfortable but I found it hard to be as relaxed and laid back as he was. LOL.

This was something new for me and I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel…