The Perfect Man
1178 Words
“I think he’s looking at you.”
Mimmy’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“What?”
“The guy by the counter.”
I glanced over my shoulder.
He was still there.
Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair slightly tousled, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal a silver watch. There was nothing flashy about him. He wasn’t trying to get attention.
Yet somehow…
He had everyone’s attention.
“Stop staring,” I whispered.
“I’m not staring.”
“You’ve looked at him four times already.”
“I have not.”
Mimmy smirked.
“Hope, if you look again, I’m going to assume you’re already planning your wedding.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you hate men.”
Before I could argue, the stranger walked toward our table.
My heart stumbled.
“Excuse me.”
His voice was warm.
Confident.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.”
His eyes settled on me.
“But I couldn’t leave without asking for your name.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
Mimmy kicked me under the table.
Hard.
“Ouch!”
The stranger chuckled.
“I’ll take that as terrible timing.”
I laughed despite myself.
“No… it’s fine.”
“I’m Joel.”
He offered his hand.
I hesitated for a second before placing mine in his.
His grip was firm but gentle.
“Hope.”
He smiled.
“Hope.”
He repeated my name slowly, as though tasting every syllable.
“That’s beautiful.”
No one had ever said my name like that before.
“I know this is sudden,” he continued, “but I’d regret walking away without asking if I could take you to dinner.”
Mimmy practically vibrated beside me.
I tried to remain calm.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I’d like to.”
His answer came without hesitation.
There was no arrogance.
No rehearsed pickup line.
Just sincerity.
Or what looked like it.
⸻
Three weeks later…
“You’ve been smiling at your phone all day.”
“I have not.”
“You literally smiled while reading a message.”
“I was… reading something funny.”
Mimmy snatched my phone before I could stop her.
“‘Good morning, beautiful. Don’t forget your umbrella. It might rain around four.’”
She stared at me.
“Oh…”
“What?”
“This man pays attention.”
I smiled.
Joel always noticed things.
If I skipped breakfast…
He’d have food delivered to my office.
If I had a stressful meeting…
Flowers would appear on my desk.
If I mentioned liking a book…
It would arrive at my apartment the next day with a handwritten note.
“Anything that makes you smile is worth remembering.”
No one had ever cared that much.
It felt…
Safe.
⸻
Two months later…
“I don’t like him.”
I blinked.
“What?”
Joel looked down at his dinner.
“The waiter.”
I frowned.
“He seemed nice.”
“He smiled at you.”
I laughed.
“Joel…”
“He smiled too much.”
“It’s literally his job.”
Joel smiled.
The same gentle smile I’d fallen for.
“I know.”
He reached across the table and squeezed my hand.
“I guess I get jealous.”
Butterflies erupted in my stomach.
“You have nothing to be jealous about.”
“I know.”
He kissed my knuckles.
“I just love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
⸻
Looking back…
That should have scared me.
Instead…
It made me feel special.
⸻
Six months into our relationship…
“I brought you lunch.”
I looked up from my office desk.
“Joel?”
He stood in the doorway carrying my favorite meal.
My coworkers sighed dramatically.
“Lucky.”
“So romantic.”
“I wish my boyfriend did that.”
Joel laughed modestly.
“I was nearby.”
He kissed my forehead.
Not too long.
Not too short.
Perfect.
Everyone adored him.
Even my boss.
“Hope,” my boss teased, “don’t let this one get away.”
Joel smiled.
“I don’t plan to.”
The words sounded sweet.
At the time.
⸻
Later that evening…
“Who’s David?”
I looked up from changing into pajamas.
“My coworker?”
“The one who commented on your photo.”
“Oh.”
“He wrote…”
Joel picked up my phone.
“‘Great presentation today.’”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I frowned.
“What do you mean why?”
“Why is another man complimenting you?”
“He wasn’t complimenting me.”
“He was.”
“It was about work.”
Joel stayed quiet.
Too quiet.
Finally…
He handed me the phone back.
“I trust you.”
Relief washed over me.
“But I don’t trust other men.”
His voice remained calm.
“They see how beautiful you are.”
I laughed softly.
“You’re overthinking.”
“Maybe.”
He wrapped his arms around me.
“I just don’t want anyone trying to take what’s mine.”
Mine.
The word echoed in my head.
At the time…
I mistook possession for protection.
⸻
Weeks passed.
The questions became more frequent.
“Who called?”
“Why didn’t you answer my text for twenty minutes?”
“Who were you having lunch with?”
“Why didn’t you tell me there were men in the meeting?”
Every question ended with…
“I’m only worried about you.”
Or…
“I care too much.”
Or…
“I’ve been hurt before.”
Every answer made me feel guilty.
Like loving me was difficult.
Like I needed to reassure him.
So I did.
Every single time.
Without realizing…
I was teaching him that my life required his approval.
⸻
One rainy evening…
Joel looked at me across the sofa.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“About?”
“I want you to meet my parents.”
I smiled.
“Really?”
“They’re going to love you.”
“When?”
“This weekend.”
“And after that…”
He reached into his jacket.
A small velvet box appeared.
My breath caught.
No…
No way.
Joel opened it.
A diamond ring sparkled beneath the living room light.
“Hope.”
His voice was steady.
“I know people will say this is too soon.”
“But when you’ve found your person…”
He slipped off the sofa and knelt before me.
“Waiting feels like wasting time.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“So marry me.”
Every warning I’d ignored…
Every uncomfortable feeling…
Every moment that made me pause…
Vanished.
Because all I’d ever wanted…
Was to be loved.
I whispered the word that would change my life forever.
“Yes.”
Outside…
Thunder cracked across the sky.
I smiled…
Never realizing it sounded less like a celebration…
And more like a warning.
- Writer
