It started with a glance from across the lobby, a slight upturn of his lips, a sexy wink. He introduced himself with a handshake that lingered a little too long. His pheromones danced through the air mixing with mine, releasing a thousand tiny butterflies into my stomach. Instant chemistry. I walked away, giddy. I reached up with my fingers to touch the perma-grin on my lips and said to my co-worker, “I want to marry him one day,” as little prickles of excitement scattered across my skin.
I purposely passed through the hospital lobby where we worked at every opportunity, stealing as many fleeting moments with my potential future husband that I could. He often had patients at his desk, but when I walked through Admitting, he always stopped, said, “hello,” and offered me that naughty wink.
Just like that, I was hooked.
Every single time I saw him, he pulled me in even more, always remembering unnecessary details about short conversations we had in passing, laughing with his entire body about something that I said, flirting with me to no end.
Then one night, a car collided with mine, which left me with a broken pelvis and forced me to take a long leave of absence from my job at the hospital in order to recover. I never went back.
Once I could walk again, I took a job at a piano bar. The opportunity to work as a waitress at a bar seemed much more glamorous than pushing sick people around a hospital. When the owner discovered I too could play the piano, he gave me a standing gig: Every Monday and Wednesday during happy hour, I tickled the ivories of a beautiful grand piano for strangers. Best. Job. Ever.
One day, many months later, I happened to be at my mother’s house, taking advantage of a free meal, when the phone rang. “It’s for you,” my mom said. I figured it was a bill collector and told her to tell them I wasn’t available. She looked at me like I had a frog growing from my head, rolled her eyes, and handed me the phone. “Pay your bills,” she whispered. I frowned at her and raised the phone to my ear.
“Hello.” I said annoyed that I was going to have to give some schmuck at least $25 that I didn’t have.
“Hi. It’s Brendon.”
“Brendon?”
“From the hospital.”
“Oh, hey, Brendon,” I said visioning Brendon, a nurse in the emergency room who always bought me beers at the bar next door that we frequented after our shift even though I was under age. “What’s up?”
“I heard you had an accident.” I looked at the phone confused. ER Brendon was there in the emergency room the night of my accident. Too there, in fact, because when I came back to consciousness on the ice cold table in the ER, the first thing I noticed was my lack of clothes. I was completely naked, as in no clothes at all, and ER Brendon, my beer buddy, was standing over me. SEEING MY GOODS!!!
“Um, Brendon. Are you high? You were there the night of my accident.” I couldn’t decide if I was happy or horrified that he didn’t remember.
There was a long pause.
“I think you’re confused. This is Brendon from Admitting.”
I dropped the phone and jumped up and down whisper screaming to my mom, “ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod.”
I picked the phone back up, with my heart jump-roping in my chest. “Oh, okay. Hi, Brendon from Admitting.”
“Are you better?” He cleared his throat. “I’ve missed you.” My entire body tensed, shoulders raised to my chin, eyes wide with excitement. I happy danced in my mom’s kitchen, as she watched me bewildered. Brendon from Admitting was on the other end of the phone, and he just said he missed me.
That night we had our first date.
Originally posted 2/6/14.
Thank god you married that man. You did, right? He’d probably be stalking you still, had you not! Lol. I love a good how we met story.
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I didn’t marry him. Stay tuned.
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Stay tuned? Ugh. There should be a way to DVR these posts so I can get the whole shebang at once! Lol.
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I can’t wait to read Part II! There’s nothing better than a good love story. And this one had it all…intrigue, drama (the other Brandon saw your goods!), and a cliffhanger to keep us guessing! LOVE it!
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Sorry for the cliffhanger…it’s just a really long story. And the Devil is in the details.
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This is a tough one for me to comment on since I’ve never been in that position. It does remind me of overhearing some of the conversations in the lunchroom years ago, where one friend tells another her hopes and dreams, only to be disappointed a few weeks later when she found out the guy wanted more than just her smile. Glad it worked out for you! Being a guy, we were more concerned with the possible rejection most of the time. Okay, on more than just a passing comment, let me say you did a great job of bringing about the feeling of the moment! Most stories are pretty ho-hum, but yours held me because of the pure emotion you were able to bring forth in your words. Really a great job! Enjoyed!
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Oh, Rich..he got more than a smile. That’s for sure. Thanks for reading my story, and more importantly, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’ve been listening to CSN all day since reading your post.
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Nice! I hope he remembers your “Are you high?” too cute. I love a haooy ending.
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Whoops I just saw that you didn’t marry him. Staying tuned!
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Yes, Joy – stay tuned.
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Aw. 😀
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Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m brewing a pot of coffee and making some popcorn for this one……..
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Oh boy. You might need something stronger.
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Love at first sight stories are some of my favorites! Argh, now the anticipation of waiting for the continuation. Btw…that is so cool that you play the piano, Mandi! 🙂
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Thanks, Mike. I’ve played the piano since I was six.
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Way to keep me hanging!!!!
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Sorry, Kate. It’s such a long story, but I can’t leave anything out…you’ll see why.
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Hahahaha yooo! Date! How awesome!
Can’t wait for part two.
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Thanks, Sharn. Give me a couple of days. I’m not an everyday a post kind of blogger. Wish I could do that….;)
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It’s all good. I have weeks where I can’t seem to write anything! 🙂
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Ha – glad someone understands.
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Yuh-WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! Oh MAN you better write more veryvery soon! You should give us a cliffhanger alert! Now I know why people save up all their Downton Abbey episodes to watch at once.
I love how you described him, and how he laughed with his whole body. Sounds incredible and I SO want to know what happened next (and having read your reply to Don – WHY you didn’t marry him…)
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Ok – sorry it’s late but…cliffhanger alert… Lizzi, he was it for me..the one. His laugh, oh that laugh…sigh, well. You’ll see why we’re not married soon. I promise.
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How soon? Oh gosh he didn’t turn out to be your secret brother or something completely heartbreakingly awful? OR WORSE? Ohhhh how soon are you writing the next bit?
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Lizzi, were you one of those kids who found her Christmas presents before Christmas because you couldn’t possibly wait for Christmas morning?
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That was cute.
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Thanks. I hope you come back for part II.
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Frost on the mountain has kept me away but the inet is back up, the phones are back up, my boyfriend Netflix is back up and I’m here reading your blog! 😀 I love this story and I can’t wait for part II. So many thoughts going through my mind.. I hope he’s not married or a serial killer or a cereal killer!
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Oh – you never know when you’re going to come across a cereal killer….frost on the mountain, no Netflix, or internet? I hope spent a lot of time with your keyboard.
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I DON’T EVEN KNOW THIS STORY!!! OMG. Dying. So well written, M. Seriously. I found myself all excited when he called, and then I’m like, oh, this isn’t happening to you right now, idiot.
CANNOT wait for Part two!!! I can’t believe you were nervous to publish this…it’s brillz.
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You don’t know this story. It’s a good one. I’m so glad you were excited reading it. That phone call…sigh. Well…you’ll see what happens.
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Well, crap. I can never leave a story at just the beginning. Hooked.
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Excellent *says in her best Mr. Burns*. I can’t wait for you to see what happens next.
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I was okay with the cliffhanger until I read the comments, now I need to know what happened immediately. Get writing, girl.
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I think part 2 will be ready tomorrow. Just need some spare minutes to write. 😉
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That’s a great story! I can’t wait for part 2!
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Check back tomorrow, Mo. I should have it ready. Hopefully.
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This guy sounds like a real hunk! A real babe magnet if you will. Super Jelly
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Babe magnet indeed…a beautiful man. You won’t be jelly for long.
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Oh snaps. Did he have a small Weiner? Sorry for your disappointment
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No his weiner was…I’m not going to tell you about his weiner. You have to wait..stop asking…patience, hella, patience!
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I’m on pins and needles to see what happens next – and it HURTS! So hurry up with part 2, will ya?
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Oh no…don’t hurt yourself…but do come back. The next part is soooo good!!!
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Wait, what?! What happens!! You big tease! 😉
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Kerry, thanks for reading. Teasing you guys is so much fun…:) I hope you come back for Part 2.
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This is awesome.
I found your blog through Aussa Loren’s blog…so glad I did.
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Welcome, Michelle. Thanks for stopping by. I really hope you come back. I adore Aussa. She’s the only ninja I know…well sort of know.
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OMG OMG OMG I want Take 2!!!!! Is it going to make me swoon? I feel like I could swoon….
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I hope it makes you swoon, Aussa. It certainly made me swoon…you’ll see.
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I had to dig a little to find “Lovepocalypse,” or maybe I put in an “a” where I shouldn’t have in the search box… But I found it, and now, on to part 2! (By the way, I’m loving the piano bar bit, and how it relates to you as Lizzi’s muse, and how she was inspired to write her current short story.)
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It’s so funny. Lizzi didn’t realize that I both played the piano and waited tables/bartended, so when we started discussing that, she created Anitra. I never realized that I’d end up inspiring a pianist/junkie/hooker, but I won’t complain. I love that story.
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Yeah, the entire circumstance (and story) is special.
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And now I understand where Anitra came from! Ha!
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I still am in complete denial that I had anything to do with Anitra, but at the same time, I’ll take it.
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Oh I see, just casually throw in a shattered pelvis and an amazing musical talent as side notes to the main story… you baller.
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Shot caller. 20 inch rims on the Impala…wait, what?
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…Diamond rottweiler, I-10 hauler, I’m a leader not follower…
Double what?!
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Oh. My. God. I don’t know if you watch Games of Thrones, but this is so appropriate to this deep conversation we’re having.
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I just squealed out loud. I L-O-V-E everything Game of Thrones, especially Tyrion ( have more than a little crush on him (no pun intended)), and yes…best addition to this conversation possible. I swear I’ve watched it 4 times already. I want this to be my…I don’t know, screen saver, caller ID, everything.
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This was the best reaction ever and so I will bestow upon you my other favorite video of all time!
Little crush… tee hee. Just a wee one.
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Sweet! I can’t wait to hear what happens. I’m sorry you had an accident, though!
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You’re sweet for saying that, but I recovered. Thank goodness. I did have to live in a wheelchair for far longer than any college freshman would choose.
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This is an adorable “how we met” story, but I have to be honest and say my favorite part is when your mom whispered “pay your bills.” I cracked up. 🙂
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Well, Jess, I never paid my bills, and I always used her home phone number as my primary number. It drove her crazy, and in hindsight was probably a mistake because she did know a little too much about my financial issues. Like that I had too many credit cards and not enough cash. This is a three part story that I posted last year. You’re welcome to search for the rest, but I’ll be posting the second part tomorrow. Thanks for reading!!
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Awww…cute and it’s a cliff hanger. 🙂
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Mandi, you know how to tell a story, don’t you? Love the details. And you’re spot on about that dance of pheromones. That stuff can’t be manufactured – it just happens.
*Entertained by the fact that Hella capitalized Weiner.
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Whoa!!!! Cant believe I missed this one!!
You’ve got my heart THUMPING!! 🙂 🙂
Beautiful narrative there!! 🙂
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Wow. Thank you so much. Just wait until you read the end.
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I’ll hold my comments to the end….
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Just found this via Sandy I think. OHMYGOD WHERE IS PART 2???
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I’ll find it and Facebook it to you. I thought it linked at the end. Hmmmm.
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Yeah, it definitely did but I’m stupid tonight and did not see it. 😀
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