I sat next to my computer entering invoices and catching up on emails when my phone chimed.
It was a cloudy night with sprinkled rain coming and going at will. I was bored, but diligently getting my work done.
This wasn’t any chime though.
It was the special one I’d set for Bumble. Any dating notifications I would receive had a special chime.
I picked up my phone and opened the app. Collin messaged me. Now Collin was what we could commonaly (in this day of technology and new references) call a ‘ghoster’. Once we’d connected on the app (we both had to like each other before chatting) there were a few fun messages back and forth before I finally finished off with a text, “Let’s meet. When are you free?”
Then I’d heard nothing back. For 2 weeks.
But now here he was messaging me. “Hey, what are you up to tonight?” I think it’d be fun to hit up Minnehaha falls and go for a walk. I know it’s sprinkling a bit but the light is beautiful and it’d be fun to meet in person.”
My heart skipped a beat. We’d had so many great back and forths on the app and I’d been confused when he didn’t get back to me at all. In the face of this night of invoicing and emailing meeting him sounded adventurous. I was up for adventure.
In fact I’d recently decided I was done with the sad boring life I’d been living. I was ready for excitement.
It was sparked from a conference my bestie Rachel had invited me to last month. She’d always been a catalyst for change in my life from the moment I met her.
Free and open, she lived her life expertly with engaged interactions and was always trying on new things effortlessly. The day she invited me we were eating sushi at her fav place on Lake street for a crab salad.
“B, (she called me that, short for babe) you gotta come with me to Cali for this amazing thing. It’s a weekend retreat for women and It’s gonna be magical and you’ll love it. I promise.”
“Uhmmm, okay. Maybe.”
“Not maybe B, just say yes. You need to rock outside your comfort zone. You’re sitting tight and it’s about time to open up to new possibilities. I know you got this in you and you’re gonna love it.”
Rachel was hard to say no to and my heart was giving me such a resounding YES. PLEASE. GO. NOW. I couldn’t ignore it.
The whole weekend was magic and now a month later I’d already experienced monumental shifts in my life. In fact I’d even booked a radical solo trip to Hawaii to swim with sea turtles and go into a plant healing ceremony that was happening over 3 days. I’d never taken a trip by myself so it was a complete testament to the transfomation I’d made on my weekend in Cali with Rachel.
Hawaii wasn’t happening until next week and tonight Collin was messaging me. On my high of living my best life I messaged him back.
“Yeah. Sounds fun. I’m close by there. How about meeting in 30 minutes.”
“…”
Then,
“Yeah. Let’s meet at the bridge at the top of the falls.”
Not much of a maintenance girl I took a quick look in the mirror. Blonde hair, mid cheek length, and a bit messy. Jean shorts and a tank. No makeup, just a few eyelash extensions, something I did to help me get by with a bit more of a pretty look. Good enough. Likely won’t go anywhere so not too much effort put in.
Popping on my flip flops I stepped out into the sprinkling rain. I didn’t put a ton of effort in but I did feel a little a little flutter in my stomach on the walk to the falls. I lived close so it was an easy 7 minute jaunt there.
When I walked across the path to the falls and could see the bridge I saw him standing looking over them. I recognized him from the pics on his profile but I stopped for a second to stare at the site of him from a distance.
Tall, lanky body with a baseball cap on. Faded jeans and a pink t-shirt fitted to his body, only half tucked into the front part of his jeans and hanging out the back. He hadn’t seen me and he lifted his hat off his head and ran his fingers through his thick, brown, wavy hair before placing the hat back on his head. He was intently watching something below the bridge at the bottom of the falls so he was startled when I stepped on the bridge and called out his name.
“Hey, Collin.”
“Oh shit. You scared me.”
“Yeah sorry, I saw you. Just wanted to give you a heads up I was here. You’re into something. What are you looking at?”
“Aww, nothing. Just watching people down there.”
I looked over the side of the bridge and didn’t notice anyone which seemed odd but I brushed it off.
“Soooo, shall we walk?”
He had a lopsided smile and his eyes crinkled a bit with it. My heart flipped over.
“Yeah, let’s check this place out.”
We explored the paths below the falls and talked while we walked.
Our conversations went from childhood dreams to mundane daily routines to visions for adventurous futures.
I found myself telling him all about Rachel and my recent weekend in California followed by my plans for the upcoming trip to Hawaii next week.
There was a synergy and a spark between us and I was feeling it in my entire body.
At the second bridge over the creek where the water rushes the most he turned to me and reached his arm out.
“May I?”
I knew, and nodded then he took my forearm and pulled me in close for a soft kiss.
“Well that was nice.”
I nodded again. I didn’t seem to be able to form words.
He pulled back and grabbed my hand walking me over the bridge towards the creek.
“Tell me more about Hawaii. I want to hear everything about this awesome trip you’re going on.”