Twenty-One and Officially an Adult (Allegedly)

So apparently my boyfriend is sneakier than I gave him credit for. I thought we were just going to grab pizza for my birthday, and instead I walk into my favorite restaurant to find my parents, Carmen, Derek and Jen, and half my nursing cohort waiting with balloons and way too much champagne.

Twenty-One and Officially an Adult (Allegedly)

Marcus had been planning this for weeks. WEEKS. And I had no idea, which honestly might be more impressive than the actual surprise because I am not easy to surprise and I ask a lot of questions about everything.

I’m not usually one to say this out loud, but I looked good tonight. Like, really good. The dress was perfect, my hair cooperated for once, and for the first time maybe ever, I didn’t immediately follow up ‘I look pretty’ with some disclaimer about being tired or having a pimple or whatever. I looked good. I know I looked good. I’m allowed to say that, right? Twenty-one feels like it should come with some confidence.

The best part was watching Marcus get more nervous than me when everyone started toasting. He kept adjusting his glasses and fidgeting with his napkin like HE was the one being celebrated. When I toasted back - to being twenty-one, to friends who show up, to boyfriends who remember your favorite restaurant - he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. The good kind of foreign language. The kind you want to learn.