“Let’s goooooooo!!!” Grant leaned out the window and honked the horn of his friend’s Range Rover. Luke held up his hands as he ran back into his building, grabbing some last minute items. Luke disappeared into the building but reappeared after just a few moments carrying a plastic bag.

“Sorry guys, I almost forgot my snacks.” Luke tucked the bag in the center console and turned around to face the girls in the backseat. “You ladies ready to take a road trip to your past?” He gave them his famous charming grin as he threw the automobile in hear and merged into traffic.

The trip home took about three hours and was filled with a lot of laughs and stories as they recounted tales from high school. Although the four of them only had one full year together at the same high school they had plenty of shared memories.

“Bridge who’d you go to prom with again?” Grant asked.

“Well I didn’t go Jr. year, but Sr. year I went with Paul Westmore. He was so nice, we were in Yearbook together and I think homeroom. He was so old school he actually asked my dad if he could take me to the prom first and then at the end of the night he gave me a kiss on the cheek.” Bridgette smiled as she recalled how excited she was when it happened. It had been her first kiss.

Harper furrowed her brows trying to remember who she was talking about. “I remember you having a date at prom but honestly I just remember you and I hanging out most of the time, poor guy! I’m trying to remember what Paul looked like but I’m not placing him.”

“I don’t think you had any classes with him so I’m not surprised. I think he kept to a very select group of friends. Oh he was in band with you! I can’t remember what he played…maybe a tuba or something?” Both girls had spent the bulk of their high school years being studious, participating in extracurricular activities and trying their best to get out of P.E. class. Their high school experience had been a lot different than the guys. They were both football and baseball stars, dated the most popular cheerleaders and were always on the prom and homecoming court.

“Luke who’d you go to Sr. prom with again?” Harper asked. Bridgette’s stomach immediately tightened, it had been a million years but the same feelings came flooding back. She knew exactly who he took to prom that year, Mindy Fuller. She was well known for having the biggest boobs in school and the loosest morals. The rumors started flying after that night that Luke had given his V card to her. Years later in college he had confessed to her that she had only given him a blow job but that he wasn’t about to put the rumors to rest that they’d gone further.

“Wendy Fuller and maaaan did she live up to that last name!” The guys both burst out laughing and high-fiving each other. Bridgette just rolled her eyes and looked out the window.

“Uhhh what’s that supposed to mean?” Harper looked back and forth between the group with a look of confusion on her face.

“It means she had a HUGE personality,” Grant said as he held his hands out over his chest laughing hysterically. Luke doubled over the wheel laughing right along with him. “My man here became a man that night.” Grant said as he slapped Luke on the back. Luke looked up in the rear-view mirror catching Bridgette’s eyes. He had never revealed to Grant the truth about what happened that night, that he hadn’t really lost his V card. In fact, the only person that knew that he had held on to his virginity until he was almost 20 was Bridgette. She caught looks gaze in the mirror and gave him a knowing smirk and head shake causing him to burst into a smile.

They were nearing the end of their trip and almost to Luke’s parent house. She had always loved spending time with his family. They were so loving and open, treating her as if she were their own, even his older brother had always treated her like a sister. She hadn’t been back home for almost three years, since her mom had died. She never knew her dad, he left when she was a kid and her mom had raised her by herself. She had battled through breast cancer while Bridgette was in early middle school and had beat it but it came back with a vengeance a few years later and had ultimately taken her life. Luke’s parents had been there for her through it all.

Luke turned into the driveway, before he could even get the car in park the front door flew open and his parents stepped out onto the porch with open arms. Luke bounded up the sidewalk to embrace both his parents in one of his bear hugs. Bridgette loved the relationship he had with his family, it said a lot about the way he was raised. Luke looked just like his dad, a strong Nordic build at 6’3”, piercing blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. His mother was a petite woman but was fierce in her love and devotion to her family.

“Laura, Jens it’s so great to see you!” Bridgette was enveloped in the family hug and savored the moment. She had missed this connection, the love and peace she felt when she was with them…it was the feeling of being home. After everyone became reacquainted they grabbed their belongings and headed inside the house.

“We have to head out to the girl’s reunion in about two hours so it doesn’t give us much time to get washed up and ready. I promise we will sit down and visit this weekend though mom and dad, don’t worry.” Luke’s parent’s assured him it wasn’t a problem and told the kids they hoped they had fun tonight. It really was like being in high school all over again he thought to himself.

“So how do I look?” Bridgette was finally ready and stepped into the bathroom to get Luke’s feedback. She was wearing a candy apple red knee length dress that hugged every single curve and left her shoulders bare. The red made her icy blue eyes pop against her dark hair, she looked striking! He stood there speechless for a moment taking her all in.

“Wow!” he reached out and grabbed her hands to spin her around. “Hot damn Bridge you look like a fucking movie star from the 50’s, like one of those pinup girls!” Bridgette giggled nervously, she’d never had Luke fawn over her like this and she wasn’t sure how to handle it.

She blushed and looked down at her feet, pulling at the dress nervously. “Is it too much? Do I look desperate?” He could see the unease in her eyes and he quickly put her doubts to rest.

“Absolutely NOT! You look fan-fucking-tastic and don’t doubt it for a second. Trust me it’s subtly sexy but classy. You’re going to be the talk of the night.” He gave her a wink and nudged her shoulder. “Now come on let’s get the others and get this part started!”

The reunion was in full swing when they arrived. They grabbed their name tags by the registration table and headed to the open bar. Bridgette looked around trying to find faces she recognized. She saw a few of her orchestra friends, giving them a small smile and wave as she headed over to catch up. They returned her smile and then she noticed them glance to her right with a look of surprise. “Hey guys! Wow it’s so great to see you! Janet congrats when are you due?”

They all laughed and caught her up on their lives, showing pictures of their families and pets. Bridgette couldn’t help but feel a little pang of jealousy but gave her genuine congratulations and admiration to them. “And what about you? What’s new?” Janet asked as she rubbed her very pregnant belly.

Bridgette sucked in a large breath and was about to respond when Luke wrapped his arm around her waist and interjected. “What’s new is we are building our dream house on Lake Michigan and this little lady has agreed to marry me just last month. Her ring is being resized, I’m an idiot and had hers made the wrong size.” He pretended to smack his own head as everyone congratulated them and begged to hear the proposal story.

Luke didn’t skip a beat, he launched into a romantic story about how he took her out on his boat to go look at the constellations and share some wine. Somewhere along the lines the story ended up with him down on one knee, telling her that his life began that first day of senior year when he met her. The group was melting with every word that came out of his mouth. Bridgette too was enraptured by his story, hanging on to every word he said.

Before she could process what was happening he slipped his hand around her neck and brought her mouth to his, pressing their lips together softly. He pulled back quickly then leaned in for one more gentle kiss. Her hand instinctively went to his chest as she looked into his eyes, he gave her his trademark wink as he turned back to the group. “It was lovely catching up with you guys but if you don’t mind I want to take a spin on the dance floor with my gorgeous fiancé and show her off.”

“What the hell was that?!” Bridgette said through a forced smile as they headed toward the dance floor.

“I told you I was going to be your date didn’t I? I’m fully committed. Now stop being that uptight little band girl from high school and show these people the sexy vixen you are!” He said as he spun her onto the dance floor. She couldn’t help but laugh, Luke always knew how to have a good time.

As the night went on Luke continued to share their ‘engagement story’ and each time he added a new detail. Bridgette also couldn’t help but notice the interaction between Harper and Grant. She leaned in to Luke and whispered, “Hey have you noticed the little flirty glances and touches going on between those two?” She gestured with her chin towards Harper and Grant. “They seem to really be hitting it off, think there’s anything there?”

“Well he’d be stupid not to try and make a move, is she interested?”

“I know she’s been single for a few months so I’m sure she’d be down for some action.” She replied as she took a sip of her cocktail.

Luke pulled back and smiled at her, “Daaamn look at you trying to set your girl up for a hookup!” He pulled her in again tightly by the waist.

“Hey would you go easy on the handsy stuff?” Bridgette swatted Luke’s hand away as they headed over to Harper and Grant. “You’re taking a few too many liberties mister.”

Luke waited until they were in the middle of the room with plenty of eyes on them before he gave her ass a hearty smack then scurried off before she could haul off and smack him.