The First Date - JT

Looking back, he honestly looked like a deer in headlights - scared out of his mind. I didn't recognize him at first. He looked like his pictures, but the glasses threw me off. In a good way.

I smiled. He said hello, and I opened my arms and leaned up to him from the tall bar stool I was sitting in. Two thoughts - he's tall and built and he smells good.

"You smell good," I said. He laughed nervously, thanked me.

We moved to a table, so we could face each other and talk. I ordered a burger and fries. "Do I sound like a loser if I copy you?" he asked. I laughed. Great minds think alike.

We downed our Solstice burgers smothered in blue cheese and mushrooms. I got cozy with a couple of Bailey's over ice. We talked about the usual - what I did for a living, what he did for a living, what we really wanted to be doing for a living. He's a hotel GM and I told him about my uncle who spent 40 years in the business.

I remember touching legs and not pulling away.

The day was January 20, 2009 - Inauguration Day of the first Black President of the United States. There was a girl sitting a table away, completed enraptured by the coverage of the Neighborhood Ball. Beyonce sang "At Last", and we watched Michelle and Barack slow dance like there wasn't 50 million people watching them.

Two and a half hours later, at the end of the night, we left Solstice into the cool NoDa evening. I could see my breath. I turned to face him, to say goodbye. I saw that look in his eyes - brimming with intent. He tilted his head just so. His lips were soft, hesistant, but the kiss was pretty and perfect.

And I wondered if he's the one, at last.