I don’t need you to be my everything. Not my prince in shining armor, not my savior, not the man who rescues me and changes my entire life. I don’t need you to be husband material from our very first date. I don’t need you to bend over backwards just to make me happy. I don’t need you to do everything for me or say all those little sweet nothings or be the answer to every single prayer, or star I’ve wished on.

You don’t have to be perfect, because baby, I know that’s not real.

I just need you to be my best friend, the man who walks alongside me and makes this journey just a little more bearable.

I need you to be my best friend.

The man that makes me laugh at every silly joke. The man that tickles me when I’m crabby, or kisses my forehead when I’m tired.

I need you to be the man that tells me all his secrets, and listens as I spill mine. I need you to race me down to the end of the street, or start a huge pillow fight, or throw gummy bears at me when I’m watching a movie.

I need you to be the man that I can be myself around—my comfiest clothes, my most genuine smile, cuddled on the couch with my legs on your lap and cold beers in our hands.

I need you to be my best friend.

The man I can count on, no matter what happens. The man that will wipe away my tears and tuck me in when it’s late and I have to be asleep.

I need you to hold my hand and show me parts of the world I’ve never explored before. I need you to teach me how to do all the things you love, like cook jambalaya just right, or throw a curve ball, or catch all the stupid Pokemon on this side of town.

Look, I don’t need you to be anything other than who you are, the man that stole my heart and keeps it beating so very fast. The man that’s not just the man I love, but my best friend.

So please, don’t worry if you can’t tie a tie or don’t bench a zillion pounds. Don’t worry if your beard’s a little scruffy or your hands get sweaty when they hold mine.

Don’t worry about all the ways you might not measure up to perfection because perfection isn’t what I’m looking for.

I just want a man that will be my best friend, a man that no matter what we’re doing or where we are will be himself around me, will let me in, will help me to let go and live life right alongside him.

I want a man that will tease me, a man that will be honest with me, a man that will forever have my back and treasure my heart. And no matter what happens will always be there.

And no, you might not be perfect.
You might not be my everything.

But you’re my best friend.
And truly, that’s all I could ever want.