Inside, a middle-aged woman behind the counter looked up with a smile.
“Evening, sweetheart. Looking for something special?” She asked.
“Uh, yeah. A date. I mean for a date.” I rubbed the back of my neck.
Smooth, Mark. Real smooth.
She chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first flustered man I’ve seen tonight. How about these?” She held up a small bouquet. White lilies mixed with deep red roses. “Simple but classy.”
“Perfect,” I said immediately.
As she wrapped the bouquet, I spotted a display of chocolates by the register. Might as well double down. “And one of those boxes too,” I added.
She rang me up, still smiling. “Someone’s trying to make an impression.”
“That’s the plan,” I said, handing over cash.
Back in the car, the scent of flowers filled the air. I glanced at the bouquet on the seat beside me, my chest tightening with a mix of nerves and excitement.
You’ve got this,I told myself.
By the time I made it back to Zack’s building, I’d almost convinced myself I believed it. I parked, grabbed the flowers and chocolates, and stepped inside.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing an older woman standing inside, holding a small grocery bag.
She looked up and smiled kindly.
“Well, don’t you look nice. Celebrating something special, dear?”
“Something like that,” I said, smiling back.
Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at the flowers. “Ah, young love. It suits you.”
I laughed softly. “Let’s hope so.”
As the elevator began to rise, she tilted her head, studying me.
“I recognize you, actually. You and that other handsome boy. Zack, was it? You two sang at the park for the audition.”
“Yeah, that was us,” I said, a little surprised.
“You two were wonderful,” she said warmly. “My husband and I go walking there most mornings. We’re looking forward to your New Year’s Eve performance.”
That made something warm spark in my chest.
“Thank you. That means a lot,” I told her.
When the elevator dinged at her floor, she gave me a gentle pat on the arm. “Good luck tonight, dear. I have a feeling it’ll go beautifully.”
“Thanks,” I said, meaning it.
As the doors slid shut again, I found myself grinning. The tightness in my chest eased. Maybe this night wouldn’t go so badly after all.
When the elevator stopped at Zack’s floor, I stepped out into the softly lit hallway, my pulse quickening again.
The scent of coffee and cedar drifted faintly from one of the nearby doors.
His door. Zack opened the door just as I was raising my hand to knock, and for a second, all the witty lines I’d planned vanished from my head.
