When she lets me kiss her, I’m going to make sure she never forgets it. That’s for sure.
Rory
11 p.m.: Stardust Diner
Oliver’s standing next to me, in line at the famous Stardust Diner. We’re about ten people back from the door, and every time it opens, upbeat music filters out, amping up my excitement.
“This place is fun, you’re gonna like it.” He says it so confidently, like he knows me.
But I guess, in a way, he kind of does. We’ve really gotten to know each other tonight, albeit in the most unorthodox way. Like, unedited, the way only two people who will never see each other again could.
There’s been something raw and unfiltered about this whole day. It’s like we skipped all the pretenses and efforts to impress each other, because what’s the point? We only have this moment on this day. I’ve kind of loved it.
Even just now, hanging out in Times Square. It wasn’t all tourist stuff with random characters overcharging for pictures. No, Oliver showed me all his favorite Broadway shows, talking about how much he loved them and how they inspired him as a kid.
He was so excited and alive that it made me love them too.
He never bragged or overexaggerated his success. In fact, he did the opposite. We talked about not knowing what the future holds. I even showed him my niece’s drama school back home as an example of what he could do instead of acting because I think he’d make such a good teacher.
And, in turn, he was looking up clubs I should join once I’m home to keep me social and not just focused on work.
That’s not something strangers do. And the smile it put on my face isn’t something that just a friend evokes either.
“Cold?” he breathes out when I shiver.
“It’s fine if we’re moving, but standing here is making me feel the hypothermia settling in.”
He laughs, taking my gloved hands, and puts them into his jacket pockets along with his own. I have to look up extra to see him because earlier he forced me to buy a Yankees hat as a keepsake of the day.
It was silly, but I also like that he wanted me to remember our day.
Not that I could ever forget, seeing as we took a hundred selfies, laughed for hours, people-watched to an elite degree. Resulting in witnessing three proposals, which is wild.
“I think we set a record for most marriage proposals in one night. What do you think? But also, why the day before Valentine’s, wouldn’t you want to wait?”
He looks at me thoughtfully for a second, then nods.
“Yeah, I thought the same. And I think you might be right, three is a lot in one day ... That last one, though ...”
I suck in a dramatic breath. “I know. I got a little worried for them too. Can you imagine spilling your heart out and someone being like,hard pass.”
We both laugh, moving up in the line again. And I don’t know why I ask the next question, but maybe it’s becausesomething about Oliver makes me want to know everything about him.
“Have you ever been in love enough to think marriage?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever really been in love. I’ve loved someone, but the kind of love that makes you want to spend your life with another person ... no, I don’t think I’ve ever felt that.” He looks down at me as we inch closer to the door again. “What about you?”
“Hmm.” I scrunch my nose. “No, me neither. I guess I’ve always hoped that when I find the one, it’ll be love at first sight. The kind of love story where the guy says,After I left, I called my friend and said, ‘I just met the girl I’m gonna marry.’”
“Oooh, a hopeless romantic. You’re a dangerous breed.”
I roll my eyes. “Shut up. Love just feels like it should be fireworks and explosions. Something that rattles you all the way to your core.”
He smiles. “Hmm, yeah, I like that.”
I like him.
Oooh, I can’t tell if what’s making this night so special is the ticking clock or him ... but there’s a voice in the back of my mind saying it’s not the expiration date.
