Eddie
Please, you have to help me.
I roll my eyes at the boyishly handsome face on my phone screen.
Eddie is always making dramatic declarations like this.
Emma
Let me guess, you ran out of pizza rolls?
Emma
Oh, I know, they’re discontinuing your favorite video game.
Eddie
I’m afraid it’s far more serious than that, my dear Emma.
Eddie
The truth is, I’m in love!
I barely manage to choke the word out.
Eddie
You know: sweaty palms, an elevated heart rate…
Eddie
The thing that launched a thousand ships…
Eddie
And single-handedly supports the greeting card industry.
All I can do is blink at him.
The boy I’ve been pining after for the past ten years?
I hope he can’t see the disappointment in my face.
Eddie
Emma? Are you still there?
Emma
Yes, sorry, bad connection!
Emma
So you’re in love. That’s…exciting.
I try to play it cool, but I’m dying to know.
Emma
What? I’m your best friend!
Eddie
I know. But, it’s too embarrassing.
Eddie
Is she’s the most perfect girl I’ve ever met.
Eddie
Every day with her feels like Christmas morning.
Eddie
I just don’t know if she feels the same way about me.
He looks down, embarrassed.
Emma
I bet it’s Allison Taylor.
Emma
Every guy at school is obsessed with Allison Taylor.
I click open Allison Taylor’s Instagram page…
Which is full of sexy bikini pics and glamour shots.
Then I glance in the mirror at my own average reflection with a frown.
I could never look like her.
Emma
You don’t even know her.
I try to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
Eddie
I know her better than you think.
Eddie
And I know I want to ask her out.
Eddie
I’ve been reading all about virtual dates…
Eddie
And I have the perfect plan.
Emma
And what might this perfect plan be?
Eddie
It’s a virtual meal.
Eddie
We both cook the same meal over a video chat…
Eddie
And then we eat it at the same time in a romantic atmosphere.
Emma
You expect Allison Taylor to cook?
Emma
Or eat a meal for that matter?
Emma
I bet she only eats salads.
Eddie and I both crinkle our noses in disgust.
Eddie
Don’t be gross. I’m sure she eats other stuff.
Emma
Well, it seems like you have it all figured out.
Emma
So I won’t keep you from asking her out.
I move my fingers to hang up the call, but Eddie let’s out a yelp.
Eddie
Are you crazy?! I need you!
Eddie
I don’t know the first thing about cooking…
Eddie
I need you to walk me through the meal so I won’t mess it up.
Eddie
Please will you help me?
Eddie
I’d be lost without you.
Eddie
And I need everything to be perfect or she might not say yes.
He gives me those puppy dog eyes…
That make me weak at my knees.
How could I possibly say no to him?
Eddie
You’re the best, Em.
Eddie
Seriously, if you weren’t miles away, I’d kiss you.
Emma
Yeah, yeah. What do you want to cook with her?
Eddie
Risotto with garlic, mushrooms, and parmesan.
Emma
Who do I look like, Gordon Ramsay?!
Eddie
What? I wanted to make it special!
Emma
Can’t you just have a pizza delivered to her house?
Emma
That’s what I’d want.
I spend the next two hours trying to teach Eddie how to make risotto.
While Eddie is good at many things…
A talented chef he is not.
With an amused smile on my face…
I watch him sprint frantically all around the kitchen.
Truthfully, I could do this all day—
After two kitchen fires and a near-amputation with a knife…
Eddie has stepped out of the room to get changed.
He’s set it up really nicely.
There are candles on the dining room table…
And a subtle saxophone playing in the background.
He’s really gone all out rehearsing this before the real thing!
I stare longingly at the scene, wishing I could be there.
Eddie
Okay, how do I look?
I look up to see Eddie looking positively delicious in a crisp blue button-down.
His silky hair is washed and combed.
His eyes twinkle in excitement.
Emma
No, no. It’s perfect.
I didn’t mean for my voice to come out all shaky like that.
Emma
Well, I guess I’d better hang up now.
Emma
I’m sure you can handle the rest.
Eddie
Oh, that reminds me!
Eddie
I’ve got to ask her.
Emma
You haven’t asked her yet?!
Eddie
It’s not that easy!
Eddie
You don’t understand what this girl does to me!
Eddie
I can never find the right words!
Emma
Oh, please. You’re being dramatic.
Emma
All you have to say is:
Emma
“I think you’re amazing.”
Emma
“Would you consider having dinner with me?”
Emma
She’d be stupid to say no.
Eddie
Emma, I think you’re amazing.
Eddie
Would you consider having dinner with me?
Emma
You need to say that to Allison.
Eddie
Oh, Emma, don’t you know?
Eddie
I told you. I’m in love.
Eddie
But it’s you, Emma. It’s always been you.
Eddie
I couldn’t have done any of this without you.
Eddie
And I wouldn’t have wanted to.
Eddie
So, what do you say?
I look at Eddie’s eager face smiling back at me.
Like I could possibly say no to him.
But before I can answer, the doorbell rings.
Eddie
Oh, that’ll be the pizza.
Eddie
What? You said you wanted it.
Emma
Eddie, this is perfect.
Eddie
Now go get it, before it gets cold!
