Lydia
I need to cancel our date tonight…
Carson
Really? 🙁 I’ve been looking forward to it all week.
Lydia
I’m sorry! But I woke up with a cold and can barely talk 🤧
Lydia
I don’t want your first impression of me to be a red nose and scratchy voice.
Carson
I already have a first impression of you, remember?
Carson
We met at your brother’s birthday party.
Lydia
You know what I mean…I want our first date to be memorable.
Lydia
And not because I’m sneezing all over you.
Carson
This isn’t an excuse to back out of a date with me, is it?
Lydia
No way! I’m glad you asked me out.
Carson
Good, because I thought your brother was going to murder me when I asked for your number.
Lydia
Lol sorry about that.
Carson
Don’t be. Worth it. So, raincheck for next weekend?
Lydia
If only I had my mom’s chicken soup right now. That cures me instantly.
Carson
🙁 Feel better. Can I call and check on you later?
Lydia
Better text me instead. I don’t have a voice, remember?
Carson
Sure thing. Hang in there.
Later that evening, Lydia gets a text from Carson.
Carson
Ready for our date?
Lydia
We canceled, remember?
Lydia
I’m definitely not date material tonight.
Carson
I bet you look beautiful, runny nose and all.
Lydia
If you saw me right now, you’d run 🏃
She places her box of Kleenex on the coffee table and pats a hand over the messy bun on her head.
Lydia
OMG! You’re not at my door, are you?
Carson
I left you something.
Lydia
You promise you’re not waiting outside?
Carson
Don’t worry. I didn’t stick around to sneak a peek 😉
Lydia opens the door and retrieves a covered dish that’s lying on her front steps.
Lydia
Ha! What’s in the dish?
Carson
Chicken soup. Probably not as good as your mom’s, but…
Carson
I thought it might make you feel better.
Carson
Sweet? I was shooting for sexy.
Lydia
A man who cooks is definitely sexy!
Carson
So, my question stands…
Carson
Are you ready for our first date?
Carson
You’ll eat dinner and we’ll talk over text. It’s a virtual date!
Lydia
In that case, yes. I’m ready.
Lydia serves herself a bowl of Carson’s chicken soup and sets it aside to cool.
Carson
I’m not sure why, but my opening line on a date is always about tattoos.
Carson
So do you have any?
Lydia
Not yet. But I’m planning to get one soon.
Carson
Just one that I gave myself in high school. Bad idea…
Lydia
Lol can’t wait to see it.
Carson
Can’t wait to show you 😉
Carson
What classes are you taking this quarter?
Lydia
Pre-med. Sometimes that scares guys off…
Carson
I’m not intimidated by a smart woman. Or by a little cold.
Carson
Engineering classes. I like to work with my hands.
Carson
And yes, that was supposed to sound suggestive.
Carson
🤫 Don’t tell your brother.
Lydia
My lips are sealed.
Lydia finally tries the soup.
Lydia
If engineering doesn’t work out, you could be a chef.
Lydia
The soup is delicious!
Carson
I have a confession.
Lydia
You looked when I came to the door??
Carson
No, I promise I didn’t.
Carson
But the soup is from a can.
Lydia
Ha! Are you serious?
Carson
All I did was heat it up on the stove.
Carson
Do you forgive me?
Lydia
It’s the thought that counts.
Carson
I have another confession…
Carson
I’ve been thinking about you nonstop since the party.
Lydia
My brother’s friends aren’t usually this charming.
Lydia
You might be the exception to the rule.
Carson
Oh yeah? And what do you think we’re usually like?
Lydia
I don’t know…most of you are…
Carson
Confession #3. I’m a little freaky.
Lydia
I may have just choked on my chicken soup while laughing.
Carson
Score! My date is laughing. Always a good sign.
Lydia
At this rate, you might even get a virtual goodnight kiss.
Carson
So this tattoo you want to get…?
Carson
Where do you plan to put it?
Lydia
Let’s just say, you wouldn’t see it if I was in my bikini.
Carson
My imagination is running wild.
Carson
What do you want the tattoo to be?
Lydia
A rose. Boring, I know.
Lydia and Carson continue to exchange flirty texts over the next hour.
Lydia
So…I just finished my soup.
Lydia
I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open, but…
Lydia
This has been a lot of fun.
Carson
Then that means this is the point in our imaginary date where I walk you to your front door.
Lydia
And this is where I turn to look at you, hoping you’ll kiss me.
Carson
Are you giving me all the right signals?
Carson
Biting your bottom lip. Looking deeply into my eyes.
Lydia
Lol, yes, all signs are a go!
Carson
Okay. I’m leaning in now.
Lydia
And I’m meeting you halfway.
Carson
I wish I could actually kiss you.
Carson
So does that mean you still want to hang out next Saturday?
Carson
In person this time?
Lydia
Thank you again for dinner. I had a really good time tonight.
Lydia
And I think I’m actually starting to feel a little better.
Lydia
Not sure if it was your chicken soup or you.
Carson
I’ll take the credit.
Carson
And I’ll be thinking about that kiss for the rest of the week.
Lydia
I can’t wait for the real thing.
Lydia
After all, you warm a mean chicken soup — how can I resist?
Carson
Haha. Now you’ve made ME blush 😊
Carson
See you next Saturday, Lydia.
Lydia
See you then, Carson.
