Erin
I can’t tell you how nice it feels to have someone there for me.
Erin
But now I’m really torn.
Erin
I kind of have another confession.
Erin
This one is pretty sucky.
Will
I’m girding my loins.
Erin
It’s pretty terrible.
Will
Not knowing is worse.
Erin
It…wasn’t me in that bar.
Erin holds her breath, waiting for a response.
Erin
Will, are you there?
Will
What do you mean, it wasn’t you?
Erin
I was in Vegas this past weekend.
Erin
All weekend — including Saturday night.
Erin
Whoever you met accidentally wrote MY number on your arm.
Will
What? Why did you pretend to be her?
Erin
At first, I was just curious about you. But then…
Will
Seriously. I’m not at all sorry you liked me.
Will
Because I like you too.
Erin
You don’t mind that I lied?
Will
I mean, I’m not crazy about it.
Will
But maybe we can try just moving forward?
Will
And agree that we won’t lie to each other again?
Will
And…can we also meet in person?
Will
We can go somewhere public — that way, if you hate the way I look…
Will
I might have a snaggletooth.
Will
LOL how about dinner at the Space Needle?
Erin
That’s pretty fancy for a first date.
Erin
And escape routes are limited.
Will
You could always jump 😉
Will
So tomorrow night? Seven?
Erin sucks in a deep breath.
Erin
Okay. Tomorrow night.
Erin
How will I know it’s you?
Will
Let’s do it the old-fashioned way.
Will
I’ll wear a white carnation in my lapel.
Erin
Wait, is that the old-fashioned way?
Will
I think so. I saw it in a movie once.
Will
It was a black and white movie.
Will
So it has to be old fashioned, right?
Erin
Haha, okay. Should I wear a white carnation too?
Will
Won’t hurt. We’ll be a matched pair.
Will
Right then. See you tomorrow!
Erin
Don’t you want to chat some more?
Erin
Maybe…have a little bit of fun?
Will
Sorry, but I’m not that kind of guy.
Will
I don’t put out before a first date.
Erin
But we already did stuff…
Will
Right. But that was BEFORE we set a date. You know. For a date.
Erin
Haha, so now you go all ethical on me…
The next evening, Erin is quivering with nerves as she arrives at the Space Needle.
She scans the crowd waiting for the elevator to the top…
And spots a tall, handsome man with a white carnation in his lapel.
She approaches him, but a sleek, gorgeous woman gets there first.
He kisses her and Erin’s heart plummets.
But then deep, sexy voice surrounds her…
Man
Fancy meeting you here.
A delicious-looking man in an Italian suit stands in front of her.
There is no carnation in his lapel.
For the second time that night, Erin’s mood sinks.
Erin
I’m sorry. I’m meeting someone.
He produces a bouquet of white carnations.
Man
I’ve been waiting for you.
Man
All my life, I think?
Man
Isn’t that how the saying goes?
The mystery man pushes up his sleeve to reveal her phone number.
It’s written on his arm in black sharpie.
Will
Who else would it be?
Erin thumbs at the other guy with the carnation.
Will
I had no idea wearing carnations was such a popular thing.
She takes the proffered flowers and draws in their scent.
Erin flushes. Her body hums.
Will
You are. Just as I imagined you.
Erin
How could that be possible?
Will
You kind of look like her.
Will
I mean, only a little bit.
Erin
The sharpie terrorist?
Will
Yup. Your hair is shorter, but yeah. Kind of.
Will
Or maybe you remind me of someone else?
Will
Are you sure we’ve never met?
Erin
I would remember you, believe me.
Will laughs, and then lowers his voice to a whisper.
Will
I’m so glad we’re here. Together.
Will
Shall we go up and have dinner?
Erin
I’m too nervous to be hungry.
Will
Me too, but the view is spectacular. You can let it distract you.
Will
I’m excited to spend the evening with you.
Will
And get to know you better.
Later that evening, Erin wads up her linen napkin and drops it on her empty plate.
Erin
And, as promised, the view is spectacular.
Will doesn’t take his gaze from her face.
Will
It really is. I’m a lucky guy.
Erin leans forward, whispering.
Erin
For a minute there I was afraid I might be sick.
Will
Hey! The restaurant isn’t revolving that fast.
Will
I thought it was romantic.
Erin
It is. I’m just — you make me nervous.
Erin
I’m so happy to be out with you.
Erin places her hand on his.
Erin
Thank you for tonight.
Will
My pleasure. It’s been great getting to know you better.
Erin
I never would have guessed that you were a kleptomaniac.
Will laughs, holding up his index finger.
Will
That was only when I was six.
Erin
And do you still tackle girls and kiss them?
Erin
Kindergarten is such a tumultuous time in a young boy’s life.
Will
And I’m happy to know you gave up your passion for litterboxes.
Erin
They are still fascinating and mysterious.
Will
What with the buried treasures in them and all.
Erin
I was a curious child.
Will
And a…fascinating woman.
Erin
Will. Don’t look at me like that.
Erin
You’re making me self-conscious.
Erin
Yeah. Because I already have a boyfriend.
Will
Yikes. Way to ruin the mood.
Erin
All right — I’ll admit it. I felt a mood too.
Will
So why did you mention him?
Will takes her hand and rubs his thumb gently over her knuckles.
Erin
Please don’t call me baby.
Erin
Because he calls me that.
Will
Okay. What would you like me to call you?
Erin
Definitely not pumpkin face.
Will
Okay, let’s go with Erin.
Will
Why did you mention him?
Erin
Mentioning him felt like an easy escape route.
Will
That’s understandable, because I’m nervous too.
Will
And I’ll be honest. I really want to see you again.
Will
But it doesn’t feel right, dating you when you have a boyfriend at home.
Erin
Technically, he and I don’t share a home.
Will
You know what I mean.
Erin
But if you really felt that way, why did you ask me out in the first place?
Erin
You knew I was dating someone when you did.
Will
I asked you out because had to know.
Will
If this feeling between us was…real.
Will
Before this moment, we’d only texted.
Will
We hadn’t even talked over the phone.
Will
And yet I needed to meet you — in person.
Will
I know I want to see you again.
Will
But not while you’re still with him.
Erin sucks in a deep breath.
Erin
Are you saying you want me to break up with him?
Will
That’s not my decision.
Will
But for what it’s worth…
Will
I WOULD really like to see you again.
