She's Got Me Waking Up. ((Aaina))

[aiden]

Up, Over, Under. He thought as he was tying his tie. He was looking in the mirror as doing so. Hopefully that didn’t fuck up the whole process. Every time he did something in the mirror, it got messed up, or lopsided. He shrugged and adjusted his tie. It didn’t look that bad, Then again, it didn’t look that good either. He didn’t often wear ties, but he thought it would be nice to for this occasion.

He turned his back to the mirror and started buttoning down his cuffs to his shirt. He also hoped that his roommates wouldn’t give him hell about this either. That’s all he needed right now. He finished one cuff and started the other one. Being ambidextrous came in handy sometimes.

He turned back toward the mirror and adjusted his hair slightly. Ran a comb through it and tousled it again. Kind of defeating the purpose but, he didn’t mind. He kept his shirt un tucked, and adjusted his lip rings. He placed his hand on the doorknob from his room to the main hallway in hesitation. He really didn’t want his room mates getting into his business.

He opened the door and walked down the hallway while shoving his wallet into his pocket. He walked into the living room and all of his room mates were sitting on the sectional that they had bought just a few weeks before. He stopped, literally dead in his tracks and watched them all turn around and look at him.

“OW OW!!!” Alex, his somewhat friend had yelled from the middle of the sectional. Followed by all of his other room mates with comments about his outfit. He chuckled slightly and bowed. “Thank you, thank you.” He smiled and walked pass them to get to the door. And then started the madness.

“So Aiden, who is she?” Almost all of them asked at different times. He shook his head, “Is it that important? Can’t you wait until I get back, I’m almost running late as it is.” His friends laughed and shooed him out of the house. He chuckled as he opened the door and stepped outside.

He walked down the steps and toward Aaina’s house. He knew exactly where it was. He thought it was kind of ironic that they only lived a few streets away, and they just met for the first time. He crossed a couple of streets and walked down the sidewalk leading to her house. He smiled and walked up the steps to her front door.

He checked his hair and smelled his breath. He felt kind of stupid doing this only now, but he had forgotten to at his house. Lucky for him, he was fine and he rang the doorbell. He heard it echo through the house and he began getting nervous.

ATTIRE

[aaina]

Attire

Fretting. Nervous? Yes. Fretting was something she did to take her mind off of being nervous. Poor Aaina, she pouted at herself in the mirror. She dashed on some eye shadow, outlining the crease with the red. She wanted those brilliant eyes to pop not drag. She couldn’t get her own hair and makeup team tonight. Supposedly they were already helping someone else out..no matter. She scoffed. He was going to be her soon. She could tell. Even from the few street numbers that they lived away from, she could faintly smell it. She propped open her accessory cabinet and pursed those fine lips of hers. What to wear? Well. Obviously a neutral gray and a darker gray. With some red so it wasn’t so dreary and boring. She found some gray bracelets and dangle earrings and slipped them on and in. So help her god if she wasn’t ready before he got there. She was still in a robe! Running around and out of her bathroom, she slipped the robe out, stepped into some sexy lingerie. She smiled at herself just in the lingerie.

Damn she looked good.

She could only pause to admire herself for a few seconds. La Perla was a god. The lingerie, duh. She rushed pulling the bow dress over her tiny figure, securing loose ends by putting on a small narrow red belt. Slipping into her Guiseppe Zanotti shoes on. Letting out a sigh of quick relief. Now she could admire herself. Her Stella MaCartney bag was packed with what was needed. Shades, a check book, in case, and some gloss. Her short, sprite like hair was pulled back in a small and cute bun. She turned to the side to make sure she looked well there too.

An idea appeared to her. She should do an article for Vogue, on how to create a stunning outfit in five minutes.

A playful smirk laughed its way onto her lips. She snapped a picture of herself to save and describe on the how to later. While she was at it, she texted a few friends. She wouldn’t be taking her cell phone with her, to avoid distractions. I.E; work. The reason she had been rushing was because she got held up with a photo shoot. Being Editor in Chief for Vogue..tedious sometimes. But she loved her job. More than anyone could ever imagine. Grabbing the bag she rushed to the front, her two story apartment working lovely with her income. Odd. Thinking of the most random and idiotic things at the most random and idiotic times. She was giddy in her stomach now. Butterflies and the sort of them rushing around her. She had her hand on the knob, to nervous to go out and get him herself. Was that a stupid thing? The doorbell had actually shocked her, but she answered it.

Peeking out around the door, her smile exploded. “Aiden.” She said it simply enough. The name on her tongue vibrating throughout her being. “Hi. Uhm, do you want to come in, or should we get going now?” Her Australian drawl tugged on the last word. She was so excited, and thrilled to see him. Again. She leaned in, pulling her head upwards and kissing him lightly on the lips.

Thrilling.

[aiden]

Aiden’s smile grew wider than he had expected it to when she had opened the door. It had felt like an eternity since he had last spoken to her. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder after her small gesture that he had missed so much. He scanned his eyes from her shoes, up to her hair. She was beautiful, no, beautiful was an understatement of how she looked. She was, perfect. Yes, that was the word. Perfect.

“You look, amazing darling.” He bent his head down and kissed her lightly again. He lingered the movement for longer than needed, but he was stricken with nerves and he didn’t quiet know what to do. He attempted to play it off and inhaled silently, taking in the sweet smell of her perfume. It was slightly floral, and he liked it.

He knew that the reservations were thirty minutes away, and with the New York style traffic that he ran into almost always, they had better get going now. “Um, we should probably get going. I have the place for us tonight. And after, we can get some real food.” He winked, not in a lustful kind of way. In a ‘if you know what I mean’ way.

He intertwined his hand with hers, and shuffled down the stairs. Thoughts of tonight’s events went racing through his mind. Whether or not they were going to make it there on time, or if something else went terribly wrong. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but he didn’t know. All he knew was that the butterflies in his stomach were still there and he didn’t want to mess things up.

He raised his arm and snapped his fingers. Soon enough a taxi came screeching to a halt, beside him on the curb. Aiden opened the backseat door and allowed her to get in first. He scooted in beside her and closed the door with a slight thud. The driver of the cab turned and looked abruptly to Aiden, “Where to?”

He looked up from his scattered thoughts, “The Chanterelle. And step on it.”

[aaina]

She held her fingertips at the edge of the dress, smiling giddingly. This was better than the time she had met Michael Kors! “Why, thanks, you don’t look to shabby yourself.” She smiled. Feeling his lisp on hers, the blush deepened. His scent was strong and musky. Just the way she liked it. “Alright,” she nodded, locking her door behind her, slipping the brass key into her bag. “The place,” She mockingly, laughing a little. She winked right back, getting his hint. Duh. She knew the game by now, covering up with real ‘human’ food, and then over covering the fact that they did chase humans afterwards.

Running her hands along her bottom, to make sure she didn’t flash anyone or anything, plopped into the taxi, muttering a small hello. She watched him sit in beside her. Moving over to be a little closer to him, wrapping her arms around his left one, resting her head against his broad shoulder. “The Chanterelle?” She ate out with friends there a couple times, it was alright. She preferred something along the lines, of that model..what was her name? Oh! That Rose Decumbry woman, and Tyson Maddox. The London restaurants were lovely! Much, more..precise. Or whatever. She smiled, but The Chanterelle was lovely. “I love The Chanterelle! Good choice, chap.” She watched out from her spot watching the New York city lights rushing past. It was beautiful. If only she had her Nikon camera, the shots would be perfect. Perfect it like the perfect couple in the back of the yellow taxi. Perfect moments. Though she’d have to put more time and effort, blurred shots were so Teen Vogue. The minor leagues.

Vogue was the high end society. New York society posed perfect chances to capture those moments. “So, Aiden, been busy lately?” She murmured in his ear. The people were now moving slower. A lovely scenery.

[aiden]

Aiden grinned, he was glad that she liked the place that he was taking them tonight. He hadn’t really been around New York that much to know where all the five star restaurants were. A friend had told him about The Chanterelle, good thing too. If they hadn’t, he didn’t know what he would’ve done. He really didn’t want to fuck up the whole thing he has going with Aaina. He loved her, a lot. And he was afraid that one bonehead mistake could fuck the whole thing up. For good.

He was somewhat startled from her question, even though he was sitting right beside her. He really needed to stop spacing out when he was around people. “Not much really. Just trying to find a new apartment. That way I can get away from those goons.” It wasn’t so much that he hated living with his friends. But he was always the one that got stuck doing the dishes, the laundry, vacuuming. It was total bullshit. And he was getting sick of it. He didn’t even have his own privacy anymore. Constant people walking in and out of his room, taking (or as they put it, borrowing) clothes from him. It was completely idiotic.

He shrugged off the thought and felt her small arms wrapped around his. “So, how’s work going for you?” It felt like the question came racing out of his mouth in more speed than he wanted it to. His lips almost loosing the battle to keep calm. He didn’t know why his nerves were racing. It wasn’t like it was the first time that he had seen her. Then again, how long ago was that? Nevertheless, she had the atmosphere around her to make anyone nervous. At least, that’s what he thought.

He looked down and noticed how nicely she fit beside him. Maybe she was the other half of the perfect couple that he was longing for all along.

[aaina]

She cuddled tighter against him, batting those eyelashes at him. “You could always move in with me..” She said in a meant innocent tone, but with the hint of a devil’s child. (Don’t get her wrong, she’s one of the most purest and innocent people you’d ever meet..especially a vampire.) “And I’m sure your friends aren’t goons, they just haven’t grown up like some people I know.” She tilted her head at him, even further. “Some men though..they just don’t.. mature quite right..you know?” She could see how upset the guys were making him.“If they’re making you so upset, then why do you still hang around with them?” It was a simple question. Though something, that she would never, ever be quite able to understand. A bromance perhaps? She remembered watching that one MTV show, about douche bags..it was actually quite entertaining. Especially when she had nothing else better to do with a lonely weekend day. Boring yes, but without any friends to come over, what was a girl left to do?

Sulk? No. Flush her lovely paycheck down the toilet on the latest fashions? Possibly? Render herself idiotic, by watching a show, yes.

“Works going so good! I had to rush home from a photo shoot actually. All frantic. You know how models are..especially that Rose girl..” She made an odd face. “Remind me never to personally photograph a model..from London. I just have to get their clothes down..not their face..” She chortled a little bit. “But hell. I went to collage for it, grew up around it, might as well work it.” Her eyes blinked, rapidly. “Don’t get me wrong..I love fashion..but sometimes I question my sanity.” A quick giggle here and there.

The taxi passed a Tacori ring billboard. Aaina had just recently fallen in love with the brand name. But she fell quickly for it. The cut, the diamonds, they were so amazing. She stared lovingly at the sign, and pursed her lips. The taxi came to a short stop, obviously proving the obvious. They were there! A cute couple sat in the taxi. With a tacori ring billboard behind them.

Sign?

[aiden]

Aiden looked out the window at the billboard that was facing them as they drove by. Tacori huh? He smirked at the thought. You know she wants one you goon!!! Don’t fuck it up! He chuckled at the thought. It was only their second ‘meeting’, if you could even call it that, anyway. Although, it never hurt to prepare ahead of time. He smirked and opened the door leading to the sidewalk. He hopped out and threw a twenty at the driver before helping her out of the cab.

He closed the door behind her and led her into the resturaunt. Even though she asked him the question a while ago, it just now slapped him in the face. Why did he still hang around them anyway? It could’ve been because he had known them for so long. But even some of his friends that he knew since he graduated college, he never spoke to again. It wasn’t so much of a disappointing thing, than a good one. If he would’ve stayed near them anymore than he had before. He might not even be here right now. He shuddered at the thought and opened the door, allowing Aaina to enter first.

He followed after her, holding the door open for the couple that was following in after them. He walked over toward the podium that the host was standing at, chattering to some angry customer over the phone. Apparently criticizing the food he had ordered an hour ago. He could hear the other person’s yelling from the distance he was standing at anyways. He turned towards them, rubbing his temples. “People are idiots.” Aiden heard him mumble under his breath, and he smirked. The host plastered on a fake smile and looked up at them. “How can I help you tonight?”

Aiden cleared his throat, “Uhm, reservations for two. Under Livingstone.” He looked down at his book of reservations and checked off the name. He picked up two menus and led them toward the back of the resturaunt. “Right this way.” Again, he allowed her to go first. The man set down the menus at the corresponding chairs, “Your waiter will be here shortly.” Aiden nodded and held out the chair for Aaina. He really didn’t want to fuck things up. Especially with the things he had in mind for them, and how soon they could happen.

[aaina]

Aaina thanked the taxi driver once more, trying to seem polite as possible. The restaurant was so beautiful. The style in it just amazing. Funny, she thought. She hadn’t known this place existed till her 22 birthday. Well. Mainly she was in Australia all that time..with that bitch of a mother. Stop, Aaina, don’t ruin a completely wonderful and magical night. She smiled to herself. Lovely Tacori, lovely, lovely. She couldn’t drag those baby doll blue eyes away from it! A curse it was, but a lovely curse too. Like the curse of being beautiful. You were lucky to have it, but cursed to as well. Have an entourage of people, mainly male, following you. It was..creepy? Stalker like? Yes. She walked through the door Aiden had held for her, and smiled back at him over her shoulder. Such a sweetheart.

Mainly one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him.

Also the reason she was wishing he’d just propose to her already. Hot Damn that boy was clueless when it came to the thinking of a female. But another reason she had fallen in love with him. He was adorable, magnificent, perfect, one of the most attractive men she’d ever set eyes on. And seeing the things Aaina had seen over the years..that was something to be taken to the heart. It didn’t come around the block that often, she smiled to herself. She had completely missed the entire thing, and suddenly just got sucked back into the effects of what happened. Seated at a chair across from Aiden. He was such a gentlemen, pushing in her chair, holding it out for her. She sighed dreamily.

Boys, Boys, Boys.

She smiled to the host, and watched on. She turned her face to the menu, twitching her lips. “I might try the chicken and frog legs..” She made another odd face, but had her mind set. “Yeah. I’ll go for chicken and frogs. Yummy.”

[aiden]

Aiden sat in the chair across from her and picked up the menu from in front of him. He held it so that his left hand was hidden behind it. All he needed right now was for her to see what he was going to do, to ruin possibly everything. He took out the small black velvet box from his pocket and twiddled it in his hand, while pretending to look over the menu. He peered up and saw the waiter and dropped the box back into his pocket gently and placed his hand on the table’s edge.

“Hello. My name is Alex, and I’ll be your waiter for this evening. Can I get you anything to drink?” He peered over at Aaina before blurting out his answer. “Champagne, is necessary. Nicolas Feuillatte Cuvee Palmes d’Or 1996.” The waiter eyed him. With an expression that just seemed to scream, ‘you know champagne?!” Aiden stiffened. Of course he knew champagne. He knew everything about it. Well, most of it anyway. The waiter nodded and went off to fetch the order.

Yes, Nicolas Feuillatte was a very good ‘producer’. Although, he wasn’t Aiden’s favorite one. No. No. No. Dom Perignon was a champagne god to him. Even though, he loved his work better, he thought that Nicolas would do better for this occasion than Dom would. He Didn’t know much about fashion, or girls, but champagne, now that was something he knew about.

The waiter returned with the champagne and popped the cork. That was his favorite part. The mist erupting from the bottle, it was riveting. He took the bottle from the waiter and poured a glass for Aaina and for his self. “Are the both of you ready to order? Or should I wait a few minutes and return?” Aiden nodded, “We’re ready.” He raised an eyebrow at her order, but she wanted what she wanted. “chicken and… frog legs, for the lady. I’ll have, the..” he scanned the menu quickly, having the fact that he spent the last five minutes running thoughts through his mind. “The roast quail stuffed with Foie grass.” the waiter nodded, took the menus and was sent away.

Aiden turned back to Aaina. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Darling, you look beautiful.” A smile exploded onto his face, “A toast.” he lifted his glass slightly, “To love.”

CHAMPAGNE

[aaina]

She looked up at the waiter for just a second, he couldn’t compare to Aiden. No, never. He was being such a gentlemen, he always was. She smiled sweetly at him. Lucky to have found love, so young. So naïve, but so worth it. So trusting. Aiden gave her nose reason not to trust him. Honest, kind, caring, protective. More than just a nice face! He had a brain too. Nicolas Feuillatte. Her knew his wine obviously as well. She nodded approvingly. Such a sweetheart. When the wine she was delivered, she loved the smell of it deeply. She looked slyly at Aiden, he was up to something..

“Yes. A toast, to love.” She clinked her glass to his.

She took a sip, never taking her eyes from him one second. She wanted to make sure he made no sudden movements, dipping his hand into a coat pocket. Nothing like that. She set her glass down, and smiled at him. She was no fool. She didn’t want to let him know she knew, so she played it coy. “Lovely night isn’t it? And they said it would rain.” She scoffed slightly. Though, being kissed in the rain would be so romantic. But a total cliché as well. But clichés were nice. Especially the ones not used often. “….” She couldn’t find exact words to say. So she decided on some sweet words. “This place is beautiful. Not over the top either.” She laughed a little bit.

Alright. Time to cut to the chase.

“Aiden, sweetheart, you compliment me too much,” She blushed a little bit. “But what are you hiding young man?” Stated in a surly Australian accent, with some batted eyes. She wanted the truth. And she knew how to get it with just the right amount of teasing, and eyelash bats. She giggled a little, ducking some fallen hair out of her cheeks.

[aiden]

He sipped some champagne from his glass after her question. There was no way, that he would tell her this early. He knew that it would be hard to compete with those eyelash bats. But, he would have to stick it out and be stubborn. He was fairly good with that, when he tried to be anyways. “No, no, no. Darling, you’ll have to wait.” He smirked slightly. Yes, he hated doing that to her, but it had to be done.

The waiter arrived, holding a silver serving plate with two dishes on them. He lowered the plate to his chest level and placed her dish in front of her. “Chicken and frog legs for the lady.” He grabbed Aiden’s plate and sat it in front of him. “And roast quail stuffed with Foie grass for the gentleman.” The waiter turned to her and smiled, “If you need anything, just yell.” He turned slightly to Aiden, acknowledging that he was there and left the table. While doing so, Aiden snarled slightly.

What the hell, was he doing?! couldn’t he see that she was with Aiden tonight?! He played it off. Making sure not to get, overly protective. He cared so much about her, it wasn’t even funny. He knew that anything some idiot would do, might jeopardize their whole relationship. And to have it come this far, would shatter Aiden completely. He shrugged away the thought, allowing himself to get a peace of mind for once.

He picked up the fork and knife from beside his hands and began eating. Properly, of course. Most of his friends told him that he ate like a pig. So, he tried extra hard to not seem like a total goon while eating. “Just, enjoy the evening. You’ll get your surprise soon.” He mumbled under his breath, “I’ll be sure of It.”

[aaina]

She pouted some more, her bottom lip popping out. A few more lash bats and she’d have him. She just knew it. The alluring look in her eyes would probably bring him up too. If that was possible for a dead man. When the food came, she turned off the charm. No one got it but Aiden. She looked at her Frog Legs and Chicken, and it look scarily appetizing. She bought dead looking eyes up to the waiter, and gave him a grim smile. Pig. She picked up a frog leg, and bit into it. She chewed it over, a quizzical expression on her face. It was..good. “You should totally try this. It’s amazing.” Aaina motioned to the legs. She then moved onto the chicken, which tasted, well..like chicken.

“What if I want it now?” She smiled a little, blond locks falling to the side. She could be a little pushy and bratty when she felt like it. Aiden would see this side, probably soon enough. Especially when the wedding came around. Boy better step off. “Come on Aiden..who’s going to care what you do here? I’ll drop my name and they’ll back off. Please?” She put on the charm again, the twinkle in her eyes like a shining star. “I love you Aiden..” With a little puppy dog pout that gave her angelic features, a shining light.

She took a sip of the wine, and drew his eyes on her. She would find out what he was planning before it was executed. She would protest eating the rest of this food until he told her. In fact, she was right now. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “Cupcake..” She used a lame name, to get him to spill. It usually worked. Hopefully worked. Would work? Un. Boys.

[aiden]

He shook his head slightly. He wouldn’t fall for it this time. Well, he wouldn’t fall for it, period. He didn’t really fall for it last time, as much as set himself up for failure. He continued eating his meal, slowly, allowing the atmosphere to sink into him while doing so. He had to be ready to do this. He knew that she would be ecstatic, regardless of when he did it. That was yet another thing that sunk into his mind, what about the people around them? He knew it wasn’t that big of a deal, but when there was a lot of people, Aiden got nervous. And very nervous, at that.

He placed his fork and knife back on the proper spots and looked up at her. What made him do that? Four simple words. I. Love. You. Aiden. They stayed, ringing and longing in his ears and his mind. Her voice was already like heroin to him, adding those words, made him never want to loose her. He sighed, in a form of defeat. He knew that he was letting himself down, but with a girl like her, how could he ever really win? He dug both of his hands into his pockets and fiddled with the box under the table.

He looked back up and took a sip of champagne, in an attempt to clear his throat and make himself less nervous. He looked around to the couples sitting near them, attempting to mind their own business. He knew that in a couple of seconds, all of them would be looking in his direction. It would be almost impossible not to. He pushed his chair back slightly and stood up. He inhaled sharp and quickly, knowing that he wouldn’t be breathing for the next five minutes. He knelt beside her, down on one knee. Traditional, and sort of tacky, but he liked it that way. He held the box in his left hand and tilted up the top of the box revealing the silver engagement ring that he had bought a couple of days before. And of course, it was Tacori. He looked up and smiled sweetly, “Aaina Stone,” he tried not to stutter, “Will you marry me?”

[aaina]

She went back to eating, but with lips that pouted outwards. She could see clearly in his eyes he was giving in, a statisfying gleam in her eye. Oh yeah, go Aaina. She could almost see his plan in his eyes. Oh Aiden. The love of her life, the one she'd patiently been rewarded with. Thank god too. He must have been holding out on her, making her wait for the right moment, and bam.

There he was.

She used to be hearbroken bound, love pron. But now she wasn't. She had fallen deeply, spiraling, like Alice in Wonderland. But this wasn't down a rabbit hole. This was her heart. When she first laid eyes on him, it was attraction. Just physical attraction. But now..she felt connected to him. So connected. It was true, and pure love. It was amazing, scary, but worth the fear..

She had the love of life.

Aaina used to think only the weak needed love. Needed someone to cling on too. Thought they were worthless, and needed someone to tell them they weren't. That they were strong, and beautiful, amazing, perfect. Not hot, sexy, bangable, a good tap. That was sick.

Not real love.

This was.

Then he moved. Too a point where he was beside her. Down on one knee. Aaina's glazed over, tears instantly brimming them. He's proposing. He's asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. He loves me. He really, really loves me. When he peeled back the lid of the box her face crumbled. A Tacori ring. Tears were slowly trickeling down her face, dropping onto her skin. The people around them had astonished, shocked, surprised, happy looks on their faces. His voice was velvet in her ears.

It was perfect.

"Yes.." She took a shuddering breath in, crying. Actually crying. "I will marry you." She wiped her face, careful not to smear her make up. It was so surreal this was happening. How? She was twenty-four!

Oh my god, was all she could think. She was engaged!


(OCC: I'm so emotional!)

[aiden]

(OOC: ahah. After reading your post, so am I. >< )

As soon as she answered his longing question, a smile exploded onto his face. Tears began to rim the boundaries of his eyes. Yes, Aiden could be a ‘teddy bear’ sometimes, but he hardly ever cried, let alone showed his emotions. He was ecstatic that she had accepted his proposal. That was probably the biggest fear of this evening that he held in his mind. The people around them, didn’t even effect him anymore.

He took the ring out of it’s case and placed the empty box back in his pocket. He peered down at the ring again, sort of remembering the moment. He looked back up and took Aaina’s hand gently. Her hands were smaller, and softer than his. He laughed mentally, All of those drinks must be taking a toll somewhere. Referring to his ‘job’ of course, he wasn’t some, vampiric alcoholic. The thought vanished as fast as it had entered his mind and he slipped the ring on her finger. perfect.

He stood, slightly, and pressed his lips against hers automatically. The electricity still flowing through him as it did before, he knew it always would. And he looked forward to it every single time. He released and smiled sweetly, not wanting to ever forget this moment. He backed his face away, slower than he even realized he was doing, and wiped his eyes with his palms. One tear beat his hold and escaped down his cheek and was almost crossing over his jaw line.

He looked up and called over a waiter, “Can I get the check please?” The waiter nodded and went off to fetch the bill. He looked back at Aaina and pulled out her chair, helping her out of it. The waiter came back and handed Aiden the slip of paper. He pulled out his wallet from his back pocket and paid, leaving a twenty dollar tip. It wasn’t just for the waiter, it was for the whole restaurant. For making tonight, one of the best nights of his life. No, it was the best night of his life. He handed it back to the waiter and took her hand once more.

“What do you say, we get out of here?”