Evening had fallen, and Rody sat nervously at Pizza Fam their usual go-to for casual hangouts, late-night laughs, and overloaded cheese slices. Under ordinary circumstances, tonight would've been just that: simple, lighthearted, predictable.
But this evening had a different air.
Because Sam had called it a date.
And with that single word, everything shifted.
Rody's heart thudded beneath the suit he had awkwardly thrown on. He adjusted the lapels and straightened the modest bouquet beside him for the fifth time. He had gone far beyond what a pizza night called for even bribed the waiter to transform their favorite booth into a makeshift candlelit corner.
It was cheesy. Over-the-top. Possibly borderline embarrassing.
But he didn't care.
What he did care about was her reaction.
Would she find it charming? Or too much? Would it cross a line they had never dared to blur?
Still, for the first time in a long while, Rody let himself stop overthinking. He stared out the window, breathed in deeply, and whispered to himself:
Let's see where the wind takes me.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Arrival
He checked his phone again.
Rody: ETA?Sam: Almost there!
He barely had time to react before the restaurant door swung open.
And there she was.
Their eyes met, and Rody's heart kicked into overdrive.
Am I sick? he thought. What is this feeling?
But then his gaze locked onto Sam wearing a breathtaking red dress that seemed tailored just for this moment. Her fiery hair framed her soft features, and the light makeup only elevated what was already naturally stunning.
His mind blanked.
She looked unreal.
Sam stepped forward, her expression amused and warm.
"So… how do I look?" she asked with a playful tilt of her head.
Rody opened his mouth, but words failed him.
"…Wow," was all he managed.
Sam laughed a soft, delighted sound that made his chest tighten. She approached the table, and Rody jumped up, pulling out her chair like a gentleman.
The restaurant was unusually quiet, giving them the illusion of a private little world.
"Someone's taking this date very seriously," Sam teased, settling into her seat. "I half expected you to show up in shorts, that old blue T-shirt, and the cap Ray gave you."
Rody chuckled. "That was Option B. You dodged a bullet."
Sam rolled her eyes. "Well, thank God you didn't. If you had, I might've walked out."
"Nah, you wouldn't have. You wouldn't leave free pizza behind," he grinned.
"True," she admitted, smirking. "But still it's unfair. I put in all this effort, and you almost showed up in a hoodie?"
Rody shrugged, then smiled more genuinely. "Well… here we are now."
She gave him a once over, visibly impressed. "You clean up better than I expected, Rody. I didn't even think you owned real clothes."
He mock gasped. "What, you thought I lived in gym wear or something?"
She snorted. "Basically, yes."
They both laughed. It was familiar and comfortable and yet, tonight, it felt charged with something new.
Then Rody gave a small nod to the waiter, who promptly brought the bouquet forward and placed it on the table between them.
Sam blinked, stunned.
She stared at the flowers, then at him, then back again.
"…Why did you do all this?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Rody leaned forward, trying to play it cool.
"Well, you called it a date," he said. "And pizza joints aren't exactly traditional date venues. So, I figured why not make it a little more special?"
He paused, then added more earnestly, "Honestly, I just wanted to."
Sam's lips curled into a genuine, glowing smile.
"Shut up," she whispered, touched. "This is amazing. I'm ridiculously happy right now. You literally just made my year."
Rody grinned, the tension in his shoulders easing. She liked it. He hadn't overdone it not for her.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Ride Home
After dinner, they stepped out, only to be greeted by sheets of rain.
Rody quickly pulled out his phone. "Let's call a cab. No way we're walking through that."
They ducked into the vehicle a few minutes later, the scent of rain and city mixing in the air. But the ride wasn't the same kind of easy as before.
Something hung between them now.
A silence. Not awkward, but undeniably heavy.
Rody stared out the window, watching droplets race down the glass. He could feel her presence beside him, bouquet still clutched in her lap, but neither spoke.
It was maddening.
His chest buzzed with unspoken words. He had to say something anything or this tension would eat him alive.
Finally, he turned toward her.
"Hey… are you okay?"
Sam looked up, surprised by his voice. Her eyes were tender and thoughtful.
"I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I feel kind of… overwhelmed. In a good way, I think."
Rody gave a slow nod. "Yeah… same."
The cab rolled on in silence for a beat longer.
Then Rody took a deep breath. "There's something I've been needing to tell you. And I think I just… need to get it out."
Sam turned to him fully now, her expression calm.
"It's okay. Say it."
He hesitated only a second longer.
"I have feelings for you, Sam," he said. "I don't know when it started maybe somewhere between your bad movie takes and the night you helped me fix that old console but tonight… it all just clicked. I know it now."
Sam's face lit up with joy, her eyes wide.
"I've had a crush on you since New Year," she admitted, blushing. "I kept waiting for a sign from you. I figured… you just didn't see me that way."
Rody blinked.
"You liked me that long?"
She nodded. "Yeah. And tonight? With the flowers and the whole setup? It felt like you saw me the same way for once. And when you said it… I just knew."
A beat passed.
"I love you, Rody," she said softly.
Time stopped.
Rody's throat tightened, but his words came out sure and steady.
"I love you too."
They sat there, suspended in the moment, while the world rushed quietly by outside.
_______________________________________________________________________________
After the Rain
The cab dropped them off in front of their building complex, and as if on cue, the rain had stopped. Only a soft mist lingered, painting the air silver.
Instead of heading straight in, they began walking slowly just the two of them, side by side.
Their hands brushed, and then Sam gently reached for his.
Rody laced his fingers with hers instinctively, feeling the warmth settle between them.
"I'm so glad I met you, Rody," she murmured.
He smiled, leaning a little closer. "Same."
He walked her to her door, and neither wanted to let go just yet. The night had been more than a date it was a beginning.
And while they knew the evening had to end, something in both of them had shifted permanently.
There was no turning back now.
As Sam stepped inside, she turned to look at him one last time with a smile that said everything.
Rody stood there for a moment longer, letting the quiet of the night soak in.
Because now, finally, they both knew:
There was a tomorrow.