Chapter 20: 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟗

BREE

“How do I look?” I ask Rose, standing in front of her, blocking her sight of the tv.

If someone else did that, Rose would throw a pillow at their face but since it’s me, she focuses on me, no glaring, no anger, only kindness.

“Gorgeous! Marry me.”

I let out a small laugh, she smiles.

“You’re not lying, right?” I ask again, turning around to make sure she sees my whole outfit.

“I would never lie to you when it comes to fashion, my love. I promise you look gorgeous and if somebody says otherwise, I would be honored to kill them.”

“What is up with you and murder these days?” I ask, frowning.

She picks up her book, “I’m reading a murder mystery book. It is so good. I know how to get away with murder now.” She grins, “should we do it?”

“What? No!”

She pouts and puts away the book, “fine,” she picks up her bag of chips, “so, where is your boyfriend taking you?”

My cheeks immediately heat at the title for Finn, Rose notices and her smirk widens.

“I don’t know where he’s taking me. He said it’s a surprise.”

After Finn came to the apartment with breakfast yesterday and told me that we’re going to try dating, he left saying he will text me later. He did text me at night and we ended up talking the whole night through text.

I don’t remember the last time I grinned so big texting a guy. I feel like a highschool girl having a crush. Geez.

Today morning, I woke up to a text that said.

Finn

Be ready at 8. I’m picking you up for our first official date *grin face emoji*

And don’t worry, no one will know we’re on a date.

I let Rose go back to watching her show while I pack my purse and put on my white straps heels.

I chose to wear a white strapless dress with a matching crop blazer over it. I let my hair down, wore my pearl necklace, earrings and silver rings.

The bell of our apartment rings right at eight.

I throw my bag over my shoulder and stand up.

“I’m leaving,”

“Have fun,” Rose grins up at me, "text me if you're staying out late,"

"Okay," I say to her, say goodbye then walk to the door.

I open the door and find Finn standing outside, dressed in a simple white shirt, a black flannel over it and black pants. His hair looks disheveled but neat. His whole outfit finishes with his white sneakers. A bouquet of my favorite flowers- gypsophila, also known as baby’s breath- resting in his hands.

“I’m overdressed,” I blurt.

I was supposed to compliment his outfit. Only he can make a simple outfit look so good.

He chuckles, “no, you’re not, amore.” He leans down and captures my lips in a soft kiss before handing me the bouquet, “for you,”

I smile, taking the bouquet then look up at him, “how did you know I like these?”

He hums, taking my hand, interlocking our fingers together, I close the door behind me as we start to walk towards the elevator, “my third christmas with you guys, we were playing a game where you wrote this flower as a thing.” Finn starts, a small smile on his lips as we wait for the elevator door to open, “Jack argued that there was no such thing as this flower and you pulled out your phone, showing Jack proof and saying that it was your favorite flowers,” we both step inside the elevator when the door opens. I keep staring at Finn as he continues, pressing the button to the lobby and the elevator door shuts, “Ryan smacked his head saying that they always give you those flowers on your birthday and Jack regained his memories.” He chuckles, “you refused to continue the game because you were horrified Jack forgot those were your favorite flowers.”

“How could I not? They give me those every year!” I exclaim, earning a soft laugh from him.

The door to the lobby opens and we step out, walking out of the building to where he parked his car, “I knew I wouldn’t forget the flowers but to keep my heart at rest, I wrote it down on my phone,” Finn unlocks the car and opens the passenger door, holding it open for me to get in, “it finally came to use. Though, I remembered it." He says, a proud smile on his face.

So many years have passed since that moment. So much had happened. And he remembered..

My smile widens, “you’re very sweet,”

“Thank you. It is one of my many great qualities,” he says, proudly.

I let out a soft chuckle then get in the car. Finn shuts my door then rounds the car to get in the driver’s seat.

“So, where are we going exactly?” I ask as we drive away from the apartment building.

“We’re going to get take out first then head to my penthouse for the actual date.” He says.

“What’s the actual date?”

He dramatically sighs, “Is there no mystery left in romance anymore?”

I chuckle, he smiles.

We stop by a drive thru and get burgers, fries and drinks after I stop Finn from ordering the whole menu.

“Just because I said I don’t know what to eat doesn’t mean you go and order everything on the menu,” I say after we step out of the car. We’ve been bickering about this the whole way here.

“In my defense, I was giving you options so you could easily choose, amore.”

My heart skips a beat again at the nickname.

Calm down, heart.

Finn refuses to let me carry anything.

“Why carry anything when your charming boyfriend is here?” He says as we walk into the building.

I try to suppress my smile but fail as I say, “you’re so dramatic.”

“You call it dramatic. I call it charming.” he says as the elevator door closes and winks, making my cheeks heat with the act.

The elevator door opens into a vast living room. A couch faces the TV, with a small coffee table placed in the center. Tall, ceiling-high glass windows and a door overlook the balcony. To the side, a staircase leads to the upper rooms, and near the balcony entrance, a kitchen is seamlessly joined to the living space.

The rest of the space is decorated with shelves where picture frames, certificates and books are placed.

I follow Finn out of the elevator towards the balcony-

My lips part as we step into the balcony.

A soft sheet is spread over the floor, pillows resting against the wall, blankets folded on each side and a laptop resting by the pillows. Two electric lamps are placed by the wall, shining light over the area. Over the balcony, the beautiful view of the night in New York City is visible.

“Just a heads up, I am a rookie when it comes to preparing dates, okay?” Finn says, putting down our take out, “however, I would love to hear your feedback to polish my experience,”

I smile at his nervous expression- even though he tries to hide it, “this is perfect, Finn.”

I kiss his cheek and smile up at him as he stares at me with lips parted.

“I…” he trails off then blinks, “right. So, you.. You like this?”

I nod, “I love it. It’s perfect.”

“I would have taken you out to a restaurant but since we’re keeping this private, I came up with this. This is a start. I will think of something better going forward. Maybe rent a restaurant- yes, I could do that. There’s risks but it’s okay-”

I gently grab Finn’s face and kiss him, shutting him up with his rant session.

I feel him freeze at my action but then his arms slowly wrap around my waist and I feel him kiss me back, slowly, passionately.

My lips form a smile during the kiss and I wrap my arms around his neck, threading my fingers with the back of his hair.

I break the kiss, locking my eyes with his dark ones.

“Relax. I love this. I promise.” I tell him, easing his nerves.

He finally relaxes, “okay. Good.”

I smile and Finn comes back to being his own self. We sit down and open the take out bags.

After we choose which movie to watch, we put it on, sit back and start eating our food.

“How did you come up with this idea?” I ask after taking a bite of my burger.

“I searched up articles.” he says and pops a fry in his mouth.

I blink at him, “what?”

“What?”

“You read articles to choose a date?”

“Yes, amore.”

My lips part, “that’s…” I chuckle, “that is so sweet, Finn. I could never imagine you’d do that.”

He frowns, “why not?”

“Well, until now, I always thought of you as a man who doesn’t like relationships.”

“I didn’t." A pause, "Until you.”

My stomach flips again at his statement and my cheeks heat. Thank God, it’s not bright enough for him to see it.

“Why didn’t you like relationships though?” I ask, genuinely curious.

He hums, his eyes on the movie as he thinks through his answer.

“I just thought- knew- I would never be committed to a person like people are in a relationship. So, I thought it’s better to be by yourself then let someone hope for something you can’t give them.”

Something passes through Finn’s features- hurt, anger, guilt- but he quickly masks it with a smile and looks at me, “it’s different now. I know I can be committed to you, give you everything you want.”

“You shouldn’t speak so soon..” The words leave my mouth on their own. A tie knotting around my chest again.

He hums, focusing back on the movie, “perhaps I shouldn’t,” he says, “but I am sure you’re the woman I want.”

I stare at his features for a moment then look back at the movie playing.

I know Finn will do everything to make me happy.

But what if I can’t do the same?