The romantic payoff? A rainy evening, a borrowed umbrella, and a confession that I had been “lying about my card game skills just to have an excuse to see her again.” She kissed me on the cheek and said, “I know, you’re terrible at bluffing.” I am not a grand gesture person. I overthink everything. Neha, on the other hand, reads romance novels where the hero flies the heroine to Paris. I was terrified.
My storyline was the anxious hero finally gets it right . I planned a hike to a viewpoint she loved. I packed a terrible picnic (the sandwiches were soggy, the grapes were bruised). I had the ring in my sock. For three hours, I couldn’t find the right moment. She talked about moss. She identified three types of birds. I was sweating. The romantic payoff
She became my anchor.