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He sighed and then, surprisingly, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “All right, here goes.” He paused for a moment, gathering courage. “I want your permission to ask Sophia out on a proper date.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise, and suddenly the tension that had been coiling inside me dissipated, replaced by relief. This was not the catastrophe I had been dreading. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
“Permission?” I laughed, shaking my head. “You don’t need my permission, Riccardo. It’s about time you asked her out.”
He looked relieved, but there was still a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. “Really? You’re okay with it?”
“Of course I am,” I reassured him, clapping him on the shoulder. “Sophia is a wonderful woman, and I think the two of you would be great together.”
“Thanks,” he said, his grin growing wider. “We’ve been spending more time together, but just as people who live in the same house. I want to make our relationship more formal, you know?”
“Absolutely,” I nodded, genuinely happy for him. “And I think Liliana will be thrilled as well. She loves having Sophia around; and I totally get it. We both have our best friends here all the time.”
“I promise I’ll treat her right, Nicholas. I won’t let you down,” Riccardo replied, his confidence returning.
I met his gaze with a sincere look. “I’ve known you since we were kids. I trust you completely. Just be yourself, and I have no doubt that Sophia will continue to fall for you.”
“Thank you, Nicholas,” Riccardo said, his voice full of gratitude. “That means a lot to me.”
“Anytime, my friend,” I replied, giving him an encouraging pat on the back. “Now, go and make your move before she gets away.”
“All right,” Riccardo agreed, taking a deep breath. “There’s just one thing... I haven’t been on a date in a long time, and I don’t really know where to take her.”
I thought back to my whirlwind courtship of Liliana. I had two weeks to win her heart and I worked hard at it. “It just takes a little thought,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “All you have to do is demonstrate that you’ve been listening to her when she talks about things she likes. What has she been interested in lately?”
“Actually, she’s mentioned the new Korean exhibit at the Met,” he recalled, his face lighting up with excitement.
“Perfect!” I exclaimed. “Take her there, and then maybe find a nice place to have dinner afterward. Something unique that would make the evening memorable. You can’t go wrong with food.”
“Right, food!” Riccardo mused, nodding. “You’re absolutely right, Nicholas. I’ll plan the whole day around the exhibit and a great meal.”
“See?” I said, grinning at him. “You’re already off to a good start. Just remember to relax and enjoy the experience. And most importantly, show Sophia that you care about her interests and what makes her happy.”
“Thanks, Nicholas. I’ll do my best not to mess it up,” Riccardo said with a nervous chuckle. He turned to leave, but just as he reached for the doorknob, both our phones rang simultaneously.
“Wait a moment,” I said, raising a hand as I pulled my phone from my pocket. The screen told me it was Liliana calling, and I felt a sudden surge of concern. “Hello?”
“Nicholas, it’s happening!” Liliana’s voice came through in a rush, her excitement palpable even over the phone. “My water just broke, and we’re on our way to the hospital!”
At the same time, I could hear Sophia’s frantic voice talking to Riccardo on his phone, telling him the same news. We exchanged wide-eyed glances before I returned my attention to Liliana.
“Okay, just stay calm and focus on your breathing,” I instructed, trying to steady my own racing heart. “We’ll meet you at the hospital as soon as we can.”
“All right, I love you, Nicholas,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I love you too, Liliana,” I replied, feeling an overwhelming mix of joy and fear coursing through me. “We’ll be there soon.”
I hung up the phone and looked at Riccardo, who had also ended his call with Sophia. His face mirrored my own feelings – anticipation, worry, and a hint of disbelief that this moment was finally here.
“Let’s go,” I said, grabbing my jacket from the back of my chair. “Liliana needs us.”
Riccardo nodded, his expression determined. “Right behind you, Nicholas. This is going to be a day we’ll never forget.”
As we hurried out of the office, my mind raced with thoughts of Liliana in pain, and I felt a growing sense of panic. My hands shook as I fumbled with the keys to my car.
“Hey, Nicholas,” Riccardo said, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Remember, you’ve been to all the classes. You know what to expect and what to do. It’s going to be all right.”
“Right,” I agreed, dropping the keys. “Maybe you should drive.”
