“Well,” he said, his voice faint over the pounding of his heart. His hands left clammy smears on the diner table, the cold condensation of the water glass doing nothing to cool him down.

“Well,” he tried again, clearing his throat. Already, he’d fucked this up. No way was this coming off as casual and lighthearted as he’d planned. When he dared to glance over, it was to furrowed brows and an uncertain smile.

“That’s what I really like about you.” Finally, finally, the words left his mouth, a jumbled, stuttered mess that spilled into the space between them.

He could see her face out of the corner of his eye but glued to the sight of the sticky table in front of him, the thought of meeting her gaze now struck him impossible.

His mouth, possessed, burst forth, “I’ve liked you for a really long time now and I wanted to let you know because, because I…”

Because what, you idiot!

He would’ve continued to wish that he could turn back time and start all over again- and was half-considering asking her to play her part as an amnesiac in the encore-had he not looked up and caught her expression just then.

Aw fuck.