A few days later, Everett came to see Una again. He came just as she and her mother were finishing breakfast, and Mrs. Stratton smiled to see how quickly Una jumped from her আসন and ran to let him in.
“Everett!” She beamed. His blue eyes lit up at her reaction to seeing him, and he reached out as if to pull her into a hug, then stopped as if wondering if that was too much right now. Una grinned and wrapped one arm around his shoulders in response. “Come in! We still have some প্যানকেকস if আপনি want some – I'd take one, Mom makes really good ones – how are you??”
“Great,” he told her, looking into her eyes. “I actually came to give আপনি some good news – well, and to ask আপনি something.”
“Yes?” Una's হৃদয় started racing. From the kitchen, Mrs. Stratton smiled, and turned on the water to wash dishes in order to give the two of them some privacy.
“Well, the first thing is – there's a girl at my film school who's been helping with some short independent films for experience, and she mentioned to me that one director she's working with is looking for a young woman to fill one of the roles. It's not a big role, but it is an essential one, and it's even a speaking part – I think there are seven অথবা so lines involved....”
Oh. Oh, this was too good to be real. “And আপনি told them about me, and they want me to do it??”
“They ব্যক্ত they would প্রণয় to have আপনি audition.” Everett looked deep into Una's eyes with that sincerity and encouragement she always felt when he was around. She just knew he was already sure she would get the role.
“Yes! I'll do it! Where? When? How do they want me to dress? Thank you, Everett!” And this time Una really did throw her arms around him, and she didn't miss the way his arms wrapped around her in return for a moment too, didn't miss the way their hug lingered a little আরো than it would have between friends.
“They ব্যক্ত they would send আপনি the details.” Everett ব্যক্ত when they finally broke apart. His smile was warm and encouraging. “Don't thank me. I was happy to do it.”
“Yeah, and I was happy to thank you,” Una teased. “So...” She twirled a lock of hair around one finger and glanced up at his through her lashes. “What was the other thing?”
“Oh – the other thing. Yes. Well... I was just wondering if maybe....” He was adorable. “There's a movie playing at the cinema right now that looks pretty good. I wondered if you'd want to go see it with me tomorrow night – and maybe I could take আপনি to ডিনার first?”
“Is this a date?” blurted Una. Her cheeks flushed again, but she didn't care if Everett noticed now. Let him see she was excited.
“Well... yes. If আপনি want it to be.”
“I do.” Una's face was warm, but she kept her voice quite steady considering she wanted to start jumping up and down and cheering অথবা something.
Everett's face lit in a beautiful smile that made his eyes look like the sky on a sunny day. He leaned অগ্রবর্তী slightly and kissed Una, and she felt as if her হৃদয় would burst out of her chest.
She would not have been surprised if romantic সঙ্গীত had started playing just now. This was perfect.