As a writer, I’m always telling stories before I even know what they’re about, getting carried away and turning words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into chapters, chapters into love stories. Maybe winging it like that works for novels, but for life, your imagination can set you up for a heartbreaking ending.

“That sucks that she’s missing out on this party,” I say, trying not to get too bummed out. I really got to stop investing so fast.

“She’s actually photographing the party in Phoenix. Then she’s flying in tomorrow morning for more New York adventures.”

“How long are you visiting for?”

“I actually just moved here,” Valentino says, looking around again at Times Square.

His words get my heart racing.

So does his smile again.

Valentino has this happy glow while looking around the city as a newly minted New Yorker. Who knows how long he’s been waiting to make this happen. It could be a month, a year, a decade, his whole life. Were things bad back in Arizona? Did Valentino and Scarlett need a change? What’s good with their parents—or guardians? Are they also moving here? I have so many questions, and it might take a minute to get some answers, but I know I got time now too.

“Welcome to NYC,” Dalma says. “So you’re alone tonight?”

“I am. I arrived a couple hours ago and came right back out for the party.”

“You can chill with us if you want,” I offer.

“Some company would be nice. You sure you don’t mind?”

“Hell no. It’s not like you know anyone else in the city.”

“I’m actually very popular. My landlord is pretty much my best friend.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” I say, which is just so damn bold.

“He’s actually the worst, but I’ll have to have you over soon anyway,” Valentino says with that damn smile.

All right, all right, all right—if this isn’t a thing, then I’m giving up on ever making the first move again. I’m going to need a guy to swear on my parents’ grave that he loves me, and I won’t even tell him that those plots are empty so that he doesn’t get funny and lie.

But because Valentino’s got me weak, I wouldn’t need all that.

His smile alone has got me cashing in.

Valentino

11:32 p.m.

It’s my first night and I’m making friends already.

Friends with beautiful names. Beautiful faces too.