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By the timewe get to the restaurant, I’m floating on cloud nine. Not only did I sing for Elliot, but he gave me the best complimentin the world.

You have a gift, Gerard.

That’s right. I havea gift.Me, Gerard Anthony Gunnarson. Who knew that I could do more than just sling pucks into nets? I could be the next American Idol. The next Voice. The next American who’s got talent.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, I need to graduate from college.

Walking into the restaurant, hand in hand with Elliot, a wave of nerves threatens to turn my legs to jelly. But then I remember Ryan Gosling’s wise words inCrazy, Stupid, Love:“Be better than the Gap.”

While I’m not entirely sure what that means, I think it has something to do with being a perfect gentleman.

The hostess leads us to our table, and I rush ahead to pull out Elliot’s chair for him. The move surprises him, and I mentally fist-pump the air.Another point.

“Thank you, kind sir,” Elliot says in a terrible posh British accent.

“Why, of course, my good man,” I reply in an equally terrible accent as I take my seat across from him. We both laugh uncontrollably and suddenly, I’m no longer nervous.

I read over the menu. Everything sounds delicious, and I struggle to make a decision. “Do you know what you’re going to get?”

“I always get fettuccine Alfredo when I come here.”

“Oh, that sounds good. I think I’ll get that too.”

The waitress comes to take our order. As I hand her my menu, I think about the other rom-com tropes I’ve yet to do—accidentally brushing my hand against his as we both reach for the breadsticks and paying for dinner, even if Elliot offers to split the bill.

I take stock of the ambiance, and I have to admit, I made a good choice tonight. The place isn’t too crowded, the background music is pleasant, and the service seems to be running smoothly. It isn’t long before our food comes, and we dig in with smiles on our faces.

In between bites of food, we strike up a conversation about Elliot being adopted. “It’s not something I advertise, but it’s also not a secret. My mom couldn’t have children and adopted me when I was an infant. She’s always done her best to give me a wonderful life.”

“I’m sure she has.” I try to imagine Elliot as a small child. I bet his big brown eyes were even more enormous on his tiny face.

“I think that’s why she had such a hard time with me going to BSU. She’s used to being able to provide for me, but since the tuition was out of her price range, she wanted me to go to community college.”

I understand where he’s coming from. College isn’t cheap; it can be a huge burden, even with scholarships and financial aid. I’m lucky to not only have parents who can afford to send me anywhere but also a talent that can open doors for me.

Elliot sets his fork down and studies me intently. “She wants what’s best for me, but sometimes I don’t think she truly understands what I want.”

“What do you want?”

“To make my own decisions. To follow my own path. My mom means well, but it’s hard when the person who raised you expects you to do thingstheirway.”

I take a sip of water to wash down the Alfredo sauce. “It sounds like your mom loves you a lot. Maybe she’s just scared of losing you?”

Elliot sighs. “Yeah. I know that’s what it is. It’s just…complicated.”

“Families always are. But you have a solid foundation with yours.”

“I do,” Elliot admits. “I just need her to see that this is important to me.”

I reach across the table, take his hand in mine, and gently squeeze it. Sometimes, you don’t need words to comfort someone. You just need to be there.

He glances down at our joined hands, then back up at me. His eyes say it all.Thanks.

“Tell me about your sister. What’s she like?”

A smile spreads across my face at the mention of my favorite person in the world. “Oh, dude, where do I even begin? She’s the coolest kid ever. Smart as a whip, sassy as can be, and she’s got a heart the size of the entire country.”

“She sounds amazing.”