Page 15 of One Pucking Chance

“Here’s the thing. We have this one date to see if we’re compatible, and who knows, maybe we’re not. But if we catch feelings, I want them to be authentic. So there’s no point in hiding who I am.” He raises his right hand, palm out. “I’m Jaden, a self-proclaimed Annaliseadmirer.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Sounds better than stalker. Now you go.”

I raise my hand. “I’m Anna, and I will not be catching feelings tonight. But I am having a good time, which is the opposite of how I thought this evening would go.”

“The night is not yet over, sweet Anna,” he tsks. “Let’s just save those proclamations. Wouldn’t want you to have to eat your words later.”

“Is being so cocky a professional athlete thing or just a you thing?”

“Hard to say,” he answers. “Come on. Let’s pick some apples.”

Jaden explains the differences between the red and yellow apples. He goes on about crispness, shelf life, and sweetness level. It’s pretty adorable, if I’m honest. I’ve never been schooled on apple differences.

He pulls a yellow apple from the tree and shines it against his sweater before handing it to me. “These are my favorite.”

I take a bite, and I sigh. “OMG. This is so good.”

“I told you. Apples just hit different when they’re fresh.” He joins me, taking a bite of an apple. “Well, let’s pick.”

We begin filling up our baskets. “How did you pull this off? The lights, baskets, and wine…the whole private orchard at night experience?”

“The owner, Mr. Appleton, is a big Cranes fan. I just simply asked, and he and his wife were happy to set it up for me.”

“Mr. Appleton?” I laugh. “Is that his real name? What are the odds that someone with the last name of Appleton would own an apple orchard?”

“I don’t know. Honestly, I’ve never asked. His family has owned it for four generations. It started with his great-grandpa. So whether great-grandpa already had the last name of Appleton or changed it to fit his life’s work, I couldn’t tell you. I like to believe that this family has always had the name. It makes the whole lore of this orchard more special.”

“I mean, I guess if they had the name, they owed it to themselves to start an orchard. So have you done this before, the romantic date in the orchard thing?”

His arm reaches out, and his hand grazes my cheek. “Oh, sweet Anna. Are you jealous?”

“No! Of course not. I was just curious.”

“Well, don’t fret because this is a first, only for you.”

“It wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t.” I pull an apple from the branch a little too hard, and a couple of errant apples fall to the ground. “Oh no. That’s so wasteful.”

“It happens. The deer will eat them up. No worries.”

“By the way, you promised to tell me what your favorite scene in my last movie was?”

We cross over to the opposite rows of apples.

“I did, didn’t I?” Jaden says, picking a red apple. “Now these are really good right off the tree. They’re super sweet and juicy, but they don’t last as long once they’re picked. They go grainy quicker than the yellow ones do, so I usually only pick a few.”

I try one of the red apples, and he’s right. It’s incredibly sweet. A drop of juice escapes from the side of my mouth, and before I can wipe it away, Jaden swipes it with his thumb. The movement causes goose bumps to pebble across my skin.

I clear my throat. “So are you going to tell me or what?”

“Oh right.” He nods. “Well, to be honest, I loved the whole movie, but if I had to pick my favorite thing about it, I would say it was your character Caroline’s growth. I thought the way you played her was really powerful. In the beginning, she was so timid, and her fear was palpable through the screen. The growth throughout was believable because it was so intricately woven through your actions. Like even with the way you moved your hair. At the beginning of the movie, you were constantly tucking it behind your ear, like you felt insecure and then you started flicking it behind your shoulder and then running your fingers through it. At the end, it felt more wild and fearless as you allowed it to fall where it fell. You know? You didn’t try to mess with it, like you—or your character, of course—felt free. Your acting was so understated but powerful. It’s hard to explain.” He grins and shrugs his shoulders.

Our baskets now full of apples, we slowly walk down the grassy aisle back toward the table while he continues. “I’m obviously not in the film industry and am probably butchering this explanation, but my favorite thing about the movie was your performance and how you strengthened your character until she was secure enough to leave. It was a beautiful message about loving oneself enough to know what’s best. Caroline left someone she loved deeply. She left a great relationship because she knew it was the best thing for her even though staying would’ve been easier. It was the whole ‘we only live once so make it the best life you can’ philosophy. But the message would’ve fallen flat had you not played that character so well.”

He steals a look in my direction, and my steps halt. I slowly turn to face him. It’s not until I see his eyes widen with shock that I realize I’m crying. A few tears have escaped and are rolling down my cheeks. I swipe them away in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry.” He sets his basket down and raises his hands in surrender. “I’m extremely basic in my movie knowledge. I could be totally wrong. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“No.” I swallow hard, shaking my head. Another tear escapes. “It’s not that. You didn’t upset me… you understood me. Very few people get that movie. I mean, critics hated it. My dad especially loathed it. Everyone saw it as a spicy romance and expected a certain ending, but that wasn’t Caroline’s story. The relationship was meaningful because it allowed her to grow into the woman she was supposed to be, but it was never meant to be her ending.” I hold my hand to my chest. “Thank you for that. It’s so rare that people see beyond the motorcycle scene and understand the movie's message.”

“Of course. It was an amazing movie.”

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