Beyond the Notebook

Morning of love and surprises

Friday morning arrived earlier than usual. My alarm went off at 5 a.m., half an hour before Zac's interview with Jimmy Kimmel was scheduled to air. Groggily, I sent Zac a good luck message, my heart fluttering with anticipation. Carmen, who had come over to spend the night, was already up and excited, ready to watch the interview with me. We settled on the couch, with a cup of coffee in hand, as I turned on the TV.

As the interview began, Zac and Jimmy chatted lightheartedly about his upcoming projects. I couldn't help but smile, watching Zac talk about the scripts he was reading, and his passion for the new roles that awaited him. But as the conversation progressed, I knew the moment I was waiting for was coming up.

Jimmy, ever the expert in subtly sliding into personal topics, asked with a teasing smile, "So Zac, I have to ask, are you still single, or has someone finally stolen your heart?"

I held my breath, and Carmen leaned in closer. Zac smiled warmly, and after a brief pause, he looked straight into the camera. "No," he answered confidently, "I'm happily in a relationship."

Jimmy's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Who is she? Is she famous? You know we have to know all the details!"

Zac chuckled, a fond smile playing on his lips. "She's not famous yet," he began, a playful glint in his eyes. "But she will be. She's starting her own company in France. And yeah, she's French." The audience murmured with interest as Jimmy leaned in, clearly intrigued.

Jimmy pressed further, "So, what's her name?"

Zac shook his head with a smile. "I can't say her name just yet, but I can tell you that I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have her. She's amazing, talented, and ambitious. I can't wait for everyone to see what she can do."

Carmen and I exchanged excited glances, my heart racing. This was it. He was talking about me on national television.

Jimmy wasn't done though. He leaned forward, intrigued. "So, are you happy? How do you feel about her?"

That's when Zac said something that left both Carmen and me completely stunned, and the audience in awe. "I've never felt a connection like this before," he said, his voice sincere and full of emotion. "Even with my longest relationship in the past, it's different. It was love at first sight. She's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

The audience let out a collective gasp, and Carmen and I stared at the screen in disbelief, our jaws practically on the floor. Jimmy was just as shocked as we were. "Wow, Zac," he managed to say, regaining his composure. "Are you saying you're planning on proposing soon?"

Zac smiled, a little sheepishly, but with a hint of certainty in his eyes. "Maybe," he replied, "At least, it's on my mind."

Jimmy nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, I wish you both all the love and happiness. Sounds like you've found something really special. That's incredible, Zac. And you've got us all rooting for you two."

As the interview wrapped up, Carmen and I erupted into screams of joy. "Did you hear that?!" she shouted, hugging me tightly. "He basically just told the whole world that he's in love with you and wants to marry you!"

I was in shock, my emotions a whirlwind of disbelief and pure happiness. "I...I don't even know what to say," I admitted, my voice shaky with excitement.

"You have to call him!" Carmen urged, bouncing with excitement. "Tell him you feel the same way!"

I hesitated. "I don't know, Carmen. What if I'm too forward?"

She grabbed my shoulders, her eyes wide with determination. "Are you kidding me? Before you went to see him, you told me that one of your dreams was to marry Zac. He just said on national television that he might propose to you one day. You have to call him!"

Her words sunk in, and with a deep breath, I knew she was right. I had to tell him how I felt.

I picked up my phone, my hands trembling slightly, and dialed Zac's number. After a few rings, he picked up, his voice warm and familiar. "Hey," he said softly, "Did you watch the interview?"

"Yes," I replied, my voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for everything you said. I feel the same way, Zac. You have no idea how much it means to me."

There was a pause at the other end, and then he whispered, "I'm glad you feel the same. I really do mean every word."

We stayed on the phone for a few more minutes, exchanging heartfelt words that made me feel even closer to him, despite the distance. Each word made my heart swell with even more affection for him. But as the conversation went on, Zac's voice became gentle, more concerned.

"Hey," he said softly, "I know it's really late for you. You should get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

I smiled, feeling warm inside. "Okay, Zac. Thank you again. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," he replied. "I love you."

"I love you too."

As we hung up, I placed my phone down with a smile on my face, feeling secure in our relationship. The future felt bright, and with Zac by my side—even across the distance—I knew that everything was going to be okay.