Our First Date: A Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Love Story

Our First Date

Have you ever been running as hard and as fast as you can but you're unclear on where exactly you are headed? That's how I felt in the spring of 2018; before her. I had spent my whole life working hard ensuring everything was perfect but feeling this emptiness inside. All the effort all the sacrifice and still empty.

It's why when I bumped into her at the Met Gala in May, it felt like time stood still for a moment and I felt my heart skip a beat. We had gone together the year before and the press couldn't stop asking if we were an item. Regretfully we weren't. And part of me felt like it was my fault because I didn't make a move. But I was so mesmerized by her beauty, her conversation, her smile that first night we walked the carpet together and seeing her at the party again had all those feelings rushing back. I wasn't going to let her go again this time.

"When are you going to let me take you out on a proper date Ms. Chopra?" I asked between sips of beer as we stood in a corner away from the chaos and crowd of celeb friends reuniting.

"Whenever you ask me out properly Mr. Jonas" she replied coyly.

And almost instantly, she had me again. Wrapped around her finger, completely caught up in her presence.

"What about this week? I'll be in New York for a couple more days" I wasn't going to let the moment pass me by again.

"I can't. I'm leaving in the morning for Africa for another UNICEF trip" she replied and almost instantly I felt the wind leave my sails. Where we destined to be two people always on the wrong continent?

And almost as if she could see defeat in my face she gently touched my arm and said "how about I hit you up when I'm back. I'll only be gone for a week and then I have some work meetings back here in the states."

Suddenly, I was back in the game. The plans were vague she could've been politely brushing me off but I was still in it. And I had to believe that she felt the same energy when she touched my arm. Electricity between two people like that can't go unnoticed.

——-

Wait. Did I just feel something between Nick and me? There's no way. No. We are friends. I don't crush on people, they crush on me. And I told myself that the next few months I need to focus on nailing down pressing work items. That was probably all in my head.

But I couldn't shake the thought. Why was I actually excited to get dinner with him? What exactly was I feeling when we touched? And why did I oddly feel naked on the carpet this year without him by my side?

The thoughts flooded my head the whole flight to Zimbabwe. I distracted myself by reviewing the UNICEF briefing materials that I was handed and going over the details of the programs and refugee camps we would visit. But every so often my mind would wander back to Nick.

Maybe I should text him?

I stopped and started a few flirty "it was good running into you" texts to send him but quickly deleted them. I couldn't remember the last time someone had me feeling like a blushing school girl like this. Suddenly I was grateful that for the rest of the week I wouldn't have cell phone reception so I could actually focus on the job at hand and not some young American guy who looked to die for in a suit, always smelled amazing and had perfectly styled hair.

—-

A week went by and I never heard from her. But I couldn't get her out of my head. I knew I felt something between us. I couldn't be imagining it, it was real.

But radio silence.

I watched her social media account religiously. She posted breathtaking photos of the kids in Zimbabwe and suddenly I felt inspired and guilty. She was focused on raising awareness for children around the world and I wanted her focused on me.

As soon as it looked like her trip was over I waited in anticipation. Every iMessage that came in I hoped was her. We had agreed she was going to text me first right? Right? Shit, I can't remember was I supposed to message her.

What could I write without sounding overeager? I need to be smooth but assertive. This is the world's most beautiful woman we are talking about here. Somehow over the past 2 years of flirty messages and glamorous hangout sessions, I haven't moved us out of the friend zone. I couldn't let another chance go by.

"Hey, hope you had a great trip! It looked amazing. I can't wait to hear all about it. Maybe over dinner and show?"

—-

As we sat in the audience of Beauty and the Beast I could barely watch the performers whose songs were filling the arena of the Hollywood Bowl. I could only watch her as she watched them. Completely locked in, captivated and sometimes moved.

I finally built up the courage to reach over and hold her hand. I locked my fingers in hers and stared straight ahead. She turned and looked at me and I turned my face to face hers and it was as though her eyes were staring directly into my soul.

"This is beautiful," she said simply.

"It really is" I replied

I couldn't tell if we were talking about the show or us being together at the show but either way, the words rang true. There was something beautiful here and this time I was sure she felt it too.

When we all left the show to grab food my hand never left hers. She was recalling the show at a mile a minute hand flying in the air with so much enthusiasm. Neither of us could stop smiling or laughing and exchanging stories.

After dinner, we left the group and headed back to her hotel. I knew nothing was going to happen between us but I couldn't let her hand leave mine just yet.

We sat on her couch swapping stories. She told me all about her time in Zimbabwe the kids that met what it all meant to her and why she had been doing this type of work for so many years. There was a balance of heartbreak and earnest as she talked about the things she had seen over the years.

A tear welled up in her eye as she told me the story of one young girl. She had feelings that ran deep. The pain of the children she had met was her pain and as the tear began to tumble down her face I reached up to gently wipe it away.

With my hand on her face, I held her gaze and leaned in to kiss her. It was a kiss two years in the making. A kiss that was full of the electricity we had felt at the Met Gala, the beauty when our hands locked for the first time and a deep desire for her not to feel any pain alone anymore. I wanted to be her comforter.

We kissed for what felt like an eternity. Her lips were as soft and enticing. I found myself lost in them. Not wanting to break apart but only bring me closer to her to experience more of her. Time stopped.

At some point, one of us pulled away and we sat there looking at each other. Both of us wanting more and desperately looking into the eyes of the other person for a signal.

"I should go," I said, the words stumbling out of my mouth with almost instant regret. But this isn't how I wanted our first time to be. I didn't want her thinking this was just something physical. She was much more than that for me. I wanted to be more than that for her.

She blinked slowly almost coming out of the trance we had been in "yeah... of course" her accent making the words more inviting than they should've been.

I looked at her and nodded. Silently confirming our resolve in my decision to part ways. "Let's hang out tomorrow"

"Tomorrow..." her voiced trailed off. I couldn't tell if that was a yes or a no but any acknowledgment was good enough.

I looked around for my jacket and keys and started heading for the door as she followed behind. I opened the door almost wanting her to beg me to stay but she was silent.

I leaned in and kissed her again. Just as passionate just as earnest. Almost trying to tell her that this wasn't an end but just a responsible pause. (I hate responsible pausing).

"Tomorrow" with my lips still interlocked with hers.

"Tomorrow," she said in reply almost breathing it as a promise back into me.

"Tomorrow," I said to myself nodding as I took the elevator down.

I got to the empty streets of LA and clenched my fist victoriously "tomorrow"