The Instant I Realized: When He Confessed His Love, It Took Me Days to Gather the Courage to Reply

When Sparks First Flew: A Tale of Ushering into Love

So, first things first: Lachlan’s got a thing for theatrics—he says he first laid eyes on me while I was working the usher gig at the Eternity Playhouse in Sydney, way before Covid turned our lives upside down. But let’s be real, my heart kicked into overdrive in December 2021 when we dove headfirst into rehearsals for A Chorus Line. Talk about instantly smitten! This guy was a full-on triple threat—handsome, talented, and a total ocean-loving, surfboard-riding darling, just like yours truly. A rare find in the musical theatre scene, I must say! It was game on, and I wasn’t shy to slide into his DMs to snag his number.

But, of course, fate had plans for us—cue the dramatic lockdowns! Our flirty Insta chats quickly escalated into *epic* two-hour video calls every other day. Let’s just say, Lachlan Dearing and I turned into late-night chat champions, igniting a connection that was hotter than any stage spotlight. The opening night for Guys & Dolls? Oh, honey, picture us: total stars, both onstage and off. But it wasn’t all rose petals and fireworks; he got injured and had to bow out of the show. Still, we kept the spark alive through the chaos.

After the season’s curtain fell, destiny had me landing a dream role on Home and Away. Cue our fabulous reunion at Cronulla beach! Imagine this: an epic paddleboard session followed by lunch on him, celebrating my new gig. My brain was like, “Did this just turn into something more?” I was crushing hard but he was playing it cool, leaving me in a state of delightful confusion.

Then, out of the blue, like a scene from a rom-com, he called me—giddy schoolgirl vibes activated! He asked me out to dinner, and let me tell you, I was in suspense: was this a date or merely a friendly catch-up? Thursday rolled around, and he confirmed plans like a true gentleman, even offering to pick me up—what a charmer! I donned a sizzling denim jumpsuit, practically sweating from anticipation, my heart racing like I was on stage for a big number.

At dinner, I was buzzing with excitement and nerves, wondering: “Is this really a date?” Spoiler alert: it definitely was! When he paid the bill, I felt a dizzying rush that sent me spiraling back to the beach—I needed to cool down. As we wandered toward the waves, our fingers intertwined, I thought, “Oh yeah, this is happening—no holding hands with friends!” Sitting on the sand, I got bold and blurted out, “I really want to kiss you.” Talk about a bold move! But when he turned my chin towards him, calmness washed over me like a gentle tide.

Fast-forward a few weeks—more phone convos where I was recounting my day’s drama when Lachlan dropped the big one: “Oh my god, I love you!” Cue the bewilderment! I didn’t know how to handle this revelation, so I let it slide. It took me days of rehearsing “I love you too” in my head before I finally called him, delivered my lines, and hung up like a queen. There was no going back after that; I was hooked!

The next couple of years were a whirlwind of long-distance romance and killer schedules—he was off dazzling audiences with Hamilton while I was on set at Home and Away. But we made it work. By the end of last year, we took a leap of faith together and bought a place in Sydney. Full circle, right? Now we’re back to sharing the stage in Guys & Dolls, with way less time spent on the phone and far more hand-holding. Ah, love… it really is the ultimate showstopper!

So, tell me, when did you know you were falling for someone? Spill the juicy details!