“I’d like that.”

I have a theory about the phrase “I’d like that.” I think it exists only in romantic comedies, and if it is used in real life, it’s only because the person saying it is consciously imitating a romantic comedy.

You know the “I’d like that” I’m talking about. It’s the one that happens when two potential lovers have been through some trying shenanigans, only to emerge from them wiser and stronger and arrive at a tender moment in which Lover A asks Lover B if they would like to do something trivial, like “get some ice cream,” that actually indicates the beginning of something much more meaningful. And Lover B looks up at Lover A with that twinkle in their eye, and says: “I’d like that.”

It’s a unique line of dialogue that occurs constantly in TV shows & films, and nearly always in the exact situation described above. Understandably - it’s understatement, it’s subtext, it’s charming. And I’d be willing to bet that many of us are unconsciously aware of it, and have used it at some point in our lives (in romantic circumstances, that is - after all, when your friend says, “Want to do come with me to do laundry and grab a Filet-O-Fish,” you’re not going to look up at him with just a hint of a smile on your lips and say “I’d like that.” Your friend would likely recoil and say “Let’s not be so fucking tender about it.”).

But perhaps it’s not so bad to imitate a romantic comedy, if & when you have the chance. With one hand holding another and that twinkle in an eye, maybe it’s better not to worry about sounding cliche and just enjoy the fact that for this oddly specific moment, there exists a cheesy, breezy, perfect little phrase.