Valentine's Day 2018:

"So, where is the boyfriend taking you tonight?" My dad asked as we were getting in the car in the morning.

"He won't say." I sighed, "I mean, I don't know, like I'm almost positive he's not taking me out, I mean, it's Manhatten, and he's in college." I laughed a bit. "He did promise I would love it though."

"Well, maybe you can wear him down." My dad laughed, parking in front of my coffee shop.

"This is my first Valentine's Day, I'm nervous." I admitted, getting out of the car.

"He's a great guy, don't be nervous, Niñita."

"Not helpful, but I'll try." I smiled, and closed the car door, walking inside. I saw Kev smile at me a little as I walked in. I eventually got up to the front of the line, and Kevin was leaning on his elbows on the counter.

"Happy Valentines Day." He smiled at me, teasingly.

"I'm sure you say that to every girl who comes in here." I laughed.

"Actually, I have to." He shrugged, "but I don't have to do this." He leaned over and gently kissed me.

"ALVAREZ!" I heard his manager yell at him, and laughed, as it had come to be normal.

"It's Valentines Day." He whined. "Your coffee'll be over there in a second, Bunny."

"Mmkay." I smiled, and went over to the side counter. About a minute later he came over and handed me my cup.

"Happy Valentines Day, Sweetheart. Are you excited for tonight?" He asked.

"Yeah." I giggled.

"Good, and here you go." He bent over to pick something up then handed me a stuffed bunny rabbit with large floppy ears.

"Aww!" I giggled a little more. "Thank you."

"Hey, Boyfriend." He pointed to himself, "it's my job. So, I will pick you up at 6:30?"

"Yeah." I bit my lip.

"Awesome, you look adorable." He smiled, and leaned over kissing the center of my hairline.

"ALVAREZ!" I laughed as I heard his manager again.

"Abigail I swear, you're gonna get me fired." Kevin laughed a little, "SORRY!" He shouted back. "I'll see you tonight, Bunny." He stepped away from the counter, and brushed his hands off on his apron.

"Bye." I waved a little, and left the small coffee shop.

"That took a while." My dad noted as I got back in the car.

"Mmhm." I smiled.

"This is to die for." He said as he pulled out of the parking lot. "He bought you a gift based off your nickname."

"Yeah." I giggled, still feeling like I was floating.

•••

I was sitting on our couch, pulling on black heels when my mom walked in.

"Okay, stand up for me, Mija." She smiled and took my hand, helping me up. 

"How do I look?" I bit my lip, nervous.

"Fantastic. Okay? You're so beautiful, my little one." I looked down, seeing my shorter pink dress, the skirt flowing, and reaching about halfway down my thighs. "Just be careful, I know he's a nice guy, but, ugh, you're lovely."

"Thanks Mom." I blushed, and I heard a knock at the door.

"Okay, don't forget your phone and your card." She reminded me, "and your key!"

"Mom, I have a bag, it's okay." I laughed, grabbing the white clutch from the couch.

"Okay, well, I'll see you tonight, or tomorrow, depending."

"Mom!" I laughed,

"Your father and I might go out tonight, that's all I meant."

"Okay. Bye!" I waved, and opened the front door.

"Hi Darling." Kevin smiled at me. I giggled a little. He was wearing black slacks, a dark purple shirt and a black sports jacket. "You... you look beautiful."

"Thanks." I smiled, and stared at my feet, blushing.

"C'mon, taxi's out front." He took my hand and led me out of the apartment, and down the elevator to the taxi.

"So, uh, where are we going?" I asked, once in the car.

"Well, uh, I," he took a deep breath, "I'm still just in college, but I can cook. Is that alright?"

"You're cooking for me?" I smiled.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I can't really afford anything else."

"No, Kev, that's so sweet." I gently rubbed right above his knee, I heard his breath hitch right as I did so. "I'm sorry." I pulled my hand back, and mentally smacked myself.

"You're good, cutie." He smiled, and grabbed my hand, putting it back on his leg. I sighed a bit, and leaned against his shoulder.

Eventually we pulled up in front of his frat house. Kevin payed the cab driver, and walked me in.

"Now, I assume you don't want to eat in my room, so, we're eating in our dining room. Also, I mean, not all of the guys have a girlfriend so a lot of them are home right now. I told them not to bother us, but... well... you know how they are."

"Kev, its okay, this is precious."

"I'm glad." He smiled and kissed my forehead.

•••

Dinner was nice, he made me pasta, and we talked. As we were finishing, I heard someone come downstairs, loudly. Kevin groaned a bit, and I turned around to see one of his frat brothers standing with an open textbook, with a notebook in it, and a can of beer in his hand.

"I know you said don't bother you, but, you're is Hanstons Contemporary Lit course, right?"

"Yes. Is this time sensitive?" He asked.

"Yeah. Who was the first woman of color to win the Pulitzer?" He asked.

"Alice Walker." Kevin and I said at the same time.

"Oh, this is the girlfriend." He smiled, "she's cute, man."

"Thanks." I whispered, smiling.

"Mmkay, uh, thanks, and uh, don't be too loud tonight, I'm trying to study." He sort of stumbled away.

"Uh, he's drunk." I pointed out.

"Barely." Kevin shrugged.

"How is he going to remember anything he studied?" I asked.

"I dunno." Kevin laughed, "you've read The Color Purple?" He asked, changing the subject. "Well, I mean, you know Alice Walker."

"Yeah, it's one of my favorite books, I saw it on Broadway too."

"Oh, that's actually really cool."

"Thanks." I smiled.

•••

After dinner, the two of us were going to watch TV, which in my opinion, was the perfect end to Valentine's Day.

"Okay, what do you want to watch?" He asked, pulling a blanket over us.

"The Office." I smiled.

"I like that option." He laughed, and flipped it on.

We sat and watched for a while, curled up on the couch. He was gently rubbing my waist, when he took a deep breath.

"I love you."

"Huh?" I looked up, surprised. We'd been together three months, this was the first time he said it.

"Listen, I know we probably won't end up together, I have no idea how far we're gonna make it, but, Abigail, I truly truly love you." He said, hugging me tighter.

"I love you too." I smiled, looking up at him. I tilted my head up and kissed him. After I pulled away, I nestled back into his arms, thinking.

He knew nothing about me. He didn't know what happened prior to my adoption, he didn't know anything was wrong with me. He didn't know I was bipolar, he didn't know I had PTSD, he didn't know I had anxiety or that I had once attempted suicide. I didn't think I was going to get the the point where I had to tell him. Would he still love me?

"Kev?" I whispered.

"Hmm?" He replied.

"Uh, I- I need to tell you something. I... I uh, you know I was adopted, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Um, I, when I was thirteen, my birth parents put me up for adoption." I started, "from there I went to a group home, which is sorta like a little waiting area for foster kids without homes." I explained. "There were four girls and seven guys living there."

"Sweetheart? Uh, did...." he trailed off.

"No, I, uh, one day I was left alone with one of the older boys, and I mean, it's a long story but he told me I wasn't gonna be good for anything but sex in the future, and I slapped him." I admitted, "he beat me. I ended up in the hospital with three broken ribs."

"I'm sorry, Love." He sighed, gently rubbing my side.

"I... I didn't take for a week or two. I just, I guess, Kev, my point is, I was abused a lot. My foster parents hit me, I... uh, that's why my dad even noticed me." I noticed I had started to cry, at this point. "Uh, I just, I have BPD, and..." I trailed off, unable to say everything else. "I'm a lot of work. So, I guess, if you want to back out, now's your chance."

"Abigail," he sighed, and kissed my head, "I love you, okay? Everyone has something they aren't proud of. Just know, I'm never going to hit you, I'm never going to hurt you, you mean a lot to me, sweetie. The fact that people used to beat you changes nothing. Okay?" He asked.

"Okay." I nodded, crying.

"C'mere." He pulled me closer to him, and rubbed my arm. "Which Office character do you think you're most like?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Andy." I smiled. "How about you?"

"Oscar." He said, after a second.

"Really?" I asked, then held his head in my hands, and deeply kissed him, I moved from his lips to his cheeks and jaw, smiling to myself.

"A, A this is amazing." He said, and I immediately pulled away.

"So not Oscar." I laughed.

"I will sue over that." He laughed, "I just meant I was the most level headed person surrounded by crazy people."

"Mmm, I get that." I laughed, "you have something on your face." I noted, due to the residue of my pink lipstick on his cheeks and jaw.

"Nevermind, you are a handful, but I like it." He decided, as he moved me to sit on his lap.

"I like you." I smiled, letting my head sit in his shoulder.

"I like you too. Happy Valentines Day." He said, rubbing my back, lulling me off to sleep on his chest.

•••

Happy early Valentines Day!

(Or Galentines Day!!!!)

I stayed home sick today.

I hope you liked this...

Love you guys...

Thanks for being there for me 💕

Thanks for reading!!

- Abi