-Avery-

The day after we got back from our trip, I sat down next to Devin on the couch, folding one leg under me as I faced him. "Can we talk?"

Devin's brows furrowed ever so slightly. "Okay. What's this about?"

"Dev," I said gently. "I think you should go to the doctor."

He slumped back against the couch and rolled his eyes. "Really? You had me thinking you were going to break up with me."

"I'm serious. It's probably nothing, but your bruises and the way you were sweating the other night are starting to worry me."

"Going to the doctor will be a total waste of time."

"You don't know that," I insisted. "Look, if you go get checked out, I'll cook for you and we can have a date night at home."

"So you're bribing me?"

"If that's what it takes."

He sighed loudly, but he still wasn't telling me he'd go to the doctor. I needed to hear the words and know he was going to follow through.

"Please?" I said, my voice getting softer as I looked right at him. "If you won't do it because I'm bribing you with a date night, do it for me. I really care about you, and I'm worried. It'll give me peace of mind if you go get checked out. Will you do that for me?"

Devin swore and looked away. "I can't ever say no to you when you look at me with those big blue eyes."

"Then don't say no."

"Fine," he said. "I'll find a doctor and make an appointment."

"Will you tell me when it is?"

I could immediately sense Devin's annoyance. "Okay, Mom," he shot back at me. "Do you need to see the appointment confirmation too? Do you need to come with me and hold my hand?"

"You don't need to be rude," I said, staring back at him.

"It feels like you don't trust me."

"I do trust you. But this is important to me and I want to make sure it happens and you don't keep putting it off."

"I'll do it," he said, getting up from the couch. "I'm going to work out. See you later."

His words were clipped and I knew he was mad at me. I shouldn't let it get to me, but I hated when Devin got this way.

-Devin-

Later, I felt guilty for being upset with Avery. He was only insisting because he cared and wanted what was best for me, but it could be really annoying. I hated how he could get me to do things. No one had ever had that power over me, not even my dad.

I sat down with my laptop and found a clinic a few minutes away from our condo. I chose the first doctor who had an appointment available next week. The sooner I could get this over with and behind me, the better.

When I got the email confirmation, I went into the kitchen and held my phone in front of Avery's face. "Happy?"

"Yes. Thank you." He stepped close and wrapped his arms around me, and just like that, I wasn't mad anymore. I hugged him back, wishing I could hold onto him for the rest of the night.

-

The next day, Avery messaged me at work letting me know he was going home early to prepare for our date night and that I should come home at our usual time. It made me smile. I'd never met anyone who stayed true to their word like Avery did.

Unfortunately, it also made it impossible for me to focus on work. I couldn't wait to get home and see Avery, and I was excited about what he had planned. I knew it was just dinner at home and probably sex later, but everything with him seemed like a treat.

When I finally got home and unlocked the door, I stopped right after stepping into the condo. I hadn't been expecting this. The lights were low and there were candles placed around the condo, making the space smell like a pine forest. Jazz music played softly in the background, and Avery had set our small dining table with a plate set and cloth napkins I'd never seen before.

Best of all was Avery himself, standing in the kitchen wearing a light blue button down and the pants I liked best on him. He looked incredible. When I went to him, I could smell a hint of cologne. It made me want to run my hands through his hair and under his shirt, but I restrained myself and gave him a gentle kiss instead.

"This is way more than I expected. And you look amazing," I told him.

"When I said date night, I meant it."

"Do you want me to put on something nicer?"

"Only if you want. Dinner is ready, so I'll get it on the table."

I went to the bedroom and had an idea as soon as I stepped into the closet. I had a grey three piece suit that I knew I looked good in, and I knew Avery would love it. He hadn't seen me in it yet.

When I walked back into the living room, Avery looked up and his mouth dropped open. "Dev..."

I held my arms open. "You like it?"

He came to me, his eyes roaming over my body. "I love it. You're so handsome," he breathed, running one of his hands up my abs to my chest. "Sometimes I still can't believe I'm with you."

"Believe it," I said, pulling him to me and kissing him.

It didn't take long before I felt a familiar hardness pressing against my leg, and Avery began to subtly roll his hips. I had to put my hands on his shoulders and hold him away from me. "If you start that, dinner is definitely going to get cold."

"Right," he said, closing his eyes. "We don't want that to happen."

We sat down at the table, and when I saw the food, I paused. Avery had made pasta shells stuffed with spinach and ricotta. There was a small dish filled with meatballs to the side.

"This was me and my mom's favorite meal," I said. "She'd make stuffed shells with a side of meatballs for me all the time."

Avery smiled softly at me. "I know. I talked with your dad and got the recipe from him. I hope that's okay."

I closed my eyes, taking a minute to compose myself. I felt Avery's hand on mine, and he slowly stroked his thumb across my skin.

"How are you always so thoughtful?" I finally said. "This means a lot to me, Avery."

"I know I can never measure up to your mom's cooking, but I hope I at least did it justice."

"I'm sure you did."

I was right. From the very first bite, the food was perfect. The contrast between the marinara sauce and the cheese in the shells was exactly how I remembered, and the meatballs were full of flavor.

I looked up at Avery and smiled. "You nailed it. It tastes just like my mom's. It almost feels like she's here."

There was a faint sheen of tears in Avery's eyes. "I'm happy you like it. I want tonight to be special."

"It is. Thank you for doing all this," I told him, looking around the condo. "I love it." I took another bite of my pasta shells. "This is how my mom got me to eat vegetables when I was little. I would never have touched spinach, but I didn't mind it when it was mixed in with cheese and sauce."

"I can picture you refusing vegetables and throwing a tantrum," Avery said, laughing.

I laughed too. "My parents were so happy when I started asking for my mom to make this all the time. It was a success in their eyes because it meant I was eating a vegetable."

"It makes sense now why you complained about vegetables at camp," he teased.

"I only complained because it was all vegetables and no meat!"

Avery grinned at me from across the table. "That's why I made sure to include the meatballs. And, I'm hoping there will be more meat later tonight," he said, his eyes making their way down my body.

I smirked. "There definitely will be."

-

When we had finished eating, I helped Avery take our plates and the rest of the food into the kitchen. Once it was all put away, he held out his hand.

"Come dance with me."

I laughed. "We're going to dance in the living room?"

"Why not?"

"You know I'll do anything for you," I told him, taking his hand.

Avery began leading me in a circle, his cheek pressed against my neck as we swayed to the music. For some reason, I got choked up, and it made me feel stupid. So what if he'd planned this romantic night and made a point to incorporate a memory of my mom? So what if he clearly cared about me in a way that scared me? So what if he was perfect? There was no need for me to get sappy about it.

Avery lifted his head and pressed his forehead against mine. "I'm so lucky you're my boyfriend. Every day with you is amazing, and I'm looking forward to many more. I love you, Devin."

I stopped moving and stood in place. Had I really just heard the words I'd been hoping for ever since I'd said them?

"You..." I breathed, my heart beginning to race. "You do? You love me?"

"I do," he murmured.

Suddenly I was blinking furiously. Avery's face was blurring in front of me, and I felt his hand on my cheek.

"Devin." His voice was soft, and the moment broke something inside of me. Avery held me tightly as tears ran down my cheeks.

"I've wanted to hear you say that for a long time," I confessed, my voice shaking. "I love you so much."

"I know," he said, beginning to rock me back and forth.

Once I regained my composure, I sought his lips with my own. I pulled him against me, my hands roaming over his body, and in an instant my blood was on fire. I needed him like I needed air.

We stumbled down the hall to the bedroom, me pulling off Avery's shirt and him undoing the buttons on my vest. I couldn't get my hands on his bare skin fast enough. On the bed, his body covered mine as I kissed along his jaw and down to his neck. He rolled his hips and our bodies slid together, the friction making me groan.

I cupped Avery's face in my hands and pulled him towards me, kissing him so deeply I couldn't breathe. I don't think I would care if he smothered me. Avery only broke the kiss so he could grab the lube, and I ran my hands up and down his back as he got himself ready. "You're so hot," I breathed, both of my hands settling on his ass.

"No, that's you," he said, running his hands down my chest. One of his hands moved lower, and then he was sinking down onto me.

"Avery," I moaned. I squeezed his hips hard as he began to ride me, not knowing if I wanted him to slow down or speed up. I wanted everything all at once. I always did with him. "You're perfect," I told him, looking up at his beautiful eyes. "This entire night is perfect."

He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. "I wanted the moment I told you I loved you to be perfect."

I kissed him, feeling completely overwhelmed with him on top of me and around me. It was about to be too much. "I love you," I murmured against his lips.

"I love you too."

He kept the roll of his hips just slow enough to keep me on the edge. When I was panting his name, he reached down and tangled his fingers with mine, pushing our hands above my head as he sped up. I squeezed his hands and my entire body shuddered as I came apart underneath him, thrusting up into him and moaning.

As soon as I recovered, I reached for him and began stroking him. I loved watching his breaths come faster and feeling his body tighten around me as I took over.

"Devin," he whimpered. His head fell back and he cried out, and it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen. I thrust gently into him until he collapsed onto my chest.

I wrapped my arms around him, never wanting to let go. "I don't think things can get any better," I whispered.

He raised his head enough to kiss me. "You can't improve perfection, so I think you're right."