"It's submitted!" I yell as I walk out into the living room.

Kennedy looks up from her laptop, smiling. "Awh, yay! How do you feel about it?"

"I'm happy with it." And I really do mean it. My essays came together well, and the pictures that I took on Sunday looked amazing.

I got some really cool mountain shots and even some of the Hollywood sign. And I got to spend the day with Bawdy, so I can't complain at all. It didn't even feel like I was working towards a deadline with how much I was enjoying it. I wish it always felt like that.

I look over at the time on the microwave. "Fuck, I need to head to work," I groan.

"Did you eat anything yet?" Kennedy asks.

"No, I guess I will when I get back." I grab a pack of Goldfish off the counter and throw it into my bag. This will have to do for now. I was so focused that I forgot to eat. Although I didn't even have time if I wanted too. I'm surprised I don't even feel that hungry.

And that might be the Adderall speaking that I took earlier.

I send Bawdy a quick text saying that my application is submitted, and Kennedy drives me to work since she has to go to a study group. At least I only have to work a couple of hours tonight. It's going to feel so good to just lie down in bed later and have nothing pressing on my mind.

That nothing went away when I was reminded of the tension with my family. My mom did try to call me once, but I couldn't add any more stress to my last few days. She hasn't tried calling or texting multiple times, so hopefully she got the hint that we both need to cool down. More like she needs to cool down, and I need to be in a forgiving mood. Now is not the time.

I stay busy most of the time at work, so it at least feels like it is going by quickly. I haven't done anything stupid at work, so it seems like Ronnie fully trusts me now. I can't fuck this up since I actually am going to need him as a reference when applying to jobs in the spring.

It's really annoying to even need letters of recommendation. What if the person writing them isn't even good at writing or expressing how much that I'm able to do? Getting a job shouldn't be dependent on how one to three people portray me in the workplace.

I guess I don't have much better of an idea to evaluate potential people to hire, but I hate the thought of even asking professors to write me letters.

Shit, I need to be doing well enough in classes to even ask for letters.

I shake my thoughts from my head and finish putting away the camera supplies for the night. I say bye to Ronnie and head outside to meet Kennedy.

I don't see her car at first, so I take a seat on one of the benches outside. Kennedy is usually very punctual, but I did get out a few minutes early. I don't mind waiting at all, but her being late makes me worry that something bad could have happened to her.

Literally no reason to jump to those conclusions besides my own mind liking to induce panic in me all the time.

I look up at the sound of a car pulling in. Except it's not a car. It's a limo. Bawdy's limo specifically.

All limos use to look the same to me, but I couldn't miss his. It also helps that he sticks his head out the window and waves to me with a huge smile on his face. "Surprise," he yells as they pull up towards me.

This definitely is a surprise. If he didn't say surprise, I would have thought that my memory must be giving out, because we didn't plan this at all. "What are you doing here?" I say practically skipping while moving towards him at the window. I bend down and kiss him before he pulls his head back in and opens the door.

"Thought we'd celebrate you submitting your application." I step inside and sit down next to him.

"I just submitted it. I didn't get in yet," I say trying not to get my hopes up too much.

"They'd be stupid not to take you," Bawdy says while pouring me a drink. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving," I reply immediately. "Let me call Kennedy. She's supposed to pick me up." I look outside the window. She's still not here.

"I told her I was getting you," Bawdy says casually.

"What? How?" I ask confused as to how he went about contacting her.

"Her phone is also linked to the security system set up in your place, so I got her number. I told her I'd get you."

We catch each other up on our last 48 hours apart from one another. After Bawdy dropped me off from the helicopter, he had to go out to dinner and then just did a bit of writing on Monday.

The limo comes to a stop, and Bawdy jumps up to open the door for me. The cooler night air hits my skin, and I wish that I would have brought a thicker jacket.

"Close your eyes," Bawdy says as we are both standing outside.

I do as I'm told, and he scoops me up effortlessly into his arms. I start laughing. "You better keep them closed," he says playfully.

"What if I don't?" I question as he continues to carry me. I feel so small in his arms.

"Guess I'd have to punish you before we even eat." My stomach growls loudly, pleading me to not put off this dinner.

He breaks out of his sexual undertone and laughs, clearly hearing my stomach. "Sounds like you can't wait to eat, so you'd better listen."

As much as I wouldn't mind him doing whatever he wants to do to me right now, I can't deny that I really need to eat. "Can I at least get a hint of the restaurant?"

"Not a restaurant. No more questions. We're almost there."

After a few more moments of trying to piece together what we could be doing, Bawdy sets me down and tells me to open my eyes. As my eyelids flutter open, I take in the beautiful dinner scene set up around me.

We're standing at a gazebo, which is surrounded by gorgeous colorful flowers. There's a singular table in the middle with two chairs for us. A bottle is waiting on ice for us as well as some appetizers. He takes my hand and leads me up to the table, pulling out a chair for me. I'm immediately warmed up from a heater next to the table.

He really thought of everything.

"You did all this for me?" I ask, working to hold back the tears of pure joy that are building up in my eyes. I do my best to blink them away and refocus on Bawdy.

"I'd do anything for you, baby girl," he says while leaning down to kiss the top of my head before taking a seat across from me.

Now that I'm sitting down, I can see all of the details on the table. The dishes are painted with intricate designs, and flower petals are spread around a centerpiece of candles. There are string lights hung up around the gazebo, and they give off the perfect amount of romantic lighting.

A server walks up and pours a drink for us. Once he walks away, I start to dig in on the hummus spread in front of us.

A small voice in the back of my head isn't letting me fully relax. I know that I'm not fully going to relax after running into that Mary girl until I ask Bawdy a couple more questions. "You know that girl Mary?" I ask slowly. Bawdy pauses while reaching towards his cup. It's just for a second, but I take note of it.