“Wait a second…you cooked all this? Nick, you can’t cook!” she exclaimed.
“I did this morning,” he replied. She stared at him skeptically. “Okay, fine, Leighanne helped me with it,” he admitted quietly.
“Do you know what me being eighteen means for us, Nick?” she asked as they both ate their breakfasts.
“Of course I do. It means we don’t have to hide our relationship anymore because it’s no longer illegal,” he answered. “I love you, Mattie.”
A grin spread across her face. “I love you, too. So what are our plans for tonight? You said you wanted to take me someplace special.”
“It’s a surprise.”
She laughed. She loved surprises, but hated waiting for them, and he knew it. “What do I wear for this surprise?”
“I’ll have Leighanne help you pick something out. She knows where we’re going.”
“So everyone knows but me. That’s not fair!” she pouted. Putting on her best puppy dog look, she said, “Will you please tell me?”
“You know that expression almost always works, but not today. Tonight is gonna be special,” he promised, reaching for her hand. “It’ll be a birthday you’ll never forget.”