Max had googled probably a dozen different times ideas for dates. All of them seemed cringy and pathetic, but he knew that he had to do something different than his usual bullshit with Gabby. He didnât want to just take her out to fancy shows or fancy meals cause even though she deserved that, it was shallow. It was something he had done for all the women he had tried to sleep with before, back when he didnât really know them and just wanted to impress them. But now he knew the girl he was sleeping with, and exactly how to impress her. Knowing her made the whole act of dating somehow easier and worse at the same time. He was in unknown territory now, wanting to actually try to plan a date. Hince the embarrassing amount of googling he had done.
Finally it was Friday, the day he had told her to free her schedule for. She wasnât expecting much and he knew it, normally they had just hung out at eitherâs places, eat, drank, and vent about their busy weeks. Now that she was in the field and since he worked in news, their hours sometimes missed each other and so it was hard to see each other. Sure they communicated through texts and short calls through the week, but he did miss spending actual time with her. Both of them did try to make sure one night a week they cleared their schedule to do something together. Even if they were so tired from their work weeks that it was just sitting around in each otherâs company. But tonight he wanted to try, and try he did.
âSo where are we going?â She asked as they sat in his car heading out of her complex. Both were dressed in something simple, she had asked dress code earlier. He knew that telling her something casual had thrown her off already, considering his normal date ideas. âYou really donât know what surprise means do you?â he said rolling his eyes. Their mocking hadnât stopped at all when they started dating, only changed. She sat in her chair and huffed at him while he cracked a smile. Eventually they got to where they were going and she started laughing.Â
âI never thought you would want to do this?â
âI donât. But I assumed this would be something you would want to do.â He shrugged, and continued with a more hushed voice, âMaybe itâll be assuming.â
The couple got into the building, and signed in for their reservation. Hearing the word reservation earned him a chuckle and cocked eyebrow in his direction. But they sat down at their stations next to each other and were offered their first glass of wine.
âI did a lot of googling of these places. This is the only one that included unlimited wine.â
âHave I ever told you I love you?â
He laughed again at her and in a moment of rarity, reached over and grabbed her hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. They werenât big on affection, especially in public. But there were moments where his cold, dead heart became warm because of something she did and he would act on it.Â
Tonight they were being instructed how to paint a sunset, while servers made sure their wine glasses were never empty. Halfway through Gabby had become very giggling, and he was blushing in her direction regularly. She looked like she was having the time of her life and it honestly made everything worth it. In his head, he decided later he was going to break down the moments of his life that lead him to being the sap he was today.
When the class was done, and the wine had been drank he finally looked at both of their works side by side. The man hadnât drank much, being too much of a perfectionist and starred at his painting. Sure it looked identical to the one the instructor had done, but it lacked all the emotion that art was suppose to have. But hey, he wasnât an artist. When he looked over at her, it was a mess. But the most beautiful thing he had seen. Her colors were everywhere in a way that made the sunset look so much more than it the instructors. And she just sat there smiling at it. He went to grab hers and she slapped his hand away, âHey thatâs mine!âÂ
âYes, and I am hanging it in MY kitchen.âÂ
âNo you arenât! I worked hard on that its going in MY kitchen.âÂ
âYea well I technically paid for it so its going in mine!â â
âWell if we are going based off who bought something, then Iâm taking back that bottle of whiskey I got you for your birthday.â
This shut the man up and he huffed out the word fine. She giggled at him and their banter before standing up and kissing his cheek.
âThank you Maxipad, this was a lot of fun.â
He smiled down at the girl he was in love with, âYouâre welcome. Letâs go home and hang your picture up.â
