The next morning, I didn't sleep in like I normally would on a Saturday. I could smell my aunt's coffee from my room. Still in my pajamas, I joined her in the living room.

"Hey, Aunt Lil, I hope you don't mind, but I already made some plans for today."

"Avery with plans? Who is this girl?" She said with a teasing smile.

"So I guess that leaves you with some free time. So you could hang out with people or a person that you normally wouldn't."

She eyed me a little bit suspiciously. "Is this about Jeffery again?"

"He likes you doesn't he?" I pushed.

She huffed an over exaggerated sigh playfully. "Alright, if you must know, I will tell you the whole story." I scooted a little closer to her on the couch as I listened.

"Not long after I got my job at the farm, after you came to live with me, Jeffery started to buy the milk there. He would come about once a month, and soon every week, then a few times a week. We started to talk about biology since it was a common interest for both of us. A few months later he did ask me out on a date which I refused." She paused for a moment.

"And it was because of me, wasn't it?" I tried to make sure my tone wasn't gloomy.

"I didn't need a guy to complete me."

"I know, Aunt Lil, but still… Did you like him?"

She quieted with a smile and finally surrendered her answer. "Perhaps, he is a very pleasant man."

"So all these years he has been going after you?" I asked.

"He did back off for a few years, and we would casually talk now and then, but recently…well, you know the rest."

"Aunt Lil! I can't believe it! This guy has been waiting on you all this time, and you haven't even gone on one date with him!? If you have encouraged me with Donavon, I think I have the right to encourage you about Jeffery. Just saying, you have my approval… Not that you ever needed it, but you can date him guilt free."

She laughed in amusement. "I might have to think about this generous offer."

"You do that, anyway, I have some cookies to bake," I said, standing up.

"Cookies? For breakfast?" She questioned.

"No, they are for Donavon. Do you think he will like them?"

"Of course, he's guy isn't he?"

After making cookies and showering, I headed to the park a little early. Unfortunately, it gave me a little too much time for my mind to exploit my nerves about the possible future with Donavon. His interest in me was now clear, and I knew I wanted it as well. The sun warmed my skin as I sat on a swing. I scanned the people around me. This time, I saw them differently.

"Hey," I heard a voice behind me.

Standing, I turned to see Donavon.

"I just wanted to give you these," I said, handing him the cookies. "Just as a thank you… I made them this morning."

"What? You made me cookies?" He took them with a super glow smile. "That is incredibly sweet of you, Avery."

Not knowing what to say, I sat back in the swing, making sure my breathing wasn't too fast. Without hesitation, he sat in the swing next to me and started eating his gift. 

"It's been so long since I've had a good cookie. My mom has gotten into the whole eating healthy thing."

"Oh…I never eat healthy." I wasn't sure if I should have admitted to that.

"Wow, really? I mean that's good…as in I like that. Every other girl is so concerned about what she eats."

Remaining silent, I glanced at him from time to time as he kept on eating, but I mostly looked down as I lightly kicked at the dirt ground.

"You know what else I like about you," he went on. I tilted my head to him. "You aren't concerned with fitting in or trying to be like everyone else. It seems like everyone is so focused on that stuff. It didn't take long for me to tell you weren't like that, and I couldn't help but want to get to know you more."

Our stare became too intense, and my eyes fled back to the ground. Overall, I had become comfortable around Donavon, but this kind of stuff set my heart into a marathon.

"Did I upset you last night?" He asked.

"No."

"Are you sure? You looked kind of upset. You can be honest."

"It had to do with my aunt, but everything is fine now."

"Oh okay. Well, that's good then." He looked slightly confused but seemed to shake it off quickly.

"Oh hey, you forgot Alexander at my house."

"Poor Alexander, I hope he doesn't feel abandoned," I said.

"It's okay. Why don't we go over to see him now, and then I can drop him off at your house after?"

"Alright."

I almost laughed once I got in his car. It seemed like it was my lot in life to be driven all over the world by him.

"Do you still miss Colorado?" I asked, trying to make conversation during the drive.

"No, I actually don't. I found something better," he said, looking over to me a little too intensely. Was he talking about me? 

My face turned insta-oven. Why did his words have the power to turn my brains into helpless goo? I looked out my window, watching the trees zoom by. My discomfort seemed to quiet him as well.

It was relieving to finally be able to hold my bunny again. Donavon watched me from the hallway through his open, bedroom door. I stilled, knowing that his brain was processing my every move. The sense of unspoken tension between us was strong. Not in a bad way, but it still begged for relief. Donavon was being very patient with me, but I didn't want to take advantage of that.

"Your room is pretty clean for a guy," I said, putting Alexander back in his cage.

"Well…" He laughed. "A lot of my stuff is still in boxes." 

"Oh." I stood not knowing what to do now.

"I wish I could see more of your drawings. Would you draw something for me now if I get you some paper?"

"I guess I could."

I followed him as he took some paper from their printer and set it down on the kitchen table for me.

"What do you want me to draw?" I asked, taking my seat.

"How about…a pig on a snowboard?"

I gave a funny look. "Umm, okay."

It took me only about five minutes. Donavon stood and watched.

"Wow, that's like amazing! How did you get so good?"

"It's all I used to do," I admitted.

"But not now?"

"I guess I found…something better," I found myself repeating his own words. Immediately, heat filled my face, and I almost couldn't believe I had said that. I finally dared to look at him—his questioning eyes stared back. 

Interrupting the moment, the front door sprung open as Donavon's cousins entered.

"Ooooh, I see how it is with you guys!" Jennifer sprung closer. "You ditch us at the mall to make your own secret plans! Busted!" She smiled kiddingly. "Aren't you guys cute? Any-hoo, did you get my text?"

"Umm no," Donavon answered, looking a little taken off guard.

"Oh well, I thought we could come over and watch a movie, our living room is still only boxes right now." 

I simply remained seated and looked at Donavon.

"I suppose we could," he said, probably not having much of a choice. "Do you want to watch a movie, Avery?" He looked to me.

"I guess so." I didn't care about a movie, but I also didn't want to leave yet.

"Awesome!" Jennifer playfully tagged my arm. "I need some more girl presence in this place!"

Josh finally slowly entered the kitchen with everyone else. His gangly body hovered over the counters as he eyed the plate of cookies that Donavon left there.

"Can I have one?" He asked.

Donavon hesitated. "Sure… Just don't eat them all."

As everyone started to discuss what movie to watch, I noticed Josh try to casually sneak a cookie every now and then. Donavon eyed him with concern, but didn't say anything.

"Well, let's just see what movies are here," Jennifer said. Her and Josh left for the living room. Quickly, Donavon hid the remaining cookies in the oven. He turned to me with a guilty smirk. I tried not to laugh and found it rather touching that he treasured them so much.

Josh and Jennifer finally picked out a movie, while I took a seat next to Donavon on the couch.

"Is it cold in here?" He asked. Without letting anyone answer, he got up to get a blanket and laid it across my lap and his. The movie started, but my mind didn't engage much. Donavon must have felt the same since I noticed him glancing at me more often than the screen. There was a simple contentment with being in the same room with him.

A few minutes later, I sensed his hand being insanely close to mine underneath the blankets. His finger tips slowly slid over mine. My face instantly warmed as the entire world around me seemed to stop. Helplessly, I shut my eyes as his hand inched in more until he loosely gripped a few of my fingers. Heat jolted in my chest. I wasn't sure why something so small seemed like such a big deal.

From then on, I had no idea what happened on the screen. All I knew was that Donavon liked me and that I liked him. And I never wanted anything to come between us.