Ava sat at her desk, staring at the half-empty bowl in front of her. Lunch had always been a tricky thing for her, but today it felt worse. She could feel the gnawing worry in her stomach, the fear of filling up too much before dinner, and the frustration that came with it. She picked up a cookie, its chocolate chips glistening in the light, but even as she held it, her stomach churned in protest. Was this too much? Would I have space for the dinner I’ve been looking forward to all day?

With a sigh, she put the cookie back down and grabbed her water bottle instead, the cool liquid offering a temporary distraction from the swirling thoughts in her mind. After a few sips, she grabbed a couple of strawberries, letting their sweetness fill her senses while the uneaten cookies sat there, still tempting but abandoned. Maybe I’ll just stick with fruit...

As she chewed, her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her mental spiral. It was a series of screenshots from Devon—shots of a menu, each dish more elegant than the last. Ava’s eyes widened as she skimmed the options, her stomach tightening further.

Devon, she texted, her fingers typing quickly, almost angrily, We cannot be spending money like this right now. This is ridiculous. We have to save up for the renovations! The basement needs so much work, and we just bought the house! Her thoughts raced as her frustration grew. They were already pushing their budget, and now here was Devon, offering an expensive dinner like it was nothing.

She stared at her phone, waiting for Devon’s response, her heartbeat picking up speed.

It didn’t take long for Devon’s reply to pop up:
Babe, it’s your birthday month. We haven’t done anything for you yet. I just want to treat you to something special. And I just got my quarter-year bonus—this won’t eat into the budget that much.

Ava read the message, her breath slowing. She felt the warmth of her irritation start to fade, but it didn’t completely go away. She couldn’t help herself—she wanted to resist, to hold on to her sense of control. It’s just so much, though, she thought, biting her lip as she typed her reply. I don’t know, Devon... it feels like too much.

Devon’s reply came almost immediately, soft and reassuring:
It’s just one night, love. You deserve this. Let me spoil you a little. We’ll make it work.

Ava sighed, letting the tension in her shoulders ease. She couldn’t argue with that. And yet, as she started scrolling through the screenshots again, the price tags on each dish caught her eye—$30, $40 per plate. She stared at the numbers, feeling the air leave her lungs for a moment. That’s more than we’ve ever spent on dinner, she thought, her fingers almost trembling as she sent her reply.

This is insane, Devon. I can’t—$40 for a plate of food? Are you kidding me?

She paused, waiting for Devon to respond, but the answer came faster than she expected.

I’ve already put down a deposit for the reservation, Devon texted with a playful hint of challenge. So, it’s really up to you if you want to choose your food now, or do it at the table. But remember, you take forever to choose—like, thirty minutes to pick one thing. So maybe it’s a good idea to start looking now.

Ava’s eyes flicked over the menu again, her frustration bubbling up but softened by the gentle teasing in Devon’s words. She’s right, Ava thought, feeling a reluctant smile tug at the corners of her mouth. I do take forever to decide.

Fine, Ava typed back, giving in. I’ll start looking now. But I’m not going to be happy about it.

Good, Devon replied, the warmth in her words still unmistakable. We’ll just enjoy the night. No more stressing, okay?

Ava let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and sat back in her chair, staring at the screen. Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe this dinner, just this once, could be something special. She looked back at the menu, scanning it more carefully this time, her heart a little lighter. She could enjoy this—they could enjoy this.

Ava let out a long groan as she sat back in her chair, her phone still glowing in her hands. She really didn’t want to spend this much money, but Devon’s insistence had melted her resistance just enough for her to give in begrudgingly. She stared at the menu for what felt like forever, picking and choosing dishes that wouldn’t trigger her. It was a fine line to walk—she needed to pick something that felt indulgent but not overwhelming, something that wouldn’t leave her fighting the urge to overeat later.

Her fingers hovered over the options before settling on a few dishes that seemed safe. She texted Devon, her thumb pressing the keys with reluctant precision:

I’ll go with the sweet and sour fish, Thai-style chicken, tom yum soup, stir-fried vegetables, and rice on the side.

She hit send before she could second-guess herself, trying to ignore the little voice in her head reminding her of the total cost—she had already done the math, and it wasn’t pretty. $200. Maybe more, once the service charge and tax were added in. She felt the knot of worry tighten in her stomach, even though she knew Devon’s intentions were good. It’s just food, she told herself, though it didn’t quite make her feel any better about the price.

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with a reply from Devon:

Looks great, babe! 😍

The approval emoji made Ava’s chest feel warm, but it also didn’t quite ease the knot in her stomach. She set her phone aside, trying to push the thought of the bill out of her mind. They’d have a nice evening. They’d enjoy the food. It would be fine.

But as she sat there, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen window, the numbers kept swirling around in her head. It was hard to ignore the cost, even if Devon was right—it was her birthday month. But still, this much?

Shaking her head, Ava took a deep breath and stood up from the table. She needed a distraction—anything to stop her from dwelling on the expense. She grabbed her sweater off the back of the chair and threw it on, attempting to shake off the tension she felt. It wasn’t about the money—it was about the moment they were going to share. She just had to let go of the rest.

I’m just going to enjoy the night, she thought as she grabbed a glass of water from the counter. No more thinking about it. It’s only one night.

Her phone buzzed again. She picked it up quickly, her heart skipping a beat as she read Devon’s next message:

It’s gonna be a great night, I promise. Can’t wait to see you, love.

Ava’s lips curved into a soft smile as she typed back:

I’m looking forward to it too.

With one last deep breath, Ava let herself feel excited, letting the worries fade for now. Tonight, it was about them. Just them. And that felt like enough.