Andrew went home and spent an hour studying before he took a shower. He put on slacks and a dress shirt. It was times like this when he missed his hair the most. The hats he wore were casual and didn’t work with dressier clothes, and he still wasn’t confident in his ability to pull off the bald look. But Lauren didn’t seem to mind, and that’s all that mattered.

At six o’clock on the dot Andrew stood on Lauren’s doorstep. He knocked and she opened the door immediately.

“Hi,” she said, smiling wide. She had on the green dress she’d worn one day at the cancer center. He thought she had looked perfect that day and felt the same now.

“Hey, you.” He slid one hand across her lower back and kissed her. “You’re beautiful. Ready?”

She flushed at his compliment, which he loved. He always wanted her to feel pleasure at his words, always wanted that rush of happiness to fill her when she heard how much he wanted her.

“Ready.” She joined him on the porch and locked the door behind her.

He opened the car door for her and went around to his side.

“Where are we going?” she asked after they settled in, and he pulled onto the main road.

“Do you remember when we talked about New York?”

“Yes.”

“Since we can’t get there right now, I thought we could try our best to do some of the things we wanted to do there. I made reservations at the best upscale Asian fusion restaurant in town and got tickets for a show at the Performing Arts Center.”

Lauren’s wide smile told him he’d hit the mark. “That sounds incredible. You’re wonderful, you know that?”

“I’m nothing compared to you,” he said seriously.

She rolled her eyes, but the smile remained on her lips.

“Know what else?” he asked.

“What?”

“I heard this show is Wicked.”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“No?” He frowned and tried again. “But it’s o-pun-ing night.”

She laughed. “That one was better.”

“I thought of one for dinner, too.”

She grinned. “Let’s hear it.”

They came to a stop sign, and he looked at her seriously. “I’m soy into you.”

A twinkle entered her eye. “Are you pho real?”

“Udon even know.”

“You make miso happy.”

He couldn’t hold it together any longer and busted up laughing. “This goes without saying. But I’m saying it anyway. I love you.”

“Me too, handsome. Me, too.”

After dinner and the show, Andrew once again pulled to a stop in front of Lauren’s mailbox. He rolled down his window.

“Let’s check. Just in case.” He pulled open the metal door.

Lauren gasped beside him. “Andrew! There’s something in there! Get it!”