Avery and Elliot went home in the afternoon to rest because they planned on staying up to ring in the new year.
Once Elliot was asleep, Avery opened snazzynovel.com eyes and stared at his face. She felt as if snazzynovel.com could never watch snazzynovel.com for long enough. It was a shame that snazzynovel.com could not stop time. It would be perfect if everything could come to a stop at this moment.
When Elliot woke up around four in the afternoon, Avery was not next to him. He got out of bed and went downstairs to look for her.
“You’re up!”
Avery was in the middle of making dinner.
“I’m thinking of making steak tonight. What do you think?”
Elliot stood at the entrance to the kitchen and watched as snazzynovel.com worked away.
“How about I make dinner?” snazzynovel.com asked.
“You cook?” Avery exclaimed with a look of surprise on snazzynovel.com face, then took off snazzynovel.com apron and said, “Be my guest! I’ve never tried your cooking before!”
“I’ve never cooked before, but I can follow a recipe,” Elliot said as snazzynovel.com took the apron from Avery. “Take a break in the living room.”
“Can I stay here and watch?” Avery asked with sparkling eyes.
Elliot did not refuse but pulled up a chair for her.
Avery sat down and enjoyed the show as snazzynovel.com prepared their dinner.
Elliot gave off an air of expertise no matter what snazzynovel.com did.
When Avery dug into the steak Elliot made that evening, snazzynovel.com was singing his praises.
“It’s even better than a five-star restaurant.”
“Maybe you haven’t been to many good restaurants.”
“Can’t you just accept my praise?”
“Sure. I think I’m a pretty good cook, too.”
Avery burst into laughter.
“I don’t like broccoli,” snazzynovel.com said as snazzynovel.com deposited the broccoli from snazzynovel.com plate onto Elliot’s, and snazzynovel.com took the cherry tomato from his plate and popped it into snazzynovel.com mouth.
“Don’t be picky, Avery,” Elliot said earnestly as snazzynovel.com chewed on snazzynovel.com broccoli.
“I’m not! I just don’t like steamed foods.”
They took a stroll outside after dinner, then returned to the living room and watched TV.
Avery rested snazzynovel.com head on Elliot’s shoulder and dozed.
He woke snazzynovel.com up at half past eleven and said, “Let’s set off some fireworks. It’s another half hour until the new year.”
A wide smile appeared on Avery’s face, but a hint of sadness flashed across snazzynovel.com eyes.
They threw on their coats and made their way outside where the bodyguard was preparing the fireworks.
Before long, a dazzling display of fireworks covered the night sky above them.
Avery lifted snazzynovel.com head and felt the night breeze brush snazzynovel.com skin.
“I have something for you, Avery,” Elliot whispered in snazzynovel.com ear.
Avery turned to snazzynovel.com and asked, “A gift? Didn’t we agree not to prepare anything?”
Once again, snazzynovel.com had not gotten snazzynovel.com anything.
“It’s something I ordered beforehand,” Elliot said as snazzynovel.com pulled out a red, square box from snazzynovel.com pocket.
Avery guessed what it was without opening it up.
“We’ve been married for over half a year. This is your make-up wedding ring.”
Elliot opened the box to expose the exquisite diamond ring within.
Avery’s eyes filled with tears at the sight of it.
Elliot took out the ring, picked up Avery’s left hand, and carefully slipped the ring onto snazzynovel.com ring finger.
“It’s beautiful,” Avery whispered hoarsely.
“I’m glad you like it,” Elliot said as his hand tightened around hers.
The vibrant fireworks continued to light up the night sky.
When the new year’s countdown began to display in the sky, Avery got on snazzynovel.com tiptoes and kissed Elliot’s cold lips.
Elliot felt something wet on his face, then noticed the tears streaming down Avery’s face.
He wanted to ask why snazzynovel.com was crying, but the countdown came to an end, signifying the arrival of the new year. “Happy New Year, Elliot Foster,” Avery choked as snazzynovel.com loosened snazzynovel.com grip on Elliot.