You and Matthew did end up getting coffee that week. And the next week and the next week and the next week. The two of you have become good friends over the past few months and you find yourself spending more and more time with him. You'll grab coffee when you get the chance or he'll come over for dinner and a movie with Elliot. You've even had a couple playdates when Matthew has his nephew for the weekend.

It's obvious that you have feelings for Matthew and he has feelings for you, but neither of you have made a move yet. It probably has something to do with the fact that your six year old child is with you most of the time. Elliot has become increasingly attached to him, her crush on him is probably even bigger than yours. Seeing the two of them together is sickeningly sweet and you can't help but watch them interact whenever they're fooling around.

You're leaning against the side of your car at Elliot's school, waiting for her to get let out for the day. Distracted by emails from work, you don't even notice her running up to you until she slams into your legs.

"Whoa, hey babe! Ready to go home?" you ask, grabbing your daughters face in your hands.

"Yes!" she answers, giving you an ear-to-ear grin. You take her backpack as she climbs up into her car seat, rambling about her day at school. You buckle her in and hop into the drivers seat, beginning to navigate your way home. Your phone rings and you answer before even looking at the contact, assuming it's work.

"Hello, Y/N here. What can I do for you?" you recite.

"Well, that depends on what you're offering," a voice booms through your car speakers. A blush rises to your cheeks as you let out a little giggle.

"Matthew!" Elliot shouts, recognizing his voice.

"Hey kiddo! What are you up to?"

"Mommy just got me from school and now we're going home and I'm going to have a snack."

"A snack? Sounds like a great afternoon to me! Did you learn anything cool today at school?" Elliot starts to ramble again and Matthew just listens, throwing in some remarks here and there. Her tangent slows down a bit and you take the opportunity to cut in.

"What's up with you, Matthew?" you ask, giving him a chance to speak.

"Not much, just running some errands. I called to see what the two of you were up to on Friday night."

"Nothing, I think. How about you, El? Any plans?" you ask Elliot, knowing your six year old wouldn't have any of her own plans.

"Friday is Valentine's day! I get to bring candy to school!" she reminds you.

"Oh shoot, yeah. We have to get all your valentines day goodies together, don't let me forget, bub."

"Well, if the two of you are free that night I was hoping you'd want to come over. I could make you ladies some dinner and we could do some games and a movie?" Matthew asks tentatively.

"Yes! I want to go to Matthew's! Can we, mommy?" Elliot answers before you get the chance to.

"I think we can swing that. 5:30ish?" you ask.

"5:30ish, it's a date! I gotta run, but I'll see you two in a couple of days. Talk later!" he dismisses chaotically as he hangs up. You can't help but dwell on the word "date". Was this supposed to be a real date? It was on Valentine's day after all, but your kid was going to be there, too. Either way, you're just happy to be spending time with Matthew and you know Elliot is too.

*****

Friday night rolls around and you find yourself walking up Matthew's driveway to his front door. Crazy that this is the same driveway you dropped him off at last fall. It seems like you've known him your whole life, not just a few months. Before you even get the chance to knock on the door it swings open with a grinning Matthew on the other side. He's wearing a flannel and jeans with a mismatched pair of brightly colored socks. Elliot runs straight for him and he scoops her up into his arms, spinning her around a few times.

"What's up, killer?" he asks her as you step inside, closing the door behind you. You notice your daughter getting shy all of the sudden as she just mumbles something incoherent and buries her head into Matthew's shoulder. You just give him a smile as he chuckles at her response.

"Come on, El. Shoes and jacket," you order as Matthew goes to set her down. The two of you peel off your jackets and toe off your shoes, setting them down at the bench by the front door like you always do when you visit.

"Sweet socks you got there, El," Matthew compliments, noticing your daughters mismatched socks: one covered in hearts and the other in snowflakes.

"They're not the same, just like yours!" she responds, getting excited all over again. Elliot has insisted on wearing mismatched socks ever since she noticed that's how Matthew wears his.

"Yeah, it's a laundry nightmare," you chime in. Matthew knows it's because of his influence so he mouths you a little "sorry" as you make your way towards the kitchen

"What's for dinner, Matthew?" Elliot asks, trailing behind him like a little duckling.

"Well today is a very special day so we have to make your favorite," he answers.

"Pizza!" the little girl shouts.

"Pizza!" he echoes. His kitchen counters are covered in anything and everything your could need to make your own pizzas.

"This looks incredible," you compliment.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Let's get into it!" Matthew rubs his hands together. "Okay, we have dough, we have cheese, we have sauce, and we have any topping your little hearts could possibly desire." He pulls a chair up next to the counter and lifts El up onto it so she can actually reach the supplies. The three of you start constructing your own pizzas, Matthew and you both pitching in with Elliot's. Each of you put your own array of toppings, but all of them come out kind of weird and lopsided. Matthew puts them in the oven and sets a timer as you start putting away all the leftover ingredients. He gives your daughter a broom to sweep up with, but there's really nothing to sweep, he just knows she likes to do it.

"Matthew, can we play a game?" she asks, handing him the broom.

"We sure can, kiddo. What do you want to play?" he questions back.

"Shoots and ladders!"

"I think I can make that happen." The three of you move into the living room and Matthew pulls out the boards game. You gather around the coffee table, sitting criss-cross applesauce and leaning up against the couch. You don't get far into the game when the timer goes off in the kitchen. Matthew pops up and returns with a giant tray covered in pizza slices. He makes a second trip and comes back with a couple glasses of wine and a big glass of chocolate milk.

The game continues as you dig into the pizza. As the eating slows down, Elliot climbs her way into Matthew's lap. How is it possible that you found this man in a pumpkin patch? You hate to say it, but losing your kid in a corn maze may be one of the best things that has happened to you in years.

"Mommy, it's your turn," Elliot pulls you out of your train of thought. You didn't even notice you were staring at this man with your daughter. Matthew turns his head your way and gives you one of his adorable closed-mouth smiles. You look at the game board and notice that you have the perfect opportunity to let your kid win and of course you take it.

"I won! I won!" Elliot shouts as she takes her turn.

"No way, that was awesome! I know the perfect way to celebrate," Matthew taunts. "How does ice cream sound?"

"What kind," she challenges back and you can't help but giggle. Like the child that came out of your womb would refuse any kind of ice cream.

"Triple. Chocolate. Fudge," Matthew enunciates every word. Elliot pops up from his lap and sprints to the kitchen. He jumps up after her and grabs your hand, pulling you up off the ground and dragging you into the kitchen after her. Elliot has already found the ice cream in the freezer and is holding it in her arms. Without letting go of your hand, Matthew pulls three spoons out of the drawer and leads the two of you back to the living room.

"How does a movie sound?" he asks as you get comfy on the couch.

"Lilo and Stitch, please," Elliot politely demands. You and Matthew sit on either side of her and you throw a blanket across your laps. Elliot keeps a firm grip on the carton of ice cream as she digs in with her spoon. Matthew gets the movie going and the two of you join in on the ice cream.

About an hour later, the carton is empty on the coffee table with the dirty spoons stacked inside it. Elliot has migrated to the end of the couch with her head against the arm, passed out in a food coma. You'll take a food coma over a sugar rush any day. You pull the blanket off of you and Matthew and lay it over your daughter.

"Rude, but whatever," Matthew sarcastically mutters under his breath.

"Oh, chill out dude. You'll live," you roll your eyes with a smile.

"I don't know, man. Pretty chilly on this side of the couch." You take his very obvious que and scoot closer to him. You'll take any opportunity to be closer to Matthew, obvious or not. He wraps his arm around your shoulders and you snuggle into his side. Unexpectedly, he presses a kiss to the top of your head. At this point, you are both definitely pretending to watch the movie and just relishing in being this close to each other.

Knowing exactly what you want to happen next, you make the decision to take charge. Taking a deep breath, you turn your head up towards his. Your lips are maybe a few centimeters apart and you hold your breath, waiting for him to close that last little gap. Matthew does just that, giving you all the reassurance you could ever need. The kiss is short and sweet and you pull away with a bit of a shy smile which is nothing compared to Matthew's massive grin.

"Whoa," you breath out.

"Yeah, whoa," he echoes. Placing a hand to your cheek, he pulls your lips back to his. Things get more heated this time around as you both start getting into it. The push and pull is perfectly balanced, like you're meant to be doing this, like the two of you have always meant to be doing this. You get to a point where it might be getting a bit to hot and heavy and pull away once again.

"As much as I'm enjoying this Matthew, my child is also on this couch with us right now," you point out.

"Yeah, we probably shouldn't forget about her," he chuckles.

"Does this make me your Valentine?" you tease.

"Of course it does! Am I your Valentine?"

"Of course you are."

"Does this mean you'll go out on a real date with me next week?"

"Of course it does."