This may be the most elaborate date I have ever planned out for Abby and me.

And it's the second step in trying to fix my monstrous fuck up with Tate, to get Abby to actually trust me again.

Don't get me wrong, I'm so, SO happy that we're back together, but it's not the same.

I'm not stupid, I know it's never going to be the same, and it'll never be the way it used to be.

Which is why I'm bound and determined to make it better than it was before.

This time, I'm going to give her exactly what she deserves.

Someone who is loving, and playful, and attentive.

Who shows her her worth day in and day out.

The guy I should've been from the very start.

I fell in love with her, I am in love with her. But I have never showed her the way I should.

That's going to change.

But right now, Abby is getting ready with Olivia since Tory, Ben, Con and Sie already left, Josh is already at the spa for the day, and I am in their kitchen checking over cabinets because Olivia asked me too, and I also need to measure their pantry at some point because Olivia wants more shelves put in.

"You alright?" Mason sat down at the island across from me.

I nodded. "Just waiting for her."

"I'm uh. Sorry for what I said yesterday while we were getting food. I know it's still a touchy subject." He nodded.

"Mason it's fine. You're right. She wont touch me, that's my fault, but I'm willing to do the work to make it right."

"You know Olivia wanted to wait when we got back together?"

"Did you?" I raised my eyebrows.

"We waited like a week." He nodded. "But it was on her terms. After that big date I planned, and the NYU news she ended up caving. She wanted to wait 3 days, but, she saw the effort I put in to that whole day for her, and she saw that I was trying."

"Is that why you helped me plan this? So she would have sex with me?"

"No." He shook his head and let out a small laugh. "I helped you because you and Abby belong together. Seeing you two in this state is screwing with my head. I want you back in her good graces. She just wants to see that you're serious and trying. It's just going to take a lot of work."

I sighed and nodded. "You know, it's pretty bad when my fuck up is bigger than yours. And y'all had a massively public blow out and Connor went around school punching people."

He pursed his lips and nodded. "You're right. But, you're not your fuck up. All you can do is try to make up for it and lost time. But don't forget, she has a lot to make up for too."

"Not nearly as much as me." I shook my head. "Cheating, repeatedly for 2 weeks, the whole 'she loves me too much' thing, punching Carter, you and I's fight on New Years, and even though she says she's OK with it when I know she's not there is everything with Havannah."

"Yes." He nodded. "There is all that. But you two not working on it then was her decision, and that's OK, she wanted to get her feelings in check. But there is also her slapping you, twice, and a whole relationship with Carter. What happened during the time you two weren't together doesn't matter." He shook his head. "It's what happens now that you two are together again."

"Oh Mr. Owl. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" I let out a small laugh. "Seriously, when did you become the voice of reason?"

"Well, I kind of had to become a voice of reason." He nodded. "I got my voice of reason pregnant, her reasoning went out the window, she almost killed me 6 times in one month, threw candles at Connor, I went on a downward spiral, and now I'm in therapy. Dr. Hall is my voice of reason."

"You know, you and I never really did talk about Parker." I shook my head.

He sighed. "I don't really talk about Parker unless it's with like, Ol or Ben." He shrugged. "I mean, I've talked to my dad and Jason about him. Just, it's hard for me to talk about. Especially with my mom."

"I know I've never really said it, but you know I'm here for you, right? Whenever you need me?"

He nodded. "I know."

"Ben would've been a really good god father." I nodded.

He pursed his lips and looked down.

"Mason I get it. Ben, he supported you two from the minute he found out. Connor and I, we well, we got on your ass. And Ben, he's done a lot more growing up than Con and I have. He and Abby would've been kick ass god parents. And I would've been the uncle to corrupt him like I know you're going to mine." I let out a small smile.

"And what are you two talking about?" Abby and Olivia came into the kitchen.

"Oh just, Parker, and how Mason's going to be a great dad someday." I nodded.

Mason let out a small smile. "And Ryan's going to be a kick ass uncle."

"You're god damn right." I smiled. "You." I grabbed Abby's hand and pulled her in to me. "Look gorgeous as always. Are you ready to go?"

"You ready to tell me what we're doing?" She raised her eyebrows.

"You're going to love it Ab." Olivia kissed her cheek. "Go on, get going. We have shopping to do."

"Ah, yes. And what are we having you cook for King Midas over here." I looked at Mason.

"I'll decide when we get to the store." He smiled.

"Well, you two enjoy. We won't be back till late because I know someone likes a late dinner so she can snack during the day. Dinner is at 8." I smiled at Abby.

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Good boy."

"Come on." I jumped off my stool and pulled her to the door. "Bye, love you both!" I yelled.

"Love you!" They both yelled.

"So." Abby clapped her hands as I opened my car door for her. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see." I closed it behind her.

She was dead quiet until we pulled up to Scotts Flowers.

"Ryan?" She gave me a look.

"Every girl deserves flowers on Valentine's Day." I smiled and got out.

I opened her door for her, and we headed in to the flower shop.

"Hello." A man greeted us at the door. "What can I get for you?"

"Can we get a bouquet of a dozen blue Daisy's please?"

"Absolutely." He smiled. "Give me a few minutes and I'll get those around for you."

"Thank you." I nodded.

He walked away and left Abby and I at the counter.

"Ryan." She gave me a small smile.

"Your favorite." I nodded. "Today, is dedicated to you, and all your favorites. With our next stop being one of your favorite places in New York, to pick out a few of your favorite things."

"Which is where?" She raised her eyebrows.

"IT'SUGAR." I smiled.

"OH!" Her smile grew and she threw her arms around my neck. "I love you." She kissed my cheek.

"I love you too Abby Lou." I nodded. "Different flavored candy rings, including peach."

"Thank you." She nodded.

"Sure baby." I smiled.

He brought the flowers back out, I paid, we went and got in the cab, and we headed to IT'SUGAR, where she bought $100 worth of candy.

Then, we headed across the city to Dana's Bakery, and I myself got her the biggest box of macaroons they had, mint with chocolate cream.

We went and got salted caramel truffle Gelato from Amorino.

And then to pass the time before we head to dinner, we are headed to the mall where I am going to buy her an entirely new outfit for said dinner.

I'm not dumb.

I know exactly why Ryan is doing all of this today.

To show me that he knows all my favorites.

I love him for it, I do. I appreciate the effort so much.

I feel like he's only doing it because he wants to have sex again.

But I don't.

I don't want to jump back into things so quickly and act like Carter and Havannah never happened.

They happened, and I never want to forget about the time I spent with Carter.

Carter was a blessing for me, he showed me how I deserve to be treated. And it wasn't that Carter wasn't enough for me. He was way more than I could've ever imagined. But he just wasn't Ryan.

And I never want Ryan to forget about Havannah. I love Havannah and being with her helped Ryan actually grow up.

I don't want to go back to the way Ryan and I were.

I don't want him to get bored again.

But as for now, we are currently buying him clothes for dinner tonight, and then going to buy me an outfit for dinner, which I have no clue why we would even need to buy new clothes for dinner when we both already look nice.

He came out of the dressing room in dress pants, a button up, and a fucked-up tie.

"Do you like this one." He straightened the tie out.

I sighed, smiled, got up, and walked over. "I'd like it more if you put it on right." I nodded and started adjusting it.

He sighed. "I still can't put these things on to save my life." He shook his head.

"You're lucky you have me to put it on the right way." I let out a small laugh.

He wrapped his arms around my lower back and tucked my hair out of my face. "I'm lucky to have you in general. Not just to fix ties." I nodded.

I let out a small smile and looked up at him. "I like the red and black." I nodded. "Very Valentines."

His smile grew. "This is the outfit then."

He went and changed, paid for his stuff, and we headed down the street to a cute little shop.

Where I grabbed about 5 dresses and took them in to the dressing room.

I tried on 3, and normally, he would be bitching right about now. But he's not. He's been sitting there quietly, putting his phone down every time I come out of the dressing room.

But this time when I walked out in a sparkly long sleeve red dress and a pair of black heeled knee-high boots, his eyes got wide, and he scrunched his face.

"You don't like it do you." I sighed.

"No." He shook his head and shifted on the couch. "No, it's not that. I actually love it. It's my favorite." He nodded. "You just look." He sighed, closed his eyes, and pursed his lips.

"Ryan?"

He opened his eyes and just looked at me. "Fuck you look sexy." He groaned.

I felt my face go soft. "Really?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Yes, really. Why would you ask that?"

I pursed my lips and cleared my throat. "So, this one then?"

He nodded.

I nodded, walked back in the dressing room, and changed back into my clothes.

He argued with me about paying for my outfit, which he ended up paying for my outfit, then we headed back to Ol, Mason, and Connors.

I was in the guest room getting ready, dress and boots already on, just doing my hair and makeup when Ryan walked in.

"Babe." He pursed his lips.

I turned around, and yet again, his tie was messed up.

I let out a small laugh and turned around from the vanity. "Come here." I stood up from the stool.

He sighed, walked over, and I started fixing his tie. "I hate these fucking things." He shook his head.

"Ryan it's fine." I nodded. "I will always fix your ties."

"Thank you." He gave me a small smile. "You ready?"

"Yeah. Just have to grab my jacket."

"Can we actually talk before we go to dinner?"

"Yeah, what's up?" I looked up at him.

He sighed and sat on the bed. "What was that at the dress shop? Why would you even ask that?"

I pursed my lips and shook my head. "Ryan."

"Please, just talk to me. That's part of us working on things, remember?"

I sighed. "You know, I don't blame you for Havannah, and you know I love her bu-"

"What happened to throwing it in each other's faces." He put his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands.

"Ryan, I'm not." I shook my head. "But the face you made at the shop said anything but 'you look sexy.' And you know if it were Havannah in this dress and not me you wouldn't have made that face."

His head shot up and he just looked at me. "There is no way you're serious right now." He shook his head.

"Ryan you can't blame me for feeling like that. She's a model for Christ sake. And, I'm me."

"That's right." He nodded and stood up. "You're you. You're-"

"Not 5'10, and tan, and ridiculously hot. She's literally the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and I'm just, here."

He sighed. "Is that really what you think?"

"It's the truth." I nodded.

"No, it's not." He shook his head. "Abby, Havannah is a model. It's not a secret. But you definitely could be too. You, have always been the most gorgeous girl in the world to me. You always will be. With this gorgeous olive skin, and this beautiful smile, and these big gorgeous eyes. I wasn't with Havannah because of how she looked. I believe you and Olivia call it a hero complex. She made me feel comfortable. But you. You make me feel safe, and loved, and at home with you. You are the most beautiful person inside and out. But as far as the dress shop goes, come here." He grabbed my hand and pulled me in to him.

He tucked my hair behind my ear, held the side of my face, and kissed me.

He took a deep breath, pulled away, and closed his eyes. "The face I made in the dress shop, is because I'm trying to respect your wishes, and I liked the dress way to much." He opened my hand that he was holding, and moved it to the zipper of his pants.

My jaw dropped and I looked up at him.

"I was trying to fight off one of these in the middle of the dress shop, because I was embarrassed that it happened just because I looked at you. And you are the only person that has ever made that happen just with a look. So I meant what I said." He nodded. "You look, so fucking sexy in this dress. And if I get to keep seeing this smile, because you love the sexy red dress, then I will continue to fight off raging boners in public while you wear it as long as I get to see you happy, until you're ready again." He gave me a small smile. "Take your time getting there. I have the rest of my life to love you the way I should've from the start. No rush, OK?"

I sighed, smiled, and just kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too Abby Lou." He nodded. "But before we go." He reached into his pocket. "I have something for you." He pulled out a little black box.

He opened it, and my smile grew. "A new charm."

"Every valentine's day babe. This is the one you wanted, right?"

It was a beautiful silver soccer ball with Ryan's birth stone in it, which is one I've wanted for over a year now.

"It's absolutely worth it." I nodded.

"Oh look at that." He grabbed my hand and put the charm on. "So are you."

God I love this boy.