“I’m sorry, Mr. Harris,” the Midtown Soul hostess said when Evan called to confirm Valentine’s Day plans for him and his boyfriend Jeremy. “There must’ve been a mix-up. Perhaps someone accidentally double-booked your reservation?”

Frustrated, but not wanting to take it out on her, he politely thanked her, then hung up. 

He immediately called Tod—his friend and waiter at the restaurant, but he couldn’t help either. “Sorry, hon. We’re booked solid. You know I’d squeeze you in if I could …”

Evan thanked him, then rested his head against the steering wheel. He was so screwed. 

Eventually, when he stopped feeling like he wanted to cry, he got out of the car and trudged up the sidewalk to the apartment he shared with Jeremy, his heart heavy. 

Between Evan’s work and classes, Jeremy’s job, cycling, and volunteering with kids with disabilities, they didn’t have much time together. 

Was one romantic night too much to ask for?  

Although, maybe the night could be salvaged. He had an hour until Jeremy got home to throw together something for dinner and he had an awesome gift. Jeremy had been lusting over the custom-fitted bike seats at the local shop. They were really expensive, but Evan had been secretly saving for months to buy Jeremy one.

I can’t wait to see his face when he opens that gift.

Evan unlocked the front door as he mentally ran through what they had in the kitchen that he could throw together into something resembling a special meal. 

There were some ravioli in the freezer and they probably had pasta sauce in the cupboard. Maybe he could fancy it up with the mushrooms that were withering away in the vegetable drawer … 

He was still putting together the menu in his head when he opened the door. He stopped in his tracks, blinking at the sight of their apartment covered with balloons and streamers. 

“Surprise!” Evan turned to see Jeremy grinning at him. 

Evan stared, open-mouthed. The amount of red and pink décor made his eyes water. He loved kitschy holiday decor like this.

Jeremy, however …

“You hate stuff like this,” Evan said, dumbfounded, as he closed the door behind him. 

“Ehh.’ Jeremy’s shrug made Evan notice he was wearing a pink shirt too. It looked good on him, highlighting his chest, shoulders, and arms and making his face look bright. “It’s growing on me. Besides, I fucking love you and I know you like it.”

Evan did. He liked someone making a fuss over him and when that someone was the man he loved …

“I love it,” he said around a lump in his throat as he threw his arms around Jeremy and kissed him hard on the mouth. “Thank you. This is a great surprise.”

“I’m glad.” Jeremy squeezed him tightly, running his warm palms along Evan’s back and leaning in like he was going to go for another kiss.

Evan drew back before he could make contact, his happy mood falling when he remembered that his own Valentine’s Day surprise hadn’t gone as well. “Unfortunately, my surprise kinda … failed. I made reservations at Midtown Soul for tonight, but they got cancelled—”

“That’s my fault actually.” Jeremy’s expression turned uneasy.

“Your fault?” Evan tilted his head. 

“I cancelled them.”

“But why? You love eating there. Even if you and Tod drive each other nuts.”

Jeremy grinned. “Nah, we just act like that for fun. Tod’s cool. He helped me with my surprise.”

“Decorating?” Evan glanced around, batting away a pink balloon that was drifting toward his head. 

“No. That was Russ, actually.”

Evan smiled. He loved that Russ and Jeremy were such good friends now. And then it hit him … “Wait. There’s another surprise?”

“Yep. I’ll show you.”

Jeremy took his hand and led him to the bedroom door. Odd, it was closed. They almost never closed it unless friends were over. 

Jeremy took a deep breath and opened the door, but he didn’t go inside. Evan peered in, wondering what they were waiting for. He couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. 
Just the nice wide bed with the blue coverlet and the wooden dresser holding a framed picture of them that the photographer had taken at Russ and Stephen’s wedding. 

“C’mon, Fisher,” Jeremy called. “C’mere, boy!”

Evan heard a yip before a small blur of white and brown something tore through the door and past them into the living room. When it slowed to a stop, Evan saw a small dog—a spaniel he thought—that was not quite a puppy, but not yet fully grown either. 

It—he?—danced at Evan’s feet. 

Evan sat on the floor, holding out a hand for the animal to sniff. 

“Did—did you get me a dog?” Evan asked, dumbfounded as it licked his fingers. He sank his fingers into its soft fur and rubbed. 

Jeremy gingerly lowered himself to the floor, looking a little apprehensive. “I did. Is that … okay?”

The dog clambered into Evan’s lap, licking at his face and making him giggle. “He’s perfect. I love him!” 

“I looked at a couple at the rescue place, but his name was Fisher so I knew he was the right one.”

“Like David Fisher, from Six Feet Under.” Evan’s eyes felt suspiciously wet, remembering the TV show they’d watched shortly after they met. When Jeremy was convinced they should only be friends. Thickly, he whispered, “He’s perfect.”

Evan threw his arms around the excited, wiggling dog and hugged him tight. He’d always wanted a pet but his father had never let him have one. He and Jeremy had been talking about it for a while, but there was an additional pet fee they’d have to pay the apartment complex and vet bills, and food …

“Can we afford him?” Evan asked, past the sudden worry constricting his throat. 

He kept petting Fisher though, sliding his fingers through his soft, wavy coat. He already loved him. He didn’t want to let him go.  

“Hey, yeah.” Jeremy scooted closer. “I got that raise last month and I’ve been setting a little aside. I wanted to get a custom-fitted bike seat, but I figured this was more important, you know? I can always do the bike thing another time.”

Evan laughed softly. “Funny you should say that …”

“Yeah?” Jeremy tilted his head. 

“Yeah. Go open my nightstand drawer. You’ll find a red envelope inside the book I’ve been reading.”

“Okay.” Jeremy levered himself up off the floor with a groan, his hip clearly a little stiff. 

He’d come such a long way since the car accident but there were still some days that were hard on him. 

Evan glanced down at Fisher, who put his front paws on Evan’s chest and licked his chin. “I have the best boyfriend,” he whispered. 

“Oh, I dunno,” Jeremy said, appearing a lot faster than Evan had expected. “Mine is pretty great too.”

He winked and bent a knee like he was going to join Evan on the floor again. 

“I can get up,” Evan said.

But Jeremy shook his head. “Nah. I need to be doing more of this. It’ll help keep that hip from getting stiff.”

“Okay.” 

Evan idly petted Fisher as Jeremy ripped open the envelope. He read the card first, smiling at it before he looked at the gift card inside. 

“Oh shit,” he said. “You got me a custom seat fitting at the bike shop?”

“Yeah. You like it?”

Jeremy shook his head, but not like he was saying no, more like he was amazed that Evan had asked. “I can’t think of anything I’d want more, to be honest. Thank you.”

“Well, this worked out perfectly then,” he said. “You got your bike seat, and I got a dog.”

“And neither of us get dinner,” Jeremy said jokingly. “Except that guy. I bought a giant bag of dog food this morning.”

Evan laughed. “I dunno, I was thinking we could do a mushroom ravioli thing with some jarred sauce. And we should have enough lettuce to throw together a salad.”

“I can make garlic toast,” Jeremy offered. “And there’s ice cream in the freezer.”

“Sounds like a perfect dinner to me,” Evan said. 

Because yeah, dinner at Midtown Soul was always amazing. But a quiet dinner at home and then playing with Fisher? That sounded even better.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, kid,” Jeremy whispered, leaning in to kiss Evan. 

Evan kissed him back. 

Unfortunately, Fisher wanted in on it too and Evan pulled away, sputtering as he gently moved the dog off his lap. “Okay, the first lesson is going to be no face kisses for you, mister. I don't need your tongue in my mouth.”

Jeremy pouted. “Really? That’s no fair. I thought you liked my kisses.” 

Evan laughed. “I’m talking to the dog. Not you. You can have all of the face kisses you want.”

“How about the other kind?” Jeremy asked in a husky voice. 

Evan’s cheeks went warm, and he scrambled to his feet. “Maybe later.”

“Well, forget ice cream. I know what I’m having for dessert,” Jeremy said, reaching out so Evan could help pull him to his feet. He let out a low groan, shaking out his hip. 

“Sore?”

“Yeah, a bit. I maybe overdid it walking this guy earlier.” He bent over to pat Fisher’s head. 

“Thank you,” Evan whispered. 

Jeremy straightened, raising an eyebrow. “For overdoing it?”

“No, for Fisher. For everything.” He gestured around at the colorful decorations.

Jeremy pulled him close. “It was worth it to see your face when you walked in. You’re totally cleaning this place up though.” 

He winked, so Evan knew he was kidding. He didn’t mind helping though. 

“And dog poop,” Evan said. 

Jeremy laughed. “And dog poop.”

Grossness aside, it was a great evening. They made dinner together, then ate it with the apartment lights dimmed and a candle glowing on the table between them, while Fisher gnawed on a toy by their feet. 

​

They took the dog out for another short walk and to do his business, then hopped in the shower together. 

​

They had to shut the bedroom door to keep Fisher out, but, true to his word, Jeremy kissed and licked Evan all over his body. From his face to, well ... 

 

Later as Evan curled up with his head on Jeremy’s chest, his body humming from the orgasm he’d had, Fisher settled onto his feet, letting out a sigh of contentment that Evan felt too. 

“Best Valentine’s Day ever,” he said sleepily. 

Jeremy kissed the top of his head. “Every day with you is the best.”