the kitchen was filled with the scent of brown butter and cinnamon-the counter messy with sprinkles of flour and patches of sticky sugar. needless to say, your baking fiasco was already turning chaotic, but you kept going.

you aggressively mix your batter of what you anticipate to come out as a delicious apple crisp, your arm starting to cramp from how stiff the batter is. you weren't sure if this was going to come out good. In fact, you wanted to bake something special for jay, hence why you were spending hours in the kitchen trying to craft this dessert.

you didn't want to fail-the mere thought of jay not liking it and spitting it out making your stomach churn with worry. your heavy breathing steadies as you hear your boyfriend's footsteps behind you, walking over to where you were baking.

he hums and runs a hand through his hair before asking, "what're you making, darling?"

— "apple crisp," you simply say, your voice almost cracking. your heart slightly drops when he dips his finger in the batter and brings it up to his lips, licking the sweet mixture off.

oh gosh. you were barely even halfway done, and you were seconds away from throwing in the towel and discarding the entire project. you knew you did something wrong-maybe you didn't add enough sugar, not enough flour, whatever it may be. but now he was trying it before you even could, and it nearly left you sweating out of panic.

what if he doesn't like it? this is supposed to be special for him, and i probably messed up, your thoughts are quickly shut down before he breaks the agonizing silence, "it's good, just needs some more sugar and vanilla."

phew, you were expecting way worse. q little constructive criticism wasn't too bad. you let out a pent-up breath of air through your mouth, wiping a powdery cloud of flour off your cheek with the back of your hand.

— "how long have you been making this for, doll? you've been here on your feet all morning." jay's voice is laced with genuine concern as he tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

— "i know, i just... wanted to make you something special. it's not turning out so great though, is it?" you look up at him with glossy eyes, brows slightly furrowed.

— "it's good, i promise. how about i help you, hm?" he suggests, his thumb caressing your heated cheek.

you smile before nodding, his hands immediately snaking around your waist before pulling you into a sweet kiss. the kiss was sweeter than whatever you were making-it almost felt forgotten because of how addicting jay's kisses were.

you both pull away before your foreheads meet, his thumb rubbing slow circles onto your back.

— "let's get to it, pretty girl."