#but they really are dumb!! the level of commitment they're displaying!! loyalty like he said

[overnightheartbeats]

"Cooking date, clearly I don't know my terminology," she teased. It wasn't necessary, however. But, Laurel wanted to make the trip to her place enticing and less nerve-wracking. "We could try one of your mom's recipes if you're open to it. I didn't have much else planned on this cooking date." And, she was curious. Mom's recipes, what that could look like. "I'm always looking forward to the mischief with you." Now, she was excited to bring him home. She wondered what her dad would think, but she was hopeful that he'd be happy.

She felt her face warm up, not opposed to being tied down. It was amusing to hear two anti-marriage people make each other the hypothetical exception to the rule. "Neither would I," she said with a smile, but she knew it was just a joke. Even if the thought of him as her husband was enticing, and her being a wife was amusing. "Chocolate turtle it is."

"I appreciate that, but I'm not okay with you sleeping on the floor." Laurel was glad he mentioned his family wouldn't care, she didn't want to give the wrong impression whatsoever. But, in a new state and in unfamiliar spaces, she wouldn't want to be away from him. He was quickly becoming her safe space. "If you're okay with it, then we can share the bed. Like we do here."

Laurel half-expected him to shift the subject, talk about something else entirely. The marriage topic seemed so outlandish for a couple that just became official. She listened attentively, the fries not drawing her attention one bit. "I'm sorry to hear that, kids witnessing all that fighting is rough. That's...a fair point. So many people follow the traditional steps without considering that it might not be for them. By those standards, you're already more mature than half the population here. It's also very noble, not wanting to do that to someone else. Though, I think your understanding of the situation would help you make different choices." Maybe, she just had faith in him as a person, to be different. "Similar thing, funny enough. My parents, they got married young." Because of her, as mom often reminded her. "A child on the way, they wanted to do things right and what not. I think they had a good relationship before me, or who knows. My dad always talks fondly of their early days." She always suspected that her mom just didn't feel the same way her dad did. "The point is, they were never great at hiding their problems. My mom felt tied down, she had a lot of resentment. She eventually left, and my dad hasn't been the same since. I think that's what deters me. To see a relationship deteriorate like that. Relationships in general are scary, guess I'm kind of taking a chance with you."

"A kitchen date?" Eli asked like he was really contemplating it. "I'd really like that. Actually haven't been in a giant kitchen since my mom died." Something he had enjoyed when she'd show him how to cook one of her recipes. "Will be fun. What kind of mischief will we get up?" The thought of going home with Laurel filled him with such glee. He honestly couldn't wait to see how she lived.

"I'd not be opposed to being tied down if it was you doing the tying." It seemed like a joke but he truly felt like he meant it. He could see a future where Laurel was his wife and he was her husband. That had him fear it a little bit though. "Lets get the chocolate turtle then."

He let out an amused laugh thinking she had a point. "No, it's not that. They don't care. It was just coming from a point of respect for you. I didn't want to assume we'd share the bed together Iike we do here." Although, the thought of his siblings knowing he wasn't a priest when it came to sex made him chuckle. They'd be more surprised that he actually had an active one since they knew his stance on it before Laurel had come into his life.

Eli laughed and shook his head. Only grabbing one to dip it in the milkshake and chewed his lip. "It stems from my time in the system. Before my parents adopted me. My first home, the married couple fought a ton. I saw how miserable they made themselves and adding kids was a terrible idea. It ripped their family apart, it was one reason I had to go back to the orphanage. They only kept their one they had so, which was fair you know. You keep the one you made but since then marriage was just a sore subject. I don't want to do that to someone I love. Like have it be a happy coupling to then add marriage and have it be destroyed because we find we actually hate each other. Why don't you?"