Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

49

Cecelia's POV

I have been working hard to make sure that everything is perfect for Jackson's birthday today. This morning, I had to train with Sean, then we had a coaches meeting, then we had practice from 3-7, but I was allowed to leave early as I told Sean I was preparing for Jackson's birthday. I had gotten Jackson's backup apartment key from Ryan in secret, so after practice I got myself dressed at my apartment and gathered everything I needed, before going to Jackson's apartment and unlocking the door, letting myself in. Tonight, I'm making dinner for the two of us. He has no idea what I'm planning, only that I was going to pick him up at his apartment for dinner. Little does he know, the dinner is coming to him! I start hanging up some streamers, as I didn't want to deal with my inability to tie balloons, just to make the place a little more lively.

It's rare that I cook, but when I do, I make sure it's good. I'm making salmon with potatoes and assorted vegetables tonight, and I really hope he enjoys it. Salmon is one of my favorite dishes to make. I'm making sure to watch my time as I prep the salmon and put it in the oven. I hope he doesn't mind that I'm making a mess in his kitchen. But, hey, it's a surprise!

After about fifteen more minutes of making food, I hear Jackson's keys jingle, I quickly finish setting the kitchen table before I go and hide behind the kitchen island where he can't see me from the door. He opens the door, takes a few steps inside before closing the door behind him.

I pop out from behind the counter, "Surprise!" I say, to which he starts laughing, "Happy Birthday babe!"

"Cece, what is all this for?" he says, looking at all the food on the kitchen island as he approaches me, "You're cooking just for me?"

"Yes I am!" I say, "and here's your first gift," I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss, not caring that he smells like sweat from practice.

"I could use a little more of that," he says, then holding me tight and kissing me again. He presses his body up against mine and I feel like I'm going to melt, and I part from him before I turn into a puddle in front of him.

"Go take a shower, everything is almost ready," I say to him, then turning to the stove to get the veggies off. I watch as he leaves to go to the bathroom, before taking out the box I have nearly wrapped for him and set it at his place on the table. Once the oven goes off, I slip on an oven mitt and open it, struggling a bit to get the salmon and potatoes out due to the high heat, but when I do I set the hot tray down on the island and take off the mitt. I make sure I fill our little glasses with champagne, the fact that a man has glasses in his house shocking me, before I put all the food onto dishes to serve, then setting those dishes on the table.

Jackson quickly comes back out, "I am starving! I'm so excited to eat." He doesn't even notice the gift on the table.

"I made salmon, potatoes, broccoli and rice," I say happily, soon going over to my chair, and Jackson rushes over to pull out my chair.

He looks at my outfit, which is a simple black jumpsuit with thick straps, "Is that new?"

"Yes."

"Gorgeous," he says, giving me a kiss before I sit down in my chair. He sits down in his chair, smiling at the array of food in front of him. I let him serve himself first, before I put some food on my plate as well. I watch Jackson take a bite of everything first. "This is great, Cecelia. You're a very good cook. I can see where you get it from, your dad's lasagna is the best Italian dish I've ever had."

"My grandmother, his mother, is Italian. So it's a family recipe. But I have to be married to learn it, that's the rule, that's how it's been for generations."