One Night

Boyfriend

The late afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen window as Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker busied themselves with dinner preparations. Tonight was special; their daughter, Ava, had invited her boyfriend, Jake, over for the first time. Excitement mingled with nerves as they set the table and finished cooking.

"Are you ready for this?" Malia asked, stirring a pot of pasta while glancing at Kylie.

Kylie chuckled, wiping her hands on a towel. "I'm not sure who's more nervous—us or Ava!"

Malia smiled knowingly. "Definitely us. We've been waiting for this moment. It feels like just yesterday she was asking for a puppy instead of a boyfriend."

Just then, Ava appeared in the doorway, her face glowing with enthusiasm. "Jake will be here any minute!" she announced, adjusting her hair in the hallway mirror.

Kylie's heart swelled with pride as she watched her daughter prepare. "You look lovely, sweetheart. Are you excited?"

Ava nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah! I just hope you both like him."

Malia exchanged a glance with Kylie, their expressions a mix of reassurance and mischief. "Oh, we'll definitely like him," Malia said, a playful smile on her face. "But just in case, we'll keep a few embarrassing stories about you on standby."

Ava groaned, rolling her eyes. "Mom, please don't!"

As the doorbell rang, Ava's face lit up. "That's him!" She rushed to the door, throwing it open with a bright smile. Jake stood there, slightly nervous but clearly excited, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Hey, Ava! Happy to see you!" he said, his cheeks flushing slightly as he handed her the flowers.

"Wow, thank you! They're beautiful!" Ava replied, her eyes sparkling as she took the bouquet.

Kylie and Malia stood in the kitchen, sharing a quick glance of approval before making their way to greet him. "Hi, Jake! I'm Kylie, Ava's mom," Kylie said, extending her hand with a warm smile.

"And I'm Malia," Malia added, stepping forward with a friendly grin. "Welcome to our home!"

"Thanks for having me!" Jake replied, shaking their hands firmly, his confidence building as he met their welcoming expressions.

As they all settled around the dinner table, Malia served the pasta while Kylie poured drinks. Ava and Jake shared playful banter, and Kylie couldn't help but notice the way they looked at each other—filled with affection and a hint of nervousness.

"So, Jake, what do you like to do for fun?" Kylie asked, keen to get to know the young man.

"I love playing soccer and hanging out with friends," he replied, glancing at Ava, who smiled encouragingly. "I'm also into video games and movies."

"Nice! Ava has always been a bit of a movie buff. Maybe you two can do a movie marathon sometime," Malia chimed in, noticing how Jake seemed to relax with every question.

"What's your favorite movie?" Ava asked, leaning forward in her seat.

Jake grinned. "It's hard to choose, but I'd say 'The Shawshank Redemption.' It's a classic!"

Ava's eyes lit up. "I love that one! It's so well done."

Kylie and Malia exchanged impressed looks, happy to see their daughter connect with Jake over something meaningful.

As dinner progressed, the conversation flowed naturally. Jake shared stories about school, his family, and his interests, and Kylie found herself appreciating the respectful and kind nature of their daughter's boyfriend.

"Do you play soccer for your school team?" Malia asked, leaning in with genuine interest.

"Yeah! I'm actually the team captain this year," Jake replied, his pride evident. "It's a lot of work, but I love it."

"Wow, that's impressive! Ava, you must be so proud!" Kylie said, noticing how her daughter beamed at the mention of Jake's accomplishments.

"I am! He's really dedicated," Ava replied, her admiration clear.

As they wrapped up dinner, Kylie decided to lighten the mood. "So, Jake, if you could take Ava anywhere for a date, where would it be?"

Jake paused, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I'd say an amusement park! I think it would be fun to ride all the roller coasters together."

Ava laughed, her excitement palpable. "That sounds amazing! I love roller coasters!"

Kylie smiled at the chemistry between them. "Just remember, young man, you'll need to be back by ten. And I have eyes everywhere," she joked, winking at Ava.

Jake chuckled nervously. "I promise, I'll get her back on time."

After dinner, they moved to the living room, where they continued to chat. Kody, having heard the commotion, wandered in, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Who's this?" he asked, pointing at Jake.

"This is Ava's boyfriend, Jake!" Malia said, kneeling to explain. "He's here for dinner."

Kody's face lit up. "Nice to meet you! Want to play a game?"

Jake grinned, clearly charmed by Kody's enthusiasm. "Sure! What do you like to play?"

As the evening unfolded, Jake joined in on a board game, easily fitting into the family dynamic. Kylie and Malia exchanged glances filled with pride and relief, watching their daughter interact with someone who seemed to genuinely care for her.

As the night wound down and Jake prepared to leave, Ava walked him to the door. "Thanks for coming over! I had a great time," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Me too! I hope we can do this again," Jake replied, his eyes sparkling.

Kylie and Malia stood by, watching the exchange with warmth. "You're welcome back anytime, Jake!" Malia called out as he stepped outside.

After Jake left, Ava turned to her moms, a huge smile plastered across her face. "He's amazing, right?"

Kylie laughed. "He really seems like a great guy, Ava. We're happy for you."

"Thanks! I'm so glad you both liked him!" Ava beamed.

As they settled in for the night, the warmth of family and new beginnings enveloped them. Kylie and Malia exchanged satisfied smiles, knowing that tonight was just the start of many wonderful memories for Ava—and perhaps a new chapter in their family story.