Page 30 of A Recipe for Romance

“We did it,” Kelsi whispered against his shirt, her voice filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion.

“We did,” Drew agreed softly, his hand gently stroking her back. “But it’s not over yet. The fallout, the opinions... we’re going to have to ride that out for a while.”

Kelsi pulled back just enough to look up at him. “I know. But we’ll handle it. We’ll handle everything.”

Drew smiled down at her, his heart swelling with pride and love. There had been a time when he never thought he’d let anyone in again, never thought he’d feel this way about someone. But Kelsi had changed everything, and there was no turning back now.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s get out of here. I know a quiet spot where we can grab dinner and just... breathe for a bit.”

Kelsi’s eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly. “That sounds perfect.”

They headed toward Drew’s car, hand in hand, both feeling a little lighter with each step. As they drove away from the studio, the tension of the day slowly began to melt away, leaving only the quiet certainty of their shared path.

The restaurant Drewhad in mind was tucked away in a quiet part of town, far from the prying eyes of the media. It was a small, intimate spot he’d discovered years ago, the kind of place where the food was simple but perfect, and the atmosphere made it easy to forget the outside world.

They were seated at a cozy corner table, candlelight flickering between them, and for the first time all day, Kelsi seemed to fully relax.

“This place is amazing,” she said, glancing around at the warm, rustic decor. “How did you find it?”

“An old mentor of mine brought me here once, back when I was still figuring things out,” Drew explained, a fond smile tugging at his lips. “It became my go-to spot when I needed to get away from everything.”

Kelsi looked at him thoughtfully, her head tilting slightly. “And now you’ve brought me here.”

Drew met her gaze, his expression soft. “Yeah. I figured we both needed a little escape.”

The waiter came by, taking their orders, and soon they were sipping wine and sharing stories, the intensity of the day fading into the background. For a while, it felt like they were just two people, enjoying each other’s company, with no cameras or expectations looming over them.

As they finished their meal, Drew leaned back in his chair, watching Kelsi as she smiled and laughed at something he’d said. He couldn’t help but marvel at the journey they’d been on—how far they’d come, both individually and together.

“Kelsi,” he said after a moment, his tone serious. “I’ve been thinking about something.”

She looked at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “What’s on your mind?”

Drew took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “This whole thing, the press conference, the media attention... it’s been a lot. And I know it’s not going to get any easier. But I also know that I don’t want to keep tiptoeing around everything anymore.”

Kelsi’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion, but she stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“I want us to be able to live our lives,” Drew said, his voice steady. “Without having to hide, or worry about what people are going to say. We’ve worked too hard, both in our careers and in our relationship, to let other people’s opinions control us.”

Kelsi’s eyes softened as she listened, a small smile playing on her lips. “I agree,” she said quietly. “I’m tired of hiding too.”

Drew reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “So what do you think about making it official? Not just with the press, but with us. No more hiding, no more second-guessing. Just... us. Out in the open.”

Kelsi’s smile grew, and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Drew, I would love that. I’m all in.”

Drew felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over him. He knew there would still be challenges ahead, but with Kelsi by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came their way.

“I love you,” he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.

Kelsi’s eyes shimmered with emotion. “I love you too.”

They finished their wine, and as they left the restaurant hand in hand, Drew felt lighter than he had in years. They’d made it through the hardest part—coming clean, facing the world—and now, they were free to live their lives on their own terms.

As they walked down the quiet street, Kelsi leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder. “I can’t wait to see what happens next,” she murmured.

Drew smiled, his arm tightening around her. “Whatever it is, we’ll do it together.”

And with that, they walked into the night, ready for whatever the future had in store.

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