We were just driving back to my apartment after the best date of my life, possibly the best night of my life entirely. Then all of a sudden, the handsome, cute, kind, yet idiotic man beside me, decided to mention how his family owned an island.

"Since when are you a rich man?!" I almost screeched as soon as he pulled over like I'd insisted.

"Uhm.... Since... Uhm.... Forever?" He said, looking really nervous and scared.

"Relax." I said, realizing I was being a little too panicky about this.

"Sorry. I just... to me, it's normal, I wasn't hiding it or anything... I just didn't really realize you didn't know... I don't know." He shrugged.

"I just... I'm shocked." I said. "Like... an island is a huge deal.... you're filthy rich, Dude!"

"That doesn't mean anything though, Ava... it literally changes nothing." He said to me.

"It changes a lot! I met with a huge family of billionaires and I'm dressed like a high school girl with no sense of- ugh! Why?! I didn't know!" I said, feeling like I'd messed everything up.

"Ava... the girls were all dressed in hoodies and sweatpants... no one cares what you were wearing." He said to me.

"I didn't know." I sighed.

"It doesn't matter. Ava, if you dressed up too much, they'd feel uncomfortable. I know you want them to like you, but you never have to go out of your way for that. I love you because you're you and not anyone else. You have no problem putting someone in their place no matter who they are. They'll like you for those reasons too. They don't care how you dress or what you look like. They just care that you're a good person. And you are." He told me.

"And what makes you think that I could ever compete with your family's income?" She asked.

"Who said you had to?" He asked with a frown.

"I did. I don't want to just live off of your family income." I sighed.

"Ava, you make more than I do." He reminded me.

"So... how are you rich?" I asked him.

"Because my family runs a huge corporation and all the income goes to the family. Our family isn't about deciding who made what money and assigning it to them. There are times when my bank account has no money in it, but they just replenish it for me immediately, or I use someone else's card. Family helps family, Ava." He said to me.

"But you didn't make that money." I said. "You have to work hard for the money you have."

"Of course I do... and I do work hard, Ava. I may not be the CEO of any of the branches... I may not be an engineer or a doctor or a chef or anything. But while my family is making that money, I'm always there to support them." He told me.

"And that's enough?" I asked, genuinely wondering what his family thought of that.

"Yes. It's enough. I may not be the best chef. But when Sophie is sick or needs a day off, I'll handle the restaurant for a day on the weekends. I may not know much about taking care of animals, but when the guys are stuck and need someone at the enclosures, I drive down there and I'll wrestle a cougar for them if I have to. When Micah needs some time with his wife and kids or just needs a break, I go to some meetings for him and make sure everything is going well. When I'm needed at the gym, I take shifts there with the kids. When Em needs help with her shop, I'll sit there and model for her, take pictures, buy her new stuff and get it delivered." He said.

"Wow." I said, understanding exactly what he meant now.

"I work my butt off for this family, Ava. And I think if I was anything but a teacher, I might not have enough free time to do it. But I love my job and it's what I've always wanted to do. In a way, my family is paying me back for my support by allowing me to do the low income job that I want to do and supporting me financially if I need it. Which I typically don't, but I have a family to depend on if I need to." He explained to me.

"Ok... but let's say things got serious between us. What do I do? I don't deserve to be financially supported by your family." She said.

"Ok... first of all, you wouldn't need any financial support, you're a doctor, sweetheart." He chuckled. "Two, you'd be my girl, whatever is mine is yours, my hard work is going to be for you. My money will be yours, and you can use any of it at anytime."

"That feels so wrong." I said, my stomach twisting from the stress of thinking I'd be taking advantage.

"Ava. Can I ask you a question?" He asked me.

I nodded.

"If Arabella came to you in tears one day, which is quite likely to occur... would you stand by her, take her kids for a while and help her relax? Give her advice? Call Micah for her and make sure she's ok?" He asked me.

"Yeah." I said.

"And if Kiara had a panic attack one day in your presence, or wasn't feeling well... let's say she was really sick. Would you take care of her?" He asked.

"Of course I would, Gabe." I sighed.

"And if Aunt Sophie was tired, she couldn't deliver the leftover food to the other kitchen and needed you to do it, would you?" He asked.

"Yes! But... why would they even come to me? I don't know them much and they don't know me." I said.

"This is a theoretical thing about after you guys get close... You'd help Rico by taking shifts for him at the clinic that you guys opening up, right? Or help me by going to print something for me... you'd do a lot for anyone in the family, right? You'd be there for them if they turned to you for help... am I right?" He asked me.

"Of course, Gabe. But that doesn't entitle me to take their money." He said.

"No one said you were taking their money. But if you ever needed anything, including financial support. They would be there to help you out, just like they know you'll be there when they need you." He told me.

"I guess that makes sense. But I can't see myself ever having the stomach to ask anyone for money." I said.

"Ask me... never be afraid to ask me... if you need it, I will give it to you." He told me.

"You do realize we're on our first date, right?" I chuckled.

"The first of a lifelong series of dates, Ava... I just have a feeling that this will work out." He said to me.

I had that same feeling, but I couldn't trust my gut just yet.

"Ok. You can start driving again once I get a hug." I told him.

He smiled and leaned over to me, wrapping his big arms around me.

"You ok? I'm sorry I shocked you with that. I should've told you earlier, I just assumed you knew." He chuckled.

"I should've guessed." I laughed. "It's ok. You were right. It isn't a big deal."

"It really isn't. Money doesn't define anyone. I don't care how much money you have or make. I love you because you're a good person and I'll stand by you in everything you do." He told me.

"You're not supposed to say this to a girl on your first date." I smiled, pulling away from our long, comforting hug.

"I also shouldn't have asked a girl on a date almost every single day for the past two years, but look how that turned out?" He asked me.

"Get over yourself." I said, pushing his arm.

"Are you ready to go home now?" He asked me with a laugh.

"No. I have a diagnosis." She said.

"What's your diagnosis, Doc?" He asked me.

"I think you lost your light perception and need to see and ophthalmologist." She said to me.

"Ava, that's creepy... don't say these things..." He said, pulling the mirror above his head down so he could look at his eyes.

"What does that mean? What's wrong with my eyes?" He asked me.

"Just meet with your ophthalmologist and tell them that you went on a date with a doctor and your eyes dilated so much because she was so beautiful, that too much light flooded in your eyes and now you've lost the ability to perceive light." I laughed.

"Oh my goodness. You actually scared me, stupid!" He said, nudging my shoulder with his elbow and making me laugh.

"Does that mean I'm blind?" He asked.

"Oh yeah... blinded by your love for me, Teach." I chuckled.

"You're actually mean. Don't scare me with your creepy medical terms!" He said.

"Aw, you're too cute sometimes." I laughed.

"So mean." He said, starting the car again and beginning our drive back to my apartment.

The drive back was relaxing. I put on some good music and Gabriel even got caught singing it with me, which made him turn bright red. I just found Gabriel so cute.

On the outside he looked like a big tough guy, super attractive but not really particularly cute looking. But once you got to know that big softie, you'd see that he's just about the cutest man this world has ever seen.

Which is exactly what lead me to throw my no kissing rule out the window and decide to give him a short peck before I left. But I was going to be fun about it. I was going to tease the poor fellow.

As soon as he parked in front of the apartment building entrance, I redirected his face to look at me and then pulled his face closer and pecked him on the lips. Then I grabbed my bag, smiling at him and getting out of the car quickly.

"Bye, Gabe. Thanks for the drive and the amazing date... I had so much fun! I'll see you tomorrow!" I cheered, reaching out to close the car door behind me.

"No, you did not just do that." He chuckled in disbelief, taking his seatbelt off as I closed the car door and ran around the car to get to the apartment building entrance.

I heard his door open and I squealed rushing along the narrow path to the door. I heard him chuckle and heard his heavy footsteps following me. He wasn't quite done with me yet, it seemed.