“She called me Uncle Frank for like the whole night, but just as I was putting her to sleep she sprung it on me,” I shrug, “I don’t mind, she’s adorable.”
“And impatient,” Gerard says as Bandit shouts for us again, “She’s awake and demanding, we better go.”
We walk into the front room to find Bandit clutching the rabbit to her chest and looking at us expectantly. I sit beside her on the couch and Gerard picks her up and then sits down, bringing her onto his knees. She hugs his chest and whispers something.
“I only brought it because I knew you’d need it baby,” Gerard responds to whatever she said and I assume that they’re talking about the bunny. “I told you not to leave her, but did you listen to daddy? No, you didn’t.”
“So it was you that was here last night? I was so tired I couldn’t even open my eyes to check,” I say and Gerard smiles shyly. “Yeah you better be shy asshole! How the hell did you get in here? I locked up as soon as you left.”
“I know where you keep your spare key,” Gerard laughs a little but then looks at my face and stops, “Why are you mad?”
“I’m mad because you came into my house at night, to check on me, give your daughter a bunny, kiss us and then leave! Who does that? You said you trusted me.”
“I do trust you,” Gerard says and Bandit snuggles further into his chest, “It’s just I knew that Bandit would want the bunny and me and Lindsey were more concerned about her than anything else. She hates storms.”
“Well…” I don’t know if I should be mad or not so I settle for mildly annoyed, “Don’t do it again.”
“I won’t,” And then Gerard smiles his little toothy grin and I can’t stay annoyed at him so I smile back.
"So…” I start and rub my eyes with my hands trying to wake up.
"I want hot chocolate!" Her sweet voice interrupts my thoughts. She pouts her bottom lip forward and squeezes the bunny in her hands. She looks at Gerard, then at me and back at Gerard with her shining eyes.
"Okay, okay. We'll go to Starbucks if you like to buy some hot chocolate," says Gerard calmly and continues with a big grin spreading across his face. "I'll buy Daddy Frank some coffee as well."
I can feel my cheeks are warming up and changing their colour. I let out a laugh. We both help Bandit get dressed and travel to Starbucks in my car. I grab Bandit's hand and we sit at my favourite table by the big window in Starbucks. It starts to rain so I suppose we'll stay in for a while and wait for the rain to stop. The scent of the coffee mixes with the smell of rain outside. The heat of the radiators comes in contrast with the cool air escaping through the thick windows. Bandit decides to sit next to me with her fluffy rabbit. She sings a song under her breath and places the rabbit on the table. We're waiting for Gerard to come back with the drinks when he drops the tray with heavy cups on it carelessly on the table.
"Hot chocolate for you, my princess," He says and gently slides a big mug filled with hot chocolate in the direction of where Bandit is sat. A big smile appears on her face just at the first sight of the delicious liquid. She carefully places the rabbit next to her and begins to sip her drink.
"Your favourite coffee,” He says and passes me the big hot mug. It's amazing how Gerard knows so much about me. We spend less time together now that we used to before, but he still didn't forget anything about me. I wrap my fingers around the coffee and deeply inhale the smell of my late. A lot of milk and 2 table spoons of sugar. He ordered a black coffee for himself, without creamer or sugar. It's what I have been drinking for the past weeks. It's been a while since me and Gerard had a coffee together. Bandit seemed to be engrossed in the mug placed in front of her and so I decided to just talk to Gerard.
Chapter 4
Start from the beginning
