Yes, Sir

7.6

•- Laine Bennett -•

As the night grew closer to midnight, I notice the surrounding party had dwindled down to the younger crowds of people who could withstand the sleeping schedule of a true New Yorker in their youth. My grams had been taken home roughly an hour after the cake was cut and delivered to the parties guests, and that resulted in the comfortable goodnight of two friends between my grams and Austin.

There was something about the way the two interacted that made me believe there was more to their working relationship, and whether that common ground was me or not was still out for debate.

Thea has finally agreed to dance with Brent and the two had been hitting it off since Brent got the balls to ask her to dance. Mahalia has been properly pumped out to a man she seemingly enjoyed the company of, and that left Austin and I.

I'd stuck to my word of spending the evening with him, and all we had to show for it was small innocent kisses stolen on one another's body as we tried to conceal our private relationship. By the time Clover and Graham has interrupted our intimacy, I'd realized how close and comfortable we'd gotten in front of such a curious crowd.

But Clover and Graham had their own plans and had crashed on each of our laps with their small childlike heads rested underneath our chins.

I was carefully brushing Clover's perfectly curled hair from her tired eyes and I found myself comfortably rocking with the small child nuzzled on my lap.

"You will make a beautiful mother one day, Lainey," Austin whispered as he and Graham sat leaned in the decorated chair located at our secured table.

My cheeks darken and I couldn't find the words to respond.

In all honesty, after Hawaii, I truly knew that Austin was the man I could see myself with. Whether we lived in his Hawaiian home, or in a traditional styled white picket fence elsewhere, I would follow Austin where his heart desired and I would build our future together if he ever asked.

"Thank you," I mouth to him, not wanting to wake the sleeping angel rested comfortably on my lap.

Austin nods, a playful smile present on his lips as we sit staring at one another. The moment was intimate, like a flash into our future. There were so many things I wanted to achieve before settling down. I wanted an actual job that wasn't catering to the needs of my wealthy boyfriend, and I wanted to provide a better living situation for my family than in the wrong side of Brooklyn. Once I'd reached those goals, I would truly consider moving forward in Austin and I's relationship. But the more I sat staring into his eyes as he comfortably rested with his younger cousin, I knew I was absolutely in love with him, and if he wanted to ruin my plans, then there was nothing I could say or do about it.

My deep pondering comes to a close as Eric and Chris walk up to Austin and I with apologetic, but appreciative smiles.

"Now how did you two get stuck with the Rugrats?" Chris asks, resting his hands on his hips as he eyes the scene playfully.

Eric swats his chest gently, making Chris' smile widen.

"Our kids do not resemble those creepy babies, Christopher. If anything, you're the ugly one."

Their relationship was ideally the type of loving and personal relationship I desired to have and I was getting close with Austin. Eric and Chris bantered, and of course, like all relationships, they fought. They made their relationship work together and provided for their two lovely children who could not make me any happier to be involved in such an upbeat and influential family as the Wood household.

Chris leans down and takes Graham from Austin's arms without waking the small child once Graham was situated on his hip, Chris leans down and gives Austin a brief hug.