Two days later, Joe and I stand in the kitchen of my apartment, his suitcase for a two-week vacation with his brothers in his car downstairs... with said brothers.
"Okay," I sigh, grinning up at him. "Have fun. Be good."
He chuckles, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close in one sleek movement, waiting for me to lay a hand on his check before continuing.
"I'm gonna miss you like crazy," he says.
I grin. "I'm gonna miss you too... but we've done this before. And you need to."
He nods. "I gotta try."
"Exactly. We'll talk. Facetime when you can. Although you'll be hours and hours ahead of me."
He chuckles. "We'll make it work; we always do."
I nod. "I know. You better go, you're gonna miss your flight."
He nods, pulling me in tighter and kissing my head. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," I tell him, looking up and giving him a kiss. "Go."
He grins, nodding and leaving the apartment, leaving me to look around the apartment. "Ew."
It's a mess if I'm honest. I've been so busy focusing on Joe and the wedding to even spend a moment thinking about the apartment I've neglected. It happens with life, I know, but not to me. It's bothersome... and somehow all of a sudden, it's messing with my brain.
Frantically running around the apartment, I quickly yet thoroughly clean everything, only stopping when my phone rights, Joe's ringtone blaring through the speakers.
Furrowing my brows, I grab my phone answering the Facetime call.
"Hey," he grins, tiredly.
"Hey, you guys are there already? It's only been like, an hour."
He raises his brows. "No, babe, it's been," he pauses, glancing over to the clock. "3 hours. I mean, we're not there yet, we're on the plane. But we're going to sleep so I figured I'd go ahead and call you to say goodnight."
"It's been three hours already?" I ask, glancing around at the now spotless apartment.
He nods. "What have you been doing?"
"Cleaning," I admit, grinning slightly.
He chuckles. "Well, I guess that'll do it, huh?"
I laugh lightly, nodding. "Yeah."
"I forgot to tell you before, Dani had mentioned something about you going to stay with her and the girls while we're gone. That way you both have someone to chill with and the girls get to see you cause they've been asking for ya."
"Oh, okay. Yeah, that sounds good. I'll have to look at flights."
"Use my account. My card is on there so just use that," he says.
I give him a look. He knows that I hate when he buys everything for me. "I think I can handle a one-way ticket to New Jersey, babe."
"I know you can. But I want to buy it for you. So, use my card."
I sigh. "Fine. But I'm buying the one to come home."
He chuckles, nodding. "Deal."
"Okay, go to bed. I know you're tired," I tell him.
"I love you, Addison." He says thoughtfully after a moment of staring.
"I love you too, Joe," I respond, grinning at him. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he smiles, hanging up.
Immediately after hanging up, I dial Dani's number, starting the facetime call.
"Aunt Addie!" Alena says as they answer the call.
"Hi babe!" I grin. "Whatcha doing?"
"Playing and stuff," she answers.
"Oh yeah?" I ask, raising my brows.
She nods. "Yeah! Tini is taking a nap. She was grumpy."
"Oh, we don't need a grumpy tini."
She laughs, shaking her head. "Where's mommy? Can I talk to her?"
Alena nods, handing the phone up to Danielle.
"Hey," she smiles.
"Hey. Joe said something about you mentioning me coming to stay while they're out of town."
She nods. "Yeah, I mean, if you want to. I figured it may be fun and the girls have been asking for you."
I nod. "Yeah, that works. I'm gonna try to find a flight for tomorrow. Do you mind if Porky comes, or do I need to find someone to watch him for me?"
"No, he can come," she smiles.
I smile back. "Cool, so I'll go book a flight and text you the details when it's finalized."
"Sounds good," she nods, grinning.
"Alright, bye Dani."
"Bye babe," she says, hanging up.
I book a flight for the next day and head to my room to pack my suitcase for the two weeks.
"I can grab Porky a small bag of food and stuff while we're there, so I think I'm good." I whisper to myself, zipping the suitcase, getting my carry-on ready and noticing the time.
Making myself a bowl of leftover pasta from a couple nights ago, I reheat it, and plop onto the couch, watching a movie and eating before finding myself yawning and deciding to go to bed since I have to get up a bit early.
After brushing my teeth and hair, using the restroom, taking Porky out to use the restroom as well, and climbing into bed, I plug in my phone and get comfortable. Only for it to blare loudly.
I reach over, grabbing it and seeing Joe's name. Turning the light on, I answer the call, his face appearing.
"Good mor- you were going to sleep." He says.
I laugh lightly, shrugging. "It's okay. Good morning."
"Did you talk to Dani?"
I nod. "Yeah, I'm heading out with Pork in the morning."
He nods. "Awesome."
"What are your plans for the day?" I ask.
"We have no idea," Kevin butts in, walking past.
Joe nods. "Yeah, that."
I laugh. "you guys will figure it out."
He nods. "Yes, we will. But you need to go to bed so I love you, sleep well, and I will talk to you later."
"Okay, I love you, goodnight."
He grins, hanging up and allowing me to put my phone down and drift off to sleep.
The next morning, I wake to my alarm startled. I gulp down a glass of water and rub my eyes, going to use the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth and let Porky use the restroom before taking my luggage downstairs and head to the airport. A few hours later, I get off the plane, making my way outside and to Dani's car, hopping in.
"Aunt Addie!" both of the girls exclaim in the backseat.
"Hi guys!" I say to them.
"How was your flight?" Dani asks.
"Good," I nod. "Thanks for picking me up."
"of course," she smiles. "Ready?"
I nod.
She drives away from the airport and to their home before parking.
I help get the girls out and we head inside before I set my things in the guest room and head back downstairs, only for my phone to ring.
I pick it up, grinning. "Uh-oh, it's Uncle Joe."
The girls gasp, running over as I hit answer and hold the phone, so he'll be able to see the three of us.
Valentina climbs into my lap, smiling widely at the phone.
"Whoa!" Joe says as his face appears. "It's Alena and Tini!"
They laugh.
"Hi Uncle Joe!" Alena says.
"Uncle Joe!" Tini repeats, the words coming out a bit mumbled.
"What are you guys doing?" he asks.
"Hanging out with mommy and aunt addie!" Alena says.
"Oh yeah? Having fun?"
"I think so, what do you think Tini?" I ask, tickling her.
She giggles, nodding. "Yep!"
I smile. "What did you guys end up doing today?"
"We went to the beach, actually." Joe says. "I haven't been in ages, it was fun."
"The beach?!" Alena asks.
"I hear my girls!" Kevin says on the other end.
"Daddy!" the girls squeal as he comes into view.
"Hi Daddy!" Alena says.
"Hi baby," he smiles. "You guys hanging out with Aunt Addie?"
"Yeah!" they both answer excitedly.
He chuckles. "Good. Be good for her and mommy, okay?"
"Okay!" they both answer.
Soon, we hang up and Dani calls the girls for lunch, making them run to the kitchen and me follow along, sitting at the table and eating along with them, realizing it was the first meal I've had today.
***
i know it's been forever, my friends.
life has been crazy.
i hope you all had the best of holidays...
and the happiest of new years.
new chapter will be coming soon <3
all my love,
shan:)