Chapter 18:
IT’S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I’VE WRITTEN ANYTHING, SO I HONESTLY DON’T REMEMBER HOW OLD BRIANNA AND BRYSON ARE…JUST ACT LIKE BRI IS 3 AND BRICE (BRYSON’S NICKNAME) IS 4. KAY? GRACIAS, YOU MAY PROCEED. OH, AND EXCUSE THE MISTAKES.
BRI SHOULD BE IN THE EXTERNAL LINK AND BRYSON IS ON THE SIDE --->
The Next Morning: 10 AM
Ring…ring. My phone buzzed. “Hello?” I asked as I barely opened my eyes. “Hey, were you still asleep? Maybe I should call back later.” I perked up instantly when I realized that it was Brandon that called me. “No, it’s okay. What’s up?” I asked trying to sound casual, but on the inside, it was a completely different story. I was so elated that he called. He was so sweet and I smiled every time I thought about him.
“Well, since today is the Fourth of July, I thought that maybe we could hang out today with the kids?” Brandon asked sounding nervous. I grinned from ear to ear, “Sure!” I replied “What do you want to do? And at what time?” “Umm, how about in a couple hours I come pick you up and we’ll go from there?” He asked. “Sounds good! I’ll text you my address. See you then!” I said before we said our goodbyes and hung up.
3 PM
Ding dong. The doorbell rang, I got up leaving Bri on the floor as she continued to watch Bubble Guppies. I groaned because my favorite part was coming up next, “Hey!” I smiled as I answered the door, pulling in Brandon who was holding Bryson in his arms. I closed and locked the door, “Follow me!” I yelled as I ran back into the living room.
“Outside! Outside! Outside, everybody outside! Line up! Everybody, line up, line up, line up, line up,-“ I sang along until I was interrupted by Brandon. He was hunched over, clutching his stomach as he howled with laughter. “What is so funny?” I couldn’t help but crack a smile at the sight.
“Are you seriously over there dancing with the kids to Bubble Guppies?” He asked as he continued to laugh at me. “And what’s wrong with that?” I laughed as I crossed my arms under my chest. “Nothing, nothing at all.” He said as he finally calmed down and sat on the couch. “So what are we doing today?” I asked as I sat next to him.
Taking his attention away from the children who were absorbed in the show, Brandon glanced at me sending butterflies to my stomach. “Well, I was thinking about going to my friend’s barbeque but I don’t think that’d be a good idea. There’s going to be alcohol and things might get out of hand and I don’t want Bryson and Brianna around that. They might get hurt or something.” He said and I nodded my head in agreement. “So, how about we go to the beach and watch the fireworks there? We can take blankets and chairs and grill our own food.” He smiled.
“And how would we do that when I don’t have a grill?” I raised an eyebrow. “No worries, I brought my portable one. It’s in my trunk.” Brandon smirked. I chuckled, “Oh, so you just knew I was going to agree?” I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Well, you aint said no…so let’s go!” He said. “Alright! Bri, go get your back pack and pull out your swimsuit. I’ll be in there to help you put it on in a second.” “Okay mommy!” She said as she ran to her room.
My phone began ringing. I looked down at the caller ID and scowled, it was Daniel. I immediately rejected the call. I guess Brandon could sense my animosity because he came over and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, “Everything good?” I nodded my head and plastered a fake smile. He seemed skeptical, but he shrugged it off.
“Alright, I have some chairs in my car. Do you have any blankets we could use? I have everything else we need.” “Yeah, let me go get them.” I replied. “Okay, Bryson and I will be in the car. Can I have your car keys to put Bri’s seat in my car?” “They’re at the front door on the side table.” I called over my shoulder as I walked over to the hall closet pulling out one large blanket and two small ones.
I then went to Bri’s room to help her in her swimsuit before going to put on my own. “Go outside to Brandon’s car.” I told Bri. “Kay!” She said as she ran out the front door. “And stop running!” I yelled after her. As I walked out the door and locked up the house, I felt arms wrap around my waist, “You ready?” Brandon whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine. “Umm, y-yeah.” I stuttered as I tried my best to regain my focus.
About 30 minutes later, we pulled up to the beach. I hadn’t been to one in so long, it almost brought tears to my eyes as I remembered all the good times I used to have with my mother. “You alright?” Brandon asked as he took the kids out of the car. “Yeah,” I smiled “I’m fine.” We all found a spot under a tree to block the sun from us.
Brandon immediately began to cook the meat after he put on his “Kiss the Cook” apron. I walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “What was that for?” He asked as he gave me a confused look. “It says ‘Kiss the Cook’. Duh!” I said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He chuckled and shook his head playfully, “Okay then.”
I looked over and saw that the kids were giggling about something, “What’s so funny?” I asked as I stooped down to their level. “Nothing mommy!” Bri said through a fit of laughter. “Yeah, nothing!” Bryson agreed as he continued giggling. I took a side glance at them before turning around to set our chairs out.
“Do you really think they’re boyfriend and girlfriend?” I heard Bri ask. I almost choked as I turned around to stare at them, wide-eyed. “What did you say?” Brandon and I said simultaneously. I glanced at him, causing myself to blush at our little moment. “You really need to learn how to whisper.” Bryson scolded Bri playfully.
It was obvious that Bryson told Brianna that Brandon and I were together. Not that I didn’t like the idea of that but I said, “No, we’re not together.” Before setting out all the chairs. “Come sit down guys.” I said to the kids. They came over and I gave them both juice boxes. “Need any help?” I asked Brandon as I walked over to him, but I made sure that I was able to see the kids.
“No, thank you though!” “Sure thing.” I replied with a smile. “Y’all want to get in the water?” I asked smiling at Brianna and Bryson, “Yes!” They both replied. I helped Bri out of her shorts and shirt, and Bryson out of his shirt since he had his swim trunks on as bottoms. I then took off my shirt and skirt before grabbing both of their hands, “We’ll be back!” I called over my shoulder to Brandon. “Okay!” He said not taking a glance at us.
We played in the water for about an hour before Brandon came down to the shore saying, “The food is ready!” “Alright.” I said as I grabbed both of the children, placing one on each hip. I started trudging at the water, since it felt so heavy against me.
Brandon’s POV
“Daaaaammmnnnn!” Was all I thought as Alicia came out of the water. How can she look so good? She is one fine piece of- “Brandon?” Alicia snapped her fingers in my face, bringing me out of my trance. “Are you okay?” She asked with a look of concern shown across her face. “Umm, yeah.” I said as my breath hitched up in my throat. I couldn’t think straight as I took Brice out of her hands and walked back over to our little area.
She bent over and pulled out two small towels and one big one. I had to look away, because I know that if I didn’t I would have done something inappropriate. She took Brice from me, wrap him in his towel, and set him in his chair before doing the same to Brianna. I then fixed our plates, consisting of grilled hot dogs and chips. “I have some burger patties if you don’t want a hot dog.” I said as I turned around, seeing Alicia sitting in her chair with her towel wrapped around her chest.
“A hot dog is fine. I’ll just take the hamburger with me.” She smiled at me. Damn, that smile. It makes me melt. I sounded soft as hell, but it’s the truth.
As we finished up eating, I looked up and saw that the sky was starting to change colors, into a pinkish orange. “Want to get back in the water?” I asked Alicia. “Sure!” She shrugged as she stood up and took herself, Bri, and Brice out of their towels. I took Brice and she took Brianna, and together, we walked down to the water after I changed to just my swim trunks.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” I asked as I saw her gazing up at the setting sun. “Yeah.” Was all she said as she continued to look at the sky. Brianna and Brice must have been tired from our late lunch, because both of them began to fall asleep. Alicia looked down and began to rock back and forth, kissing Bri on the forehead.
I stepped a little closer to them and wrapped an arm around Alicia’s waist, pulling her into my side. “Thanks for coming.” She looked up at me and scrunched her eyebrows together. “Why wouldn’t I come?” She asked, her voice low so she wouldn’t wake the children. I shrugged, “You could have chosen to go somewhere else.” “I didn’t have anywhere to go, but you’re welcome.” She smiled.
We watched the sun until it was all the way set. We walked back over to our spot and Alicia sat in the chair as she continued holding Bri. I set Brice in his chair and started putting away my grill so I wouldn’t have to do it when it got darker. I heard some shifting from behind me and turned to see Alicia holding both, Bri and Bryson. “You don’t have to hold him, he’s a big boy.” “The poor child was falling to the side, he was going to have a crook in his neck when he woke up.” I chuckled and turned to finish what I was doing.
When I was done, I laid the big blanket out on the ground and gestured for Alicia to sit there. With a little difficulty, she laid down on the blanket. I put the chairs up before lying next to Alicia and wrapping the blanket around us all.
A little while later, the fireworks started and both the kids immediately woke up. “Mommy!” Both of them cried, surprising me, since Alicia wasn’t Bryson’s biological mother. But she didn’t seem the least bit worried about it. “It’s okay. It’s just the fireworks.” She cooed to them. They both looked up at the light show and stared, hypnotized by it. I laughed before pulling out the little blankets, wrapping both of them in one and setting them at the end of me and Bri’s blanket, on top of it. “They’re so cute!” She chuckled as she watched them continue to be mesmerized by the show, occasionally jumping from the loud crackling sounds.
“I know, huh?” I asked as I pulled her over to me. She rested her head on my shoulder before sighing contently, “This was nice. You didn’t have to do all of this Brandon.” She said as she looked up at me, her head still on my shoulder. “But I wanted to.” I whispered as I brushed some of her hair strands behind her ear. She instantly started blushing as she shied away from me, going to the other end of the blanket, and put her head down.
“I love when you blush.” I chuckled. “Stop it!” She said as she placed her face in her hands laughing a little. “Come here.” I whispered. She scooted over closer to me. I reached out and grabbed her chin, bring her face closer to me. As I leaned in, I heard the little voice I knew all too well say, “Daddy, what are you doing?” I immediately, yet reluctantly, put my hand down, turning away from Alicia to say, “Nothing little man.”
1 Hour Later
We walked back to the car in silence, but not an awkward one. I glanced down at Alicia to see her staring at the kids who were in front of us, holding a conversation as if they were best friends. “What’s on your mind?” I asked her. “Oh, nothing. I just want to make sure they don’t run off.” She looked up and gave me a reassuring smile.
A little while later, we arrived back at her apartment. I walked them up to the door, about to say good night and head back to the car with Brandon in my hands, before changing my mind almost too quickly when Alicia said, “Why don’t you come in for a minute?”
A/N: Okkaaayy, so umm…hey y’all! Don’t be mad at me! I updated, yay! Lol, so can y’all please give me 3+ comments and 5+ votes? I didn’t meet my vote goal on the last chapter, but I still decided to update. It won’t be the same this time around. Oh, and my comments don’t count in the 3+ thing when I reply to y’all. HAPPY WINTER! I DON’T HAVE SCHOOL TOMRROW! Whoop, whoop! Okay, I’m done. Byeeeee!