"You know, I thought we were invited as guests." April groaned as she pulled out more weeds. "I've been having flashbacks all day of my time spent here, you see that tree over there?" She pointed off by the banks. "That's where Ross and I frenched to avoid getting caught by Vi, but now that I look at it, we weren't very discreet." She laughed to herself and I laughed too, it's strange but April's company isn't that bad. She's a bit vulgar, she reminds me of how I used to be when I was here.
I've lost my spark.
"Well that fire pit," I pointed towards it and she eyed it curiously. "That's where Ross and I had our first date."
"Huh, there used to be a shed there, I wonder what happened to it?" Just as I was about to answer Ross came around the corner.
"You guys are still picking weeds?" He was shirtless, using his shirt as a head band to keep his hair out of his face, and he was in his old basketball shorts, his V lines on display, me and April both eyed him before making eye contact with each other.
"Shut up, you had the riding lawnmower." April waved him away as she walked back towards the house.
"We're not even done." I muttered. Being upset with her for leaving me alone with Ross.
"So how are things?" He asked, and I turned towards him raising my brow.
"Just fine, you?"
"I was going to tell you." He uttered. "About the engagement, but it just slipped away from me because being back here is just-"
"It's fine Ross, you don't have to tell me anything." I sighed. "But you're happy?"
"Yes, I'm very happy." He looked out over the field. "But Danielle isn't sure anymore." He said quietly making me look towards him.
"Is it because of me and April?" He nodded his head in response. And I shook my head in confusion. "Why didn't you tell her about us?"
"Because, it was much easier to explain that I was talking to a friend rather than an ex girlfriend. And I thought I wasn't going to see April ever again, but here she is, with this new attitude." He looked down towards me. "Almost reminds me of you." He mused.
"Yeah I thought so too." I laughed but it died out after awhile and me and Ross both looked back towards the fields. "You think we can manage to turn this dump into a wedding?"
"Yeah, after you use the weed killer." My eyes widened and he dodged my hand as it came out to whack him.
"You mean to tell me that I was on my hands and knees for hours only to find out that there's weed killer?!" I yelled as I ran after him and this went on for about twenty minutes, and in between us running around the yard like complete loons Ross had got ahold of the water hose.
"If you value your life even one bit, you will not pull that trigger." We were at a standstill in front of each other, without actually thinking I just ran the opposite way as fast as I could but it was no use as I felt the cold water douse my back. I didn't have time to process the shock as I had tripped over god knows what landing myself in the creak, which was at its highest point seeing as it rained the week before we came here.
I saw Ross sheepishly peek his head over the bank and I glared back at him. "Help me you Jackass."
"Ahh there's the Cass I know and lov-" Just as he put his hand out I yanked him in sending him falling towards the water, and after he got past the initial shock we were both acting like children splashing each other back and forth.
"Ross?" We both stopped as someone neared the bank, Danielle peeking her head over, almost doing a double take at our drenched state. "Oh, uh, sorry to ruin the fun, but... our plans?" She looked towards Ross expectantly, and he sat there panting like an idiot before realization dawned on him.
"Oh, uh yeah." He cleared his throat. "I'll go get cleaned up." He lifted himself from the water abruptly not even looking back at me as he left.
I sat for a second, my eyes shifting towards Danielle as she was still looking at me, her gaze turned scrutinizing. "Can I help you?" I felt more like the old Caspian in this moment.
She fiddled with her engagement ring. "Nope, just wondering what it was like." She shrugged.
"What, what was like?" I got up, squeezing the excess water out of my shirt.
"Your guy's relationship." She said nonchalantly. And I looked at her skeptically as she just walked away.
•••
"Caspian, I'd like to introduce you to my fiancé Richard." Vi's eyes softened as I held my hand out towards him but he brought me in for a hug.
"Hi!" I laughed and he did in return.
"Sorry, Vi has told me a lot about you... and I've read your book." He admitted making my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. But he put his hands up in defense. "Me and my colleagues read it together actually, I'm a phycologist."
"Were you a fan of it?" I asked amused at the fact he had now idea that the love interest of my story was going to be here any moment, and he nodded eagerly. "Vi, he's a keeper." Vi smiled brightly at me before looking off in the distance.
"I sure hope Ross thinks that." She said under her breath. And it hadn't dawned on me until now, but Ross' opinion was one she had been dreading. I wonder why?
Ross came into the room with Danielle on his arm, and he let go of her hand as soon as he saw Richard.
Richard held his hand out to Ross, "Ross this is Richard, my fiancé." Vi spoke up and Ross grinned, it seemed off, as he shook Richard's had.
"Ah Dick! What an honor to meet the man of the hour!" Ross clapped him on the back and my eyes widened as he stumbled a bit. My eyes darted to Danielle as she looked nervously towards Ross, her hand reaching out to grab him. "Mommy dearest tell you all about me? Congratulations on becoming a father to a 34 year old man!" Ross put his arm around him and Vi hugging them close, Vi's eyes were burning with anger and Richard was just awkwardly strung along for the ride. "Now we can be one big happy family."
"Alright that's enough." My brain finally found its way to my mouth as I went forward to get Ross and he willingly came with me. "We'll be down for dinner, sober." I looked towards Ross pointedly but he merely just winked at me making me roll my eyes.
Danielle trailed behind us before pausing outside of their room they were sharing. "He's not usually like this I promise." Danielle came in as I sat him on the bed, pulling up a chair to sit across from him and he was hanging his head down ignoring both of us.
"I'm not judging him." I shrugged. "He's a grown man he can do whatever he wants." I looked towards Danielle. "But all my years of knowing him he's never gotten drunk, buzzed sure, but never this." I gestured to him just as he slumped over laying on his back on the bed, his eyes shut.
"This trip has just been a lot for him, that's all." She said quietly, not looking up at me.
I threw my hands up in surrender. "I get it, none of my business." I stood to leave not even glancing back.
Piper was right. I needed to move on, and that man is no longer my problem.
Just as I hit the bottom of the stairs Danny was on his way to the dining room and I hurried to be by his side. "Mind if I sat by you at dinner?" I asked hopeful and he smiled making my breath get caught in my throat.
"I would mind if you didn't sit by me." His arm went over my shoulders and I let myself enjoy it, not letting my eyes wonder to the stairs not even once.
•••••••
Thanks for all the birthday wishes ☺️
Again I'm seeing R5 August 19th in OKC so if you're going please get in contact bc I want to meet some of my readers and have a good time.
Thanks for voting, reading and commenting
Love, Aliah.