22. Chapter Twenty-Two #2
So I take a deep breath and do as she says, posing next to Dre.
My heart is in my damn throat, even though we’re just standing side by side, hands in our pockets.
She takes a couple photos, and then that’s it.
We’re off to the actual patch to find a pumpkin, which doesn’t take as long as it usually does.
Maddox picks a perfectly round pumpkin like he usually does, and Rylee picks the biggest pumpkin they have at the damn patch.
We have to get a cart to transport it, and I’m pretty sure Dre is regretting his choices, but he doesn’t dissuade her.
Before he can tell me no, I pay for Rylee’s pumpkin along with Maddox’s, and he gives me a knowing glare that tells me he’s going to make me pay for this later, somehow.
Though I can’t say I didn’t know that he would.
Maybe I counted on it, a little. Getting under his skin is fun sometimes; I won’t lie.
The afternoon goes by too fast. The kids get their faces painted and make spiders out of tootsie roll pops and pipe cleaners, and they eat way too much sugar between the cookies, candy and caramel apples, and hot chocolate.
It’s nearing five when we finally make it back over to Amelia’s for cake and ice cream, but I’m not sure I can eat anything else after everything else I’ve consumed today.
I’m so fucking full, I think I could take a nap for about a week.
Rylee looks like she’s hanging on by a thread and refuses to let Dre put her down because her legs “feel like Jell-O.”
He shifts around a bit, and I see him grimace.
“I can take her if you want a break,” I whisper. He looks at me, a soft smile on his lips.
“You don’t mind?” he asks, his voice low, careful. I shake my head and Dre carefully passes her off to me. Rylee yawns but doesn’t protest.
“You gonna make it, princess? There’s still cake and ice cream,” I say, shifting her onto my hip. “And I think it’s s’mores…”
Rylee rubs her eyes but nods in approval just as Amelia brings out Maddox’s cake, and we all chime in to sing.
Rylee settles her head on my shoulder, her soft hair brushing against my neck as Amelia tells Maddox to make a wish.
I sway absentmindedly with Rylee in my arms, feeling tired myself, but also strangely alert.
I watch as Maddox blows the candles out, and just as he does, I feel the warmth of Dre’s hand resting on my hip. He doesn’t move it, and I steal a glance at him as Amelia starts to cut the cake and Mrs. Taylor starts scooping ice cream.
“I can take her,” he says softly.
I shake my head as Rylee hums softly, and I can tell she’s not going to make it.
“I’m good. Sit down; have some cake.”
Dre’s gaze meets mine, and he doesn’t argue, and I think that itself means more than anything else.
I watch as he takes a seat at the dining table, across from Maddox, next to Sean, watch as they start getting into some heated debate about which teams they think will make the playoffs this season.
Mr. Taylor chimes in and Mrs. Taylor and Amelia laugh about something, and I can’t help but feel the tears pooling in my eyes because this…
This is something I never thought I’d have.
“Are you sad?” Rylee’s tired voice whispers.
I glance at her, noting she’s staring at me intently.
“No,” I say, clearing my throat and trying to push the sudden emotion aside. “Just tired.”
She yawns. “Me too.”
“You can go to sleep, if you want. I’ll wake you up when we get home.”
“Sometimes I get sad,” she says softly. “Are you sad because your Mommy isn’t here?”
“What?” the word just comes out of my mouth.
“Maddox has a mommy. Daddy does too. But you don’t. I don’t either.” Her words are so soft, I swear she’s got to be half asleep. “It’s okay to be sad about it.”
I rub her back, really trying to fight the tears now. “Yeah, of course it’s okay to be sad.”
She wraps one tiny arm around my neck and lets out an incomprehensible sound, but a moment later, I feel her soft breathing, and I know she’s asleep.
I’m not even sure that conversation was real, but I feel the emotion in my throat making it difficult to swallow.
We leave after Maddox gets his gifts—a new bike from Amelia and I, a skateboard from Dre, and some clothes from the Taylors.
My arms are starting to go numb, but I keep my hold on Rylee as Dre heads out to start the car up, his parents already taking off from their spot behind us.
“This was really nice,” Amelia says, coming to stand beside me.
“It was,” I agree, looking back at her. That smug smile is gone, and in its place is something softer.
“We should do it again. Maybe you guys could come for the holidays, too. If you want, I mean.”
She smiles up at Rylee, who is softly snoring in my ear.
“I’d like that,” I tell her, and it’s the truth.
Maddox is already playing with his skateboard, trying to figure it out, and I make my way over to him, tell him how proud I am of him and then I tell him that the next time he sees Dre we can learn the skateboard. I don’t know if he’ll actually listen, but I have to try.
It’s nearing eight by the time we get home, get Rylee in bed, and get showered and in bed ourselves.
My head hits the pillow and I swear I could pass out right now. I hear the chime of a phone, and Dre gets in bed beside me.
I hear a soft, contented sound escape his throat.
“What?” I mutter, sleep creeping in.
“Mom just sent the photos from today,” he says, and I can hear the warmth in his voice. I shift closer to him, and it isn’t long until he’s doing the same, backing his ass into me and filling the space with his solid frame and warmth.
“I had the best time today,” he whispers.
“Me too,” I mutter as I pull him closer and succumb to exhaustion with the biggest smile on my face. “Can’t wait to do it again next year,” I whisper as I drift into the darkness.