Third Date (20 page)

Max wouldn't mind the name change, it was way cuter to watch her repeatedly try to say Monty, only for Moot to always make its way out.

“Alright, I'll make you breakfast in a few minutes.” Smiling, Fay cocked her head and looked over the lump at my side. “Guess who's here,” I said excitedly.

“Dilby?” she asked, tilting her head with uncertainty.

Layne launched himself out from under the blanket, arms flying above his head, as he let out a loud bear growl. “Raaawww!”

Fay threw her hands up to her lips, a giant grin splitting across her cheeks. “Dilby!” She yelled, arms falling to her hips. “You can't scare me.”

“I think I just did,” Layne said, dropping to the edge of the bed and onto his belly. His feet kicked up behind him, ankles crossing  as his head rested happily on his hands.

“Nuh uh, I don't get scared. I'm brave like my daddy, you'll never be able to scare me.” Her arms drew up across her chest, snuggling into her ribs, Moot dangling on threads by one arm.

I'll be sewing him up again soon.

Layne's smile spread like wildfire. “I can tell you're as brave as your daddy, your Mom told me you got that from him. But...” His eyes thinned, a single finger flipping out to bounce in the air. “One of these days I'll scare you, and you'll never see it coming.”

“Nope, you won't.” Sealing her eyes shut, Fay tipped her head up to the ceiling, shaking it side to side.

“I will.”

“No, wanna bet?”

“Bet?”
He asked, chuckling under his breath. “What do you want to bet?”

“If I win, I get to give you a make-over, if you win, you get to use my special notebook.”

“Special notebook?”

“Yeah,” I chimed in. “And that's a really great bet. Fay has a special notebook that nobody, and I mean
nobody
is allowed to touch. Not even me—”

“Or Memeré.” Fay added.

“Or Memeré. You'd be lucky if you win, but I'm thinking this bet is probably a loss on your end now. She never bets her special notebook, and I tried.” Expanding my lids, I nodded with affirmation.

Fay's special notebook was a present I gave her last year for her birthday. I couldn't even believe she still had it in one piece, but I was really proud of her for taking our conversation seriously when I finally passed it down to her.

It's one of the few surviving items that she hasn't destroyed with all her creative childhood nature.

The notebook and Moot, surviving relics of the past.

She never lets anyone use, touch, or even hold her special book. I didn't blame her, the book holds more sentimental value than just any old notebook. And it was just as hard for me to entrust it to her. I had spent hours the night before I parted with it just scrolling through the pages, letting the memories take me back.

And now, she was filling it with memories of her own.

“Alright, I'll take your bet. I hope you're ready to let me use your notebook.” Layne's big toothy smile hit his ears, his head joggling around on his hands. “Because I'm going to scare you so bad.”

Fay laughed, swinging her bear from side to side, a bit too rough for my liking. “You will not.” Stepping towards the end of my bed, she poked Layne in the forehead. “Tag, you're it!” she screamed, then shot out of the room down the hallway.

Before I could protest, or grab his arm, Layne launched off the bed after her. And my heart heated, beating sweet melodic tones through my veins. He was a natural, a big kid at heart.

I loved watching him with Fay, I loved seeing her accept this man so quickly with no questions or discomfort. I had always expected that if I ever brought another man into my life, Fay would detest him, loath him, hate him.

I had expected a wilted emotion of her thinking I was trying to replace her father, or that I was going to forget him, and what he meant to us.

But none of that was right, it was the complete opposite. Max would always be remembered, he would always be her father. And neither of us would ever forget him.

Layne had told me that, he made it clear. And he didn't show one shred of discomfort when Max was mentioned.

I'll have to remember to thank him for that.

For everything he's helped me to realize.

Layne is going to make a wonderful father to our baby.

Now, I just needed to find the perfect time to tell him.

Kinsley

“O
h hey, Gina, what's going on?” I was standing in the door, holding it partially shut, and wedging my body between the gap.

“I ran into your mom yesterday.” Her eyes lit up, a half grin lifting over her jaw.

“You ran into her?” I asked, disbelief resting in my tone.

That was a far stretch, my mother and Gina lived twenty minutes apart. My mother only went out when she needed to, and Gina always tried to do any errands in one single shot, mostly on Friday nights.

Oh really? Ran into each other... I'm sure that's what happened.

“Okay,” she said, rolling her eyes and fanning her hand. “She called me—”

Throwing out a finger, I barked. “I knew it! I knew you guys talked.”

Spiraling her hand, she waved away my accusation. “Anyway, she told me that Mr. Mattress man was here last weekend, and you haven't called me all week. How'd things go?”

She was right, I had spent the last seven days with Layne. We cooked and ate dinner together, we found every excuse to talk on the phone or text when we weren't together.

At night, Layne would sit by Fay's bed with me and listen to the stories of her father, he'd listen and he'd ask questions. He would laugh, he would seem just as curious about my life before as the baby girl I was raising.

And Fay had been blessed by getting two stories a night. One from me, and one from Layne. He shed his protective layer, telling us stories of things he went through as a kid. For Fay they were funny and exciting, and for us when we were alone... They were heartfelt and sad.

Layne was an amazing man for what he had been through, and he deserved to learn about everything he questioned.

Honestly, I had become infatuated with him. For everything he had been through, to see the man he had become, it gave me more strength. A new outlook on how grateful our child would be to have him, even if our lives ended up moving separate ways.

But I will never let that happen. He's too great to ever let go.

A shrill giggle exploded over my shoulder, Fay's loud voice cut through the air. “Dilby, you can't use red, don't you know what color dinosaurs are?”

Gina veered her stare, her head bobbing and weaving over my shoulder to look inside. “Dilby? Who the hell is—”

“Everything alright?” Layne asked, appearing behind me. “Oh, hi, Gina. How's things going?”

“Layne,
hi, things are good.” Smiling, her eyes lowered to meet mine. I smiled through thin lips, shrugging a shoulder.

“Did you get my message?” Opening the door, he stepped up beside me.

“I did, and thank you. You didn't have to do that, but thanks.”

“Do what?” I questioned, glancing between them both.

Cupping her hands, Gina swayed on her heels. “Well, Layne here is reimbursing Lynn and myself.”

Layne then followed her statement. “Yeah, I figured since we had a 'thing,' that it was wrong for me to take their money. So, I gave it back.”

Nodding, I said, “So you already knew anyway?”  Setting my eyes on Gina, she smirked, lifting her brows. “Do you want to come in?” Stepping from the door, Fay jumped to her feet and ran up between us.

“Aunt Gigi! Come look.” Gripping her hand, Fay yanked her into the house.

“Looks like I'm coming in. Hope I wasn't interrupting anything.” Winking, she bared her teeth.

Tossing a look at Layne, I whispered. “So you told her before I had the chance.”

His lips spread in an amused smile, eyes slitting tight. “I couldn't accept her money, I had to tell her why.”

Closing the door behind me, I stepped back into the living room. Fay had dragged Gina over to the spot where her and Layne were just laying and coloring. Bending to grab a picture off the floor, she held it up to Gina. “Look at this, Dilby thinks dinosaurs are red. Isn't he comical?”

Shooting me an entertained look, Gina leaned over and ogled the picture. “That is comical, he's a funny guy, huh?”

“You don't even know, Aunt Gigi.” Using her thumb to point over her shoulder, Fay whispered in her not so quiet low voice. “And he thinks two plus two is thirty... Boys, they're so silly.”

Gina flicked her eyes to Layne. Lifting his shoulders to his ears, he held his palms out and smirked. “The kid's really smart, she knows a lot more than I do.”

The three of us sat down, Gina drawing her attention away to pull out her phone and fire off a text, resting the phone on her lap. “So why does Fay call you Dilby?”

Drawing his hand over his chin, Layne chuckled. “She didn't like my real name once she learned it wasn't mattress man.”

A soft ping echoed in the kitchen. Standing, I went to see who had messaged me.

It was Gina.

'Did you tell him yet?'

Tapping the screen quickly, I texted her back.
'No.'

Shaking my head, I popped it back into the living room, eyes bugging out. She was texting me while she was sitting in my chair, in my living room. We were three feet away from each other and she was so damn curious she couldn't wait until I had the time to talk to her in private.

The phone chimed again.
'Why the hell not?!?!'

Huffing under my breath, I shot one back.
'It wasn't the right time, I'll tell you later.'

Ding... Another.
'Fine. But you better make sure you call me later.' Angry face, shocked face, baby emoji.

And I hit delete.

“Anyone want a drink?” I asked, standing in between the two rooms.

Gina hopped up from her seat, stuffing her phone into her purse. “No, I can't stay, got to pick up Collin from baseball practice. But call me later, Kin.”

As she closed the door behind her, Layne glanced up to look at me. “You alright?”

“Yeah, I'm fine, why?” Wiping clammy hands on my thighs, and brushing the hair off my flushed face, I leaned against the wood frame.

“You just look a little pale is all. Are you coming down with something?”

No, it's just a baby growing inside me. That's all. Nothing to worry about.

Pulling my lips taut, I shook my head. “I don't think so, I have a slight belly ache, but it's nothing.”

I lied. The morning sickness had kicked in the day before, making me take several unwanted visits to hug the toilet. At school I made every effort in the world to not throw up. I drank flat ginger ale, hot tea, peppermint candies, and even started freezing Gatorade in case I got to the point where I couldn't eat.

From what I could figure, I was five weeks along. My first appointment with the doctor wasn't for another few weeks. The place was backed up left and right (I guess a lot of women were in my boat) and that was the soonest they could get me in.

So if I followed the same path as with Fay, cringing to the smell of chicken might be next. I had learned from the nurse with my first pregnancy that ice cube Gatorade helped to at least replenish electrolytes if I couldn't stomach the smell of food enough to actually eat.

“Are you sure? You really don't look good, maybe we should postpone the trip for another week.”

“No, I'm fine, really.” Letting out a huge breath of air, I held my belly and wished away my spinning insides. “You've already waited a lifetime for this, I'm not going to let you change it.”

Swooping me into his arms, he sat me on his lap. “I know I've waited, but I would much rather go when you feel better.” His fingers tickled over my neck, smoothing over the tensed muscle. “Are you nervous for this?”

“Me...” Pausing, I swallowed hard. But not from nerves or uncertainty. I swallowed hard to keep myself from letting the nausea land breakfast all over Layne. “No... Well maybe a little. I mean it's a huge deal for you, and we've really only been dating for what... A week? I guess I just hope no one looks at me funny, like I shouldn't be there.”

Squeezing my knee, he pulled my face onto his forehead. “Kin, I don't care what they think. Yes, I want to meet them, I want to know them, but they know me as much as I know them. Who are they to judge?” Pressing his lips onto mine, my skin warmed.

“Eeeewww!” Fay yelled, sticking out her tongue and making gagging noises.

“What?”Layne asked, rolling me off his lap. “Do you want a kiss too?” Lifting off the couch, he walked slowly towards Fay with his arms out and lips puckered.

“No! No!” She giggled, running in circles around the coffee table, making every effort to avoid him. “You'll never catch me!”

His mouth made loud and over-emphasized kissing noises, his fingers wiggling frantically to try and grab her. Fay ducked, and dodged, crawling under the table, and making a mad dash down the hall.

“Well, looks like she got away.” Sticking his head around the corner of the wall, Layne spoke in a loud voice down the hall. “For now, but you can't escape forever.”

“Yes I can!” Fay fired back, her voice muffled but firm from beneath some hiding place she snuggled into.

Watching him with her filled me with a sense of life, of living again. This was what she needed, this was what I needed.

And I couldn't help but think this was also what Layne needed.

We fit together perfectly, one big happy family. Together we were more than just two people, together we were what life was all about.

Finding your ultimate happiness, and enjoying every single moment.

Because tomorrow isn't secured, tomorrow is an unknown.

But living in the moment made every breath worthwhile.

Layne

T
he plane bucked and bounced, skipping like a stone across the sky. With my fingers locked in a death grip around the arms of the seat, I closed my eyes tight. My stomach was jumping, twisting in on itself and bringing everything inside to the back of my throat.

Kinsley had already used four barf bags, and was in the bathroom so many times I had lost count.