“Okay your day, your way but for the record my car is perfectly fine despite what she may look like on the outside,” Lily replied. James was starting to become convinced that Chris was telling him the truth. She did almost seemed like a whole other person.
It was something he kept thinking about as he drove to the park. “Well, have fun boys,” Lily smirked at him when they arrived and went over to sit on a wooden bench. He eyed her curiously for a moment, wondering what she suddenly found so funny, but he didn’t have too much time to think about it as A. J. darted off towards the playground. It wasn’t long before James finally got what Lily was laughing about.
For being so little A. J. really knew how to move and insisted that James pick him up or help him down every time he couldn’t. Only a half hour had passed when James was starting to get worn out and a sore back. James was just about to throw up the white flag and surrender when Tony showed up to his rescue. “Down!” A. J. demanded and James slowly set him down. The two little boys seemed excited to see each other.
“So she threw you to the sharks huh?” Tony said with a smirk and James grunted in reply as he rubbed his lower back. Tony started to laugh and shook his head. “So… how’s it going with you two?” He asked and James suppressed a snarky comment. When did how Lily and he were doing become everyone’s business?
“Well we’ve agreed to a fresh start and try the friend thing really,” James admitted.
“But?” Tony asked.
“No buts, that’s how it is,” James replied. “It might actually work since this time she isn’t telling me she hates me every three or four seconds,” he added and once more Tony laughed. “Now why don’t you give me a break and watch A. J. for a few.”
“Alright, I’ll help out my best bud but you owe me one,” Tony replied with a smirk and turned a watchful eye to the boys. James shook his head and joined Lily on the bench.
“Did you have fun?” Lily asked evilly and James laughed.
“Despite the aching back, yeah I had fun. He’s a great kid,” he said looking to where the two children were playing. He saw Lily smile and nod out of the corner of his eye. James leaned back and turned his attention back to her. “So,” he started, drawing out the word for several seconds. “What does A. J. stand for?”
“It’s the initials of his first and middle name,” Lily replied blandly and James gave her a pointed look.
“I figured that out already, but what are they?” He asked determinedly and Lily sighed quietly as she focused her attention on the children. He couldn’t help but wonder why she appeared so hesitant.
“His name is Andrew James Nawassa,” she finally answered surprising him for the millionth time since she had arrived.
“You gave him my name?” He asked, surprised. Now that one he wasn’t expecting at all.
“Yes, it seemed like the least I could do considering what I didn’t do,” Lily replied with a shrug, obviously trying to downplay the whole thing but he had a feeling there was something more than that and it left him feeling confused.
“So how long are you staying for Lily,” He asked, trying to decipher how she was thinking and what was her plan. She looked perplexed for a moment as if she wasn’t sure how to answer and James’s suspicions that there was something she was still hiding, peaked.
“I don’t know,” she started slowly then fell silent with a searching look on her face. “I won’t have to go back till some things have been settled,” she added cryptically.
“That sounds a lot like you’re in trouble,” he replied, wondering if she’d explain her answer a little further, but she shook her head with an impassive expression.
“No, I’m not in trouble. I’m not a magnet for trouble, you know,” She told him with a smirk.
“Could have fooled me,” James replied with a smirk of his own. He knew she was lying at least to some extent. It was clear she wasn’t here just to visit the family, but he wasn’t going to push her. No, not today. Today was for him and A. J. They fell once more into a comfortable silence and watched the children play. “It’s starting to get close to lunch time,” Lily announced after they’d been there a while.
“And as much as I hate to be a party-pooper I need to get inside,” she said with a slightly pained expression. He had forgotten about how photosensitive she had become thanks to the vampire part of her.
“Okay, let’s go to the Moonlight then,” James offered and he saw her tense.
“Yeah, sure, like I said your day, your way,” she replied with a clearly forced smile and got up from the bench. What made her change to such an easy going person?
Lily followed James into the small diner. She had been in there a few times but not too many since it was own, run, and frequented by werewolves. As a human, she had avoided all werewolves that weren’t her adopted family and now it was just an old habit hard to break. Plus she knew none of them liked having her around either. “Hey James,” an older waitress called out with a warm smile.
“Hey Cat, how’s the day going for you?” James replied.