Behave When There Are Kids Around
XANDRY
Days went by uneventfully. I submitted the first half-year report a week earlier than I used to, but Dad, well, he wasn’t impressed. During our family dinner, I was like an invisible person to him, until after dinner when I walked to his office. Dad was in the red lounge chair with an empty glass, where he usually sat when not behind his desk.
My stomach rolled. “What’s the deal with your silence, Dad? Did I happen to develop some kind of invisibility?”
He didn’t reply or move. He kept staring at the old painting owned by his late father, Henry Archibald Williams.
“Are you going to ignore me throughout our lives? Until one of us is eventually dead? Because I have no plan on leaving Blaine if that’s the reason why you’re doing this to me. You talked to her but it didn’t scare her away, in fact, I’m asking her to move in with me. With her son. Just do me a favor not to be harsh on her. Treat her civilly at least.”
“I’m happy with her, you know? I was thinking you’d be proud of me when I stopped chasing skirts. I like her a lot, Dad. You’re once just like me, sleeping around with different women, but when you met Mom, you changed, you’ve proven something, and this is what I’m doing. I never thought I-I fell…”
“… I fell in love with Blaine, it was like I didn’t have a choice, I couldn’t control feelings, myself, and the last thing I knew I was running after her, pursuing her. I thought of her a lot, missing her when she’s not around, feeling empty when I don’t hear her voice. Then my heart beat faster when I see her as if it was made for her. And if you took away the only person that made me happy like I am right now, then it just like you took your own son’s life, Dad.”
“I love you, you, Mom, and Saph. So much it hurts. But there is something that I want, something that I need, that you all can’t give to me, something money can’t buy, something that she can only offer. Her heart, Dad.”
“Good night.” I walked out of his office, not brokenhearted because he didn’t talk to me. A smile curved on my lips with satisfaction. I walked out contented—like all the burdens had been taken away from me.
The moment I looked into Blaine’s eyes that night, I knew there was something stolen from me. I kept pushing the idea out of my brain that ‘the one’ didn’t exist, that what we had was merely sexual, but how could I keep denying it when I saw my friends smiling at their girls like they were their fucking world? And now I saw myself in them—smiling for Blaine. Because she was my world.
“Honey.” Mom’s melodic voice brought me back from my little deliberation. “Do you have a minute?”
I paused before I reached the door, smiling at her. “Mom, do you really have to ask me that?”
She smiled back—a smile of pride. “How is she?”
My brow raised. “Sammer? We went to see her this morning, and she’s doing great.”
The doctor was surprised by her progress. She gained weight and her skin was not too wrinkled. She might be released from the hospital earlier than the six weeks plan.
Sunshine was discharged from the hospital last week and stayed at my apartment. She admitted she was harsh with Blaine back there, but I forgave her when she apologized.
“Not Sammer, honey. How’s Blaine?”
My eyes grew a little wide. “She’s okay.”
“I mean, how are you and her?”
“You don’t have to pretend to like her, Mom. If you don’t like her, it’s fine with me, really.” It was a total lie. I needed a healthy relationship with my family while I was doing my best with Blaine. I knew there were going to be ups and downs, but nothing was impossible with a good talk and understanding each others’ differences. Thanks to the books I read while waiting for Sammer’s visiting hour.
“You know I’m happy that someone stopped my son from, what do you call it? Ho-ing around? I should really use that word for my next book.”
“Do you use that kind of word in writing fantasy now?” I asked doubtfully.
Mom whispered, “Don’t tell your dad and Saph that I am writing an erotic book.”
I barked into laughter, shaking my head in disbelief. “You write that kind of genre, since when?”
“I’m just trying some genre.” She shrugged. Her eyes twinkled.
“Where is my sister?”
“Xandry,” she warned.
“I’m not gonna tell her, Mom.” I rolled my eyes. “But eventually, you have to tell her because I don’t hide something from twinnie, you know that.”
“Just follow your heart, honey.” She grabbed my hand, then finally kissed my cheek. “I love you so much, Xandry. And I’m so proud of you, you should know that.”
“I know, Mom. And I love you back.” I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her tight.
“Wew! What a sight.”
“Come and join us, twinnie.”
Saph joined, hugging mom from behind.
“You two really have grown up, it was like yesterday when I fought with your dad about going to my appointment.”
“Don’t make us cry, Mom,” Saph said.
***
The family driver dragged the last Sunshine’s suitcase towards the door. Thickness grew in my throat as I watched her walked slowly. The doctor let her ambulate to fasten the healing process of her wound.
Releasing a deep breath, I called her name.
“Don’t be soft on me now, Xandry.”
“I’m not, silly, I just wanna make sure there are no hurt feelings between us.”
“None on my account.” She poked my chest. “We’re good.”
“You know you can always call me if you need anything. And you can always visit Sammer and when we are going to bring her home together.”
She nodded and shrugged. “I feel guilty, you know. It feels like I sold her.”
“Don’t you ever dare say that, Sunshine!” I exclaimed. It startled her. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t mean to yell at you. She will be with her dad. I’ll take care of her and protect her with my life. You are still her mother and nothing gonna change that. You can’t take care of her while you’re still studying. I want to make it easy for you.”
She released a deep breath. “Glad to hear that, Xandry. Please tell Blaine that I’m sorry.”
The ringing of the doorbell made us stop.
“That’s the driver. He can’t just wait for me down and he has to come. Anyway, tell Blaine to treat my baby right.”
“Of course, she will. She’s a good person, Shine.”
“She really cares about you, Xandry. I saw it in her eyes.”
I grabbed the door open and hugged her. “I know, Shine.” Kissing her forehead.
Sunshine stiffened, pushing me away. Later I realized someone was watching us.
Blaine’s blue eyes widened as mine and filled with unshed tears. I couldn’t remember how I released Sunshine and walked toward her.
My heart leaped up to my throat. A smile spread across my lips. “Blaine, what are you doing here?” I cupped her cheeks, but her body still stiffed. “Sweetheart.” I leaned over. My lips were a thread apart until someone pulled my shirt from my back.
“Hey, there’s a kid watching.” Sunshine slapped my back.
“Um, you seem busy.” Blaine’s chin trembled. “We’ll just come back sometime.”
“Sweetheart, no,” I disagreed, cursing under my breath. “This is not what you think it is.”
“Poor excuse,” Sunshine countered, but she was actually laughing.
“Stop it,” I chided.
“I’m going to my apartment for good, Blaine. What you saw is we’re just bidding goodbye. I told him that I was sorry for how I acted at the hospital. I know it was wrong. Since you’re already here, I apologize. If you happen to take care of my child in the near future, please take care of her as yours, the way you take care of Ben.” Sunshine grabbed Blaine’s hand, took a deep breath, and smiled. “You’re a good mother, Blaine.” Then kissed her cheek.
“Hey, pretty boy.” Sunshine slowly knelt down in front of Ben.
“I’m not pretty. I’m a boy,” Ben answered shyly.
“Okay, big guy. I’m Sammer’s mom, Sunshine. I bet you wanna play with Sammer when she grows bigger, right?”
Ben nodded slowly.
“Treat her like a sister, promise?”
Ben nodded again. “Promise.”
“Good.” She kissed his cheek and stood up, facing me. “Behave with there are kids around.”
I snorted beside Blaine, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ll send you to the car.”
“I can walk. Bye, guys!”
I watched her back until she got inside the elevator, then turned to Blaine. “Sweetheart.” I pulled her into my arms and squeezed her into a hug. “You’re here.”
“I am.” Sarcasm laced in her voice.
“Nothing to get jealous, Blaine.” I released her and looked down at Ben, grinning. “Miss me, buddy?” I lifted him. He squealed then laughed.
“Let’s get inside, sweetheart,” I invited her in while Ben was still in my arms.
She walked reluctantly beside me.
“You are angry with me when I should be mad at you for ignoring my calls, texts, and you kept me seen all the time? But I’m glad you and Ben are here though. We have a lot of things to talk about, Sweetheart.”
“I know.”
“Put me down, Sandry,” Ben requested. “Can I watch Arlo again?”
I put him down and pressed some keys on the remote and let him settle on the couch. “Want something, buddy? A chocolate drink, berries juice, cookies?”
He turned his head, grinned, and shook his head.
“Okay, buddy. I’ll talk to your mommy in the kitchen. Just yell out when you need something, okay?”
“Okay.”
I grabbed Blaine and took her to the kitchen where Ben couldn’t see us. Then I pressed her against the fridge, slammed my mouth on hers, and kissed her like I’ve been craving for. Her hands instantly in my hair, fisted and pulled me closer. My hands were on her neck, thumbs stroking her cheeks. My tongue thrust into her mouth, stroking with hers. Her taste was familiar like always was. With mouth colliding, teeth-gnashing, and scattering thoughts, I was fighting every impulse not to lay her down on the counter and eat her out just to wash out her jealousy in her system as she screamed my name, and losing her mind to what I promised to give her.
My cock strained against my pants as she moaned and I was afraid Ben might hear it from there. I pulled myself together and kissed her loudly on her swollen lips, then on her forehead. “Thank you for the surprise, Sweetheart.”
“You’re mad at me, huh?”
“If this is the season why you’re ignoring me, it’s all worth it. Stay here tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “No, I just wanna spend dinner with you, and Ben asked to see you.”
“Sweetheart, please. You won’t stay here long and I want to spend some time with you.”
“Not tonight, baby. I need to arrange my things and the delivery I ordered online will arrive tomorrow.”
“What delivery?” My brows knitted.
“Appliances for my apartment.”
“A-apartment?” My eyes bulged.
“Yeah, we finally moved closer to you.”
“God, Blaine, I love you.”