~Ronbie

“Why are you so stubborn?” I looked over at her. “Just let me take you home.”

She just stared.

“If you're worried about Breanna seeing us, I have a hat and sunglasses in my car. I could pretend to be your Uber driver.”

“In a suit?” my conscience quipped.

I frowned and focused back on Megan's face. But I could tell by the look on her face, that she hadn't heard a word I just said. She was just staring at my lips... probably reminiscing how they felt all over her body.

“Mimi” I let out.

If she kept staring at me like that I was going to cave in and take her right here in the back of this taxi. It was the last place I would like to take her, but I was not going to oppose the idea if I couldn't control myself.

She finally blinked.

“I can get home just fine.”

“Let me take you,” I repeated.

“You don't have to.”

“But I want to. Breanna doesn't have to see us. Louisa is probably asleep by now. It's half past ten. You can get her and put her to bed when we get to your place, and we can talk.”

“I already said I got it, Ron. And why would you get in the taxi with me? What do you need to tell me so badly that it can't wait till the morning?”

Why is she so angry?

“Why were you bartending?” I let out. “I thought we agreed six years ago that you'd never do that again? I gave you a job so you'd never have to do that again. You know I hate it.”

I wasn't expecting her to go easy on me, but I also wasn't expecting the laughter... a humorless one at that. My jaw clenched and I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Does she think this is funny?

My hand flew to her throat and I squeezed it softly. She gasped as I leaned her back until she pressed against the car door and the window. Megan clenched her thighs together and her eyes clouded with passion.

“Did I tell a joke?” I whispered in her ear.

Megan shivered and I had to use all my self-control to let her go and create the much-needed space between us. We were still in a cab.

Fuck!

The look on her face, her heavy breathing, and the clenching of her thighs—I had to fight the urge to please her right here. I wanted to see her come undone underneath me, on top of me, whether it be my cock or my tongue.

Fuck!

“Ron,” she called out for me.

Lord knows I wanted to answer that call, but I just couldn't. At least not now... not here.

It would have been easier if she just got into my car!

“Please Ron...” she whispered.

But before I could wrap her into my arms the driver clears his throat.

“The sexual tension back there is suffocating and it's turning me on. However, I would like to turn on my meter instead, pal” he looked at me through the rearview mirror. “So can I get an address or... are you going to get in his car and take care of his boner?”

I looked Megan once over.

“Well?” I asked.

A deep frown set in between her brows.

“I'll see you at the office tomorrow” she let out.

I clenched my fist and without a word, I slipped out of the taxi and moved back towards the restaurant.

“Dammit, Ron!” I cussed.

“Ron, wait!”

I immediately whirled around before I realized it and the beautiful vixen was making her way towards me.

“I changed my mind,” she said, “Take me home.”

My heart sored and I pulled her in for a hug. She squeezed into me and when we pulled away, the look was back in her eyes. I didn't care where we were or who saw us, but I wasn't going to make that look go away without giving her a trailer of what was going to happen tonight.

And so I gripped her close to me and crashed my lips down on hers.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

~Brie

“Mommy?” Roman's voice reached my ears, causing me to roll over in the bed and crack an eye open. 

“Manny? Baby, what are you doing awake at this hour? What's wrong?” I replied quickly, sitting up to cup his face in my hands.

My eyes roamed his face.

“Can you breathe? It is too cold in your room? Did you fall out of bed?”

“No, mommy” he muttered.

I looked on, waiting to hear the explanation.

“I-I had a scary dream” he let out.

I exhaled.

“What about?”

“The movie we saw.”

I chuckled softly.

“Can I stay here with you?” my almost ten-year-old whimpered, rubbing his eyes.

I lifted the blanket in my bed, patting the spot next to me. “Of course, baby. Hop in.”

Roman smiled and climbed into the bed next to me, snuggling close to me. I wrapped an arm around his small frame, kissing his forehead multiple times.

“Spirited Away isn't scary, Manny. But you're safe now, baby. Go back to bed” I whispered, looking at the clock on my nightstand.

My bedroom door creaked open again and I looked towards the door at the Barbie-themed pajamas she wore.

“You too?” I asked.

“I can't, Auntie Brie” she whined dramatically.

I lifted the blanket behind Roman.

“Get in.”

She smiled and skipped into the bed, smiling at Roman who chuckled at her.

“Hi.”

I chuckled at the two of them.

“You big babies” I shook my head. “Just go back to sleep okay? You have school in the morning” I said, a yawn engulfing my last few words as I ran my hands through Roman's hair and then Louisa's.

“Do we have to go to school, Auntie Brie? Can't Manny and I just stay here with you?” Louisa questioned.

“You want to stay here with me?” I repeated, watching her nod her head enthusiastically.

“Yeah please, Mommy?" Roman chipped in. “Let's stay home with you.”

This is a setup.

I wrapped my arms around the both of them tighter and smiled.

“You're going to school because school's important.”

Roman pouted and Louisa shrugged.

“Well, we tried,” she said, cracking a small smile.

I shook my head at them.

“Go to bed now mm? Goodnight.”

I kissed the top of their heads. Lousia was the first to fall asleep. Roman? He just kept squeezing into me constantly as he stirred. I had to hum a lullaby before the movements stopped and he finally drifted back off to sleep.

I smiled, preparing to close my own eyes when something suddenly began buzzing on my bed. I reached behind my pillow, grabbing my phone.

Megs: helfoksnssggsbnzncmcodusaoalzmxncdhe

I made a face. She didn't pick Lulu up like she said she would. I didn't mind having Lousia sleepover at my house. But she wasn't picking up my calls and now, at this ungodly hour, I was receiving accidentally texts from her?

I shook my head and closed the messaging app. Roman, as usual, had clutched tightly onto my top. I shifted my weight and cuddled him before closing my eyes to get some much-needed sleep.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The next time I opened my eyes, the two of them weren't in bed. I sit up and look around the room.

“Manny? Lulu?”

I stretched and yawned, pulling the blankets away from my body and climbing out of bed. I made a stop in the bathroom, before going to look for the kids.

“Ro? You in here, baby?” I asked, knocking on his bedroom door before entering.

It was empty.

“Lulu? Are you in the bathroom?”

I knocked and entered but it was equally empty. So I walked out and moved down the stairs. And there they sat on the couch, cross-legged, watching SpongeBob SquarePants.

Oh God.

Roman was munching on some cereal out of a bowl, and Louisa was munching directly from the box, occasionally tossing some at Roman and making a mess all over the couch.

“What do you two think you're doing?” I sighed.

They turned to me.

“Morning Mommy” Roman smiled.

“You were sleeping, so we got our own breakfasts like mini grown-ups, Aunt Brie” Lulu replied, showing me the box of Frosted Flakes.

“And where's the milk, mini grown-ups?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Roman and Louisa exchanged looks and then the both of them flashed me innocent smiles.

“We had a little issue,” Lulu said.

“So we're all out” Roman added.

“What do you mean by...” I stopped and moved over to the kitchen.

The milk was spilled all over the counter and floor.

“How on earth... Roman?! Lulu! Get in here right now.”

Their heads poked out through the archway.

“We're sorry Auntie Brie” Louisa apologized.

“Yes Mommy, really sorry” Roman added.

I exhaled.

“Okay. But you're cleaning up your mess, mini grown-ups” I said firmly.

They groaned in unison and put away the cereal before lining up for the paper towels I grabbed for them. I watched them as they cleaned up the mess. Roman came back into the living room after his bath and I took Louisa upstairs to help her take a bath.

“I got it Auntie Brie” she smiled at me.

“You sure?”

She nodded.

“I'm nine too. I can bathe myself just fine.”

“Okay,” I chuckled. “How much shampoo?”

“The size of a pea” she giggled.

“Good. Let me know if you need anything, mm?”

She nodded and I walked out, closing the door behind me. Before I could walk out of Roman's room, I heard pump after pump being shot out of the jug.

Oh crap!

I hurried back into the bathroom and my eyes widened.

“How much did you use, Lulu?”

“The size of a pea” she smiled nervously.

I looked in the tub.

“The size of a pea?”

She shrugged.

“Have you never seen how much I pee in the morning?”

I chuckled, shaking my head at her. There was shampoo everywhere. I sighed.

“Please wash it off,” I said, grabbing the almost empty container from her hand. “I've laid out your dress for school. Hurry so you're not late hm?”

She nodded. I moved to my room and took a shower before heading downstairs into the kitchen.

“I'm still hungry, Mommy” Roman announced, putting his bowl in the sink.

I turned away from the coffee machine.

“You want some French toast and eggs instead?”

“Uh-huh,” he nodded, tying his laces.

“Can I help you make it, Auntie Brie?” Louisa asked, adjusting the bow on her hair.

“Yeah, come on” I responded.

We grabbed everything we'd need to get the breakfast started.

“Roman, could you please get my phone for me?” I asked.

“Okay, Mommy.”

Roman scurried off to my bedroom and Louisa hopped onto a kitchen stool.

“Why does he still call you Mommy, Auntie Brie? Isn't he too old for that?” she asked.

“Says the equally nine-year-old who sneaks into my bed because of a children's movie that isn't even rated R” I teased. “Need I remind you that you're both tweens now?”

She laughed.

“I know. But I don't call my mother Mommy. And I was genuinely frightened.”

I smiled.

“Well, I don't mind him still calling me Mommy. I am his Mommy after all” I said.

Her bow shifted and she took it out.

“Here let me,” I said, lowering the heat under the pan before moving over to put her hair in a quick braid, and then fixing the bow back.

“Thank you, Auntie Brie.”

“You're welcome, Lulu.”

“Your braids don't hurt.”

I washed my hands and got on with the breakfast.

“Ponytail braids aren't supposed to hurt, Lulu” I chuckled.

“Tell that to Auntie Meg.”

I smiled at her.

“But her lack of good braiding skills doesn't change how much I love her and appreciate everything she's been doing for me since I was born” she muttered. “I wish she was my mom, not Gabriella.”

“Hey, Lulu, don't say that. I'm sure your mom loves you very much.”

She gave me a look as I cracked the eggs and sprinkled the cinnamon, honey, vanilla extract, and milk into the bowl.

“In her own way,” I added after I felt like the silence had dragged on for too long. “Some people don't even have moms or dads. They've never known their parents. But I'm sure Gabby loves you. She might just express it differently.”

“I guess” she sighed and hopped off the stool.

Louisa grabbed several slices of the bread and helped me dip them into the batter. When I was done with the French toast, I made some scrambled eggs. Roman arrived just in time and we sat down to eat. Just as we finished and I washed up the dishes, the doorbell rang.

“It might be Auntie Meg” Roman announced, hopping off his stool and running to the door.

“Walk!” I scolded.

“I thought you'd take me to school today” Louisa made a face.

I chuckled.

“I will. I'm sure Megan needed the sleep that's why she didn't come to pick you up like she said” I told her.

Louisa hummed. I heard the door open and I picked up my glass of water and brought it to my lips.

“Auntie Aubree?”

Oh hell no.

I set the glass back down and got off the stool.

“What the hell...” I caught myself, remembering Louisa was here. “I'll be right back sweetheart.”

“Where's your mom, Manny?”

I walked into the living room before Roman could answer. Aubree smiled up at me.

“Manny, go finish your breakfast and grab your backpack. Tell Lulu to hurry too so I can take you both to school.”

“Okay,” he replied and ran off.

I turned my full attention to the pregnant woman in front of me.

“What are you doing here?”

“Good morning to you too, little sister” she chuckled.

“Look, I'm not in the mood for your sneaky little games okay? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Geez, calm down, Brie Pickle. I'm not trying to be sneaky... at all.”

I watched her as I folded my arms.

“What are you here for?”

She lifted a basket I'd somehow missed beside her at me.

“I made you a traditional full English breakfast!” she cheered.

I arched a brow at her.

“I did” she smiled.

“Why?”

“I don't need a reason to make my little sister breakfast, Breanna, c'mon” she chuckled.

“Mm,” I hummed. “Thanks but I'll pass, Aubree.”

“Breanna c'mon, it's just breakfast.”

“Well we just had breakfast, Aubree,” I said. “So thanks but no thanks.”

She moved one hand away from the basket's handle and rubbed her lower back, before slightly cradling her bump.

“Okay then” she muttered.

I nodded at her and lowered myself down onto the couch to strap on my heels.

“C'mon, kids! Let's go!” I called out.

Louisa ran into the living room first.

“Oh Lulu, sweetie, could you please get my purse for me? It's in my room.”

“Mm-hm” she nodded and hurried off.

“Is that Megan's niece?” Aubree asked. “She's so grown up... wow.”

I looked at her.

“You can leave now, Aubree. I'm taking them to school.”

“You bought a new car too?” she smirked at me.

“I'll call an Uber.”

“Let me drive you.”

“No.”

“Oh c'mon, Breanna.”

“I said no, Aubree. Now would you please leave already?” I asked with a frown.

She rolled her eyes at me. The footsteps behind me made me turn.

“Here you go, Auntie Brie,” Louisa said as she passed me my purse.

“Thank you, Lulu.”

“Welcome. Manny c'mon!” she called out for him.

“I'm here” he called back out seconds before he showed up.

“Are you two all set?” I asked. “You got your lunches?”

“Yep,” Roman replied.

“Okay, now c'mon. We're—”

“Hey, who wants to ride to school in a cool convertible?!” Aubree chirped.

I shot her a look.

“I do!” Louisa screamed.

“Me too!” Roman beamed.

I shook my head.

“No you don't,” I said. “I've already called an Uber.”

“No, you haven't” Aubree chuckled. “Your phone's not even in your hand.”

I frowned at her.

“Please, mommy? Just one time. Please?” Roman whined.

“Yeah Auntie Brie, please?” Louisa added. “I've always wanted to ride in a convertible to school.”

I glanced at her.

“Since when?”

“Right now.”

I'm about to refuse them when Aubree cuts in again.

“Oh stop it, Breanna. Just let me take you, mm?”

“Aub—”

“C'mon, kids. Into the car, let's go” she said with a little cheer as she cut me off again.

Aubree switched the basket into her other hand and smiled at me.

“C'mon, or else you'll be responsible for making the kids late” she giggled.

I frowned as she turned away and I grabbed her by the arm to turn her back.

“Hey!”

“What the hell are you up to Aubree?”

She frowned back at me.

“Nothing. Now let go! And c'mon or else you're all going to be late.”

She yanked her arm away from my loosened grip and turned out the door. I narrowed my eyes after her.

I'm going to find out what she's up to.

Thank you so much for reading! ✨