I'm home alone...

And it's a blast!

Giggling, my shoulders move up and down as I bend low, picking up the large pharmacology textbook.

I thought Lexi and Max being away would be really sad, which it is, but I am living for all the things I can get away with while they're away.

I smile, adding another book to the pile in my arms.

Like yesterday morning, I had double scooped, fudge dip chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and a cherry for breakfast after Lexi left. I sat at the park, laying on the spiral slide, eating it while watching the airplanes fly over into the clouds. Watching planes is the most spontaneous thing I've ever done. Now I know I celebrated eating ice cream for breakfast early but who doesn't like ice cream for breakfast, plus it was helping me cope.

Holding back my smile, I pull a nursing care plan book from the library shelf, place it in my hand, and keep walking down the library aisle.

I didn't think being by myself was so exciting and reckless, but it is.

Now, previously when Max would go to March Madness, Lexi and I always had fun but there was also order. Like last year, Lexi still implemented safe fun like going to a winery and saying hi to the law student guys upstairs.

Lexi and Max have constantly been asking if I'm okay or do I have enough dish pods for the dishwasher.

They act like I will flood the whole kitchen again.....

Which only happened once because I, well.. used dish soap instead of dish pods or dish soap in the dishwasher... or the time I may or may not have broken the shelves in our dorm in sophomore year because I couldn't reach my arts and crafts box.

It's not my fault I'm short... yeah, maintenance wasn't happy about that last semester.

Besides those moments, the exciting part is I don't have to worry about the silly nonsense from my dear roommates.

Like turning all the lights on like this morning because I had to come back from Jaylan's house because I forgot my favorite purple highlighter for class.

I actually need to buy another one...

I have had it since my first day of nursing school. Papà searched high and low for the pastel highlighters and got them sent to me right on time.

I miss Papà.

Sighing deeply, my lips pull into a smile thinking about how he wrote Te Amo on the back of the highlighter package. I still have it in my desk.

Let's see, what else can I do...

Oh, and I can actually walk around the house pantless... Except for last night because, well, I was at Jaylan's house. Jessica was there and, well, I don't want to scare her away too quickly. But I was able to do it this morning because Jessica couldn't spend the night tonight because she has work at the nearby nursing home in the morning. 

I can jump on the sofa, take bubble baths in Maxine's whirlpool tub she got her dad to buy.

I can even have cupcakes for dinner. okay, maybe not strawberry cupcakes.

I can walk to class like I did this morning. I know, I'm supposed to drive Jaylan's car around but it was a pretty day and I wanted to absorb all that is of it.

Spring is around the corner and I just feel it not only in the weather but inside my heart the sense of newness and beginning. The sun was so warm and birds sang like in Disney movies.

I even made a couple of new friends along the way because they said they know Jaylan and I are together. They said they really like my 'Gimme a Smack' cereal shirt. I got like five high fives for it and I even made more friends while handing out boxes of cereal in the cafeteria with the cafeteria staff. Miss Bridget said it was the most people she's seen in the cafeteria in a while just for free cereal.

My eyes peek in between the bookshelf, looking out the wide glass window at the bright, sunny sky with clouds fluffed up like cotton balls.

It's such a nice day out.

My eyes shift to see a familiar, brown skinned man alone with his airpods in, writing in his notebook and eating the best candy in the world.

Boy, do I want starburst but the story about Hansel and Gretel lingers in my mind and I turn away from enticing myself into trouble.

Sighing, I shift my eyes looking for the American Heart Association for Heart Disease Diagnosis. My hands tremble slightly when touching the book but I quickly grab it and place it on top of all the books.

Jaylan has been a Nervous Nelson about me alone by myself. He's been asking if I heard anything from Ava or if she does something to let him know.

Thankfully, I haven't heard from her since the day she tried to take control of our goodbye moment but I wouldn't let her.

He said over ten times to please let him know but I promised him this isn't my first rodeo and I got it. I was fine until he said there is a hairy, fuzzy, massive dust bunny under his bed that's going to tickle and lick my feet tonight. 

There is no such thing.

I actually need to sweep underneath there before bed, just in case that does happen.

Shaking my head at the thought of a formed dusty bunny climbing into my bed sends chills up my spine. I walk across the library with piles of nursing school books in front of my view. I'm not exactly sure if I'm near the stairs or near the study room I reserved for this group project.

"Good lord, Lizzie, you were one step closer to death!" Jessica frets, moving me away from the stairs and taking a few books making me able to see better.

Smiling sheepishly, she shakes her head and takes a few books as we go right into the room I reserved.

"Thanks Jessica." I heave my chest.

"I told you to wait for me and I could help you," she scolds, taking another book out of my hands.

"I got it no worries, I wanted it before Holly and her group got them... They are always grabbing the good nursing care plan books." I giggle, placing the rest of the books down at the overly organized table I set up.

A big white poster board is in the middle, colorful permanent markers, nursing school notes, and now the books to the added aesthetic.

Smiling at my organization, it's Pinterest Pin-worthy for my nursing school board. I pull out my phone out of my pocket in my black leggings. Looking at my phone screen, a smile pulls across my lips at mi novio.

I sink my teeth in my lower lip and plop right in my chair.  I swipe my messages and furrow my eyebrows with a big smile.

Mi Novio🦕💖:  Happy Cereal Day Cereal Killer, sorry I haven't talked much to you today. It's been a busy day. I miss your face, can't wait to hear your pipsqueak voice tonight.

Mi Novio🦕💖: [photo]

Warmth spreads across my chest as I look at the photo of Jaylan and Jordy sloppily eating cereal at the place I found online last night that I'm dying to go to. Oh man, I can only imagine how many cereal choices they mixed into their bowl.

Me: I miss you too...and I don't have a pipsqueak voice!

Me: [Photo]

Crinkling my nose with a smile, I press send with an automatic thumbs down on my message but an explanation point on my photo.

Mi Novio: Nice Buns

I grunt and Jessica giggles. I do like my hair the way Jessica did it this morning. She did it right out of Pinterest, this braided updo with space buns because she thought it would be adorable on me with the gold hoops I borrowed from my prima Mariana and yet she still can't seem to find them. 

Giggling, I heart Jaylan's message and turn off my phone.

I don't know what I'm going to do without Jessica, Maxine or Lexi doing my hair and makeup a.af...after school. No Lizzie, it's just March... One day at a time.

At Jessica's sigh, I look up and she is resting under her chin with her elbows on the table and wearing a big smile. I wave my hands at her for her nonsense and she giggles.

"Whatttt?" I giggle looking down at my black spiral notebook specifically for this group project.

"I just can't get over how it took throwing up on a guy to meeting the man of your dreams."

I furrow my eyebrows and she throws her head back and laughs. "Jessica." I give her a Jessica look, drawing my eyebrows together

"But it's cuteeeee," she coos and I huff trying to hold back a smile. "Remember when you threw the penny in McKeldin Mall Fountain last year?"

If she means the penny I didn't want to toss in because there was none in there and she told me everyone does it, then I do remember. 

"Don't say that out loud," I whisper and shift my eyes, hoping no one will hear her.

After I threw the penny, Omicron Delta Kappa had a whole meeting to find out who did it. And to some may think what's the big deal but I'll tell you the big deal, they are the first college honor society to give recognition for leadership on a national level. And the fountain was built and clear of pennies, so yes...  a whole Salem Penny Witch trial was conducted over campus and they never figured out who did it. One night, I swear they had fire sticks and pitchforks yelling, 'Find the penny thrower'...

Sheepishly looking down, Jessica laughs again and shakes her head, opening up her notebook. "I told you the penny was lucky."

"The penny caused a whole uproar!" I whisper loudly and Jessica laughs again, now holding her stomach.

Furrowing my brows at her, she continues to laugh at me. "Well, the penny got you places this year... I mean, let's see... You got a job at the hospital.... A hot boyfriend.... Who's going into the NBA... Your first kiss...You are going to be a nurse... You have an A, finally, in nursing school and you have a car... sorta because it's your NBA star boyfriend's car."

My brows relax at her somewhat calling out all my accomplishments this semester. To be honest, I can't believe it either and how things have happened so far. Despite Jessica plucking the penny out of my fingers and dropping it into the fountain... My wish was for things to turn around for me. I mean, some things change but not the one thing I wanted... Nothing could have changed my parents getting a divorce.

"You think everything is happening too fast?"

"I think everything happened at the right time." Jessica gives me a warm smile as she takes a look at the white poster board of the black silhouette drawing of our patient for our project. 

"I still can't believe you have been working on this already... It's not due until April second." She places four different colored sticky notes on the table.

"I know but I wanted to get started because, well... I am picking more shifts so I can buy a plane ticket to go see Jaylan." I open my blue glitter pencil box.

"OOOOOh, when do you plan on doing that?" Jessica beams.

"It's... April fourth, for the championship game," I admit.

"What, is he really serious about this?" Jessica says, impressed

"He is really serious about winning this year," I vouch.

Jaylan is very serious about winning this year and, watching his Instagram and snapchat stories on workouts, I believe him... Which I had to stop watching because he was making my body bubble up with warmth from him working out shirtless. The fluttery feelings between my thighs made me press them together...

Just practicing in general, it just seems like they have no days off. I am very proud of Jaylan and from here he's really pushing himself for his dreams to come true. It's inspiring to watch and I know he is going to accomplish it.

"I like the motivation because last year they were a dumpster fire. I'm surprised they even made it to the Final Four." She shakes her head.

I didn't know much about what happened last year, or even watched it, but I do know from how Jaylan has become Jaylan... There is a reason for that loss of game to prove who they really are this year....brothers.

"He told me some things... I believe in them," I vouch again.

"I'm glad you do... I'm really excited to see Max's game Friday night... We should watch it at BDUBs and we can get the crown hats with the wings on the side," her voice sings like an advertisement.

"That sounds like fun, I love seeing Max play because she gets to take all her frustration out on those girls instead of me because I keep making noise in the morning." I giggle.

"Oh, the Jordan frustration, I love it," Jessica says in a dreamily voice, her high pigtails swaying back and forth.

Yeah, the Jordan frustration comes from a family of lawyers. Jordan is a household name in Boston. If your lawyer's last name isn't Jordan, then you might as well plead guilty... except, well, not Christopher Russo.

I look over at the black and white standard clock and my shoulders slump. Spencer and Carly are supposed to be here now.. "Don't act surprised, this might as well be our project and call it a day," Jessica adds to my disappointment.

"But Spencer cares about his grade just as much as we do... I don't understand." I shake my head and sigh.

"He will come around... He has to show up if he wants credit for this project," she clips, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," I sigh quietly. "Well, let's get started I guess."

Her eyes scan over the poster again. "Where did you begin? Because clearly this part is all finished. Seriously, I feel like all you need is for me to trim up your split ends, Lizzie."

Is it bad I say it's partially true?

I wish I had a second trade skill like she does. Hair has always been Jessica's thing, her identity to express herself and to cope with things back home. Sophomore year, I got the pleasure to meet her because Maxine's mom was battling with breast cancer.

Jessica always cut her hair and her friends' hair who also battle with it too. She wants to be an Oncology nurse, on top of being available to make breast cancer survivors feel beautiful about their hair when they go through their treatment process.

She is my hero.

I giggle, dipping my chin and opening my physical assessment textbook. "I started doing assessments for stroke patients."

"So, what's the scenario again?" Jessica teethes her pen, her eyes focusing on me.

I clear my voice as I hold up the slip of cut paper Professor Khan gave me in class the other day for the group project. "Your sixty year old patient has come into the emergency department from EMS presenting symptoms of a stroke, vital signs one sixty-six over a hundred, blood pressure, Pulse of ninety-four, respiration of twenty-two, temperature thirty-seven point eight, history of hypertension and myocardial infarction... Smoker... What will be your nursing assessment, intervention, and education for this patient? Please make a concept map for the list of priorities for this patient."

I clear my throat again at the end, placing the paper down.

This topic has been extremely hard the last couple of weeks. Professor Khan has been expressing the importance of perfusion and gas exchange and all I could think about is Papà. He hasn't reached out to me and, according to Isabela, Papà is still fishing in Yucatán with his amigos. I guess traveling is going to be his distraction now without Mamà worrying about him being on the road.

It would be nice to hear from him. I... I have to send him money for medication... The pharmacy has been trying to get ahold of me for his refill but he has yet to pick it up at home. He has to take aspirin once a day or... no, no, Lizzie, think positive.

"Hmm, sounds attainable to answer." Jessica taps her blue feather pen with her chin. "Is that all she gave us?" She grumbles.

I nod because Professor Khan never makes it easy, even though this is just a large poster for a concept map.

"So, what did you say for your priorities?" Jessica arches her eyebrow at me.

"I said perfusion, homeostasis, and mobility. Now, perfusion is my number one." I bounce in my seat, tapping my pen like the pen drummer I know.

"Mine too." Jessica flips her book around showering her pretty calligraphy of her concept map. I feel like her handwriting is way better than mine.

Before I even write the number one priority, my phone flashes through my do not disturb and it's a message from Mamà. To be honest, I haven't really talked to Mamà since last Monday and, well, I've been avoiding her.

I know it's immature of me not to answer her but I'm still hurting and not sure if whatever she says will change the fact that what's done is done and there is no going back. We can't be a happy family anymore.

I sigh, taking my phone and swiping to read what she says. Her message slumps my shoulders instantly.

Mamà: Elizabeth, Te amo y quiero que sepas que estoy pensando en ti siempre. Llámame cuando puedas. (I love you and I want you to know I'm thinking of you always. Call me when you can.)

The more the days have passed after the divorce, the more I just want to go home. I just wish I had the opportunity to just be with Isabela and Mateo for the day, or even Papà, just to make sure he is doing okay and actually taking care of himself.

I let another big sigh as Jessica and I begin to hash the details out on how we want to take care of this hypothetical patient. I think the importance here is patient education because, with a smoker, they have to adhere to wanting to stop.

Jessica and I fill in as many missing pieces in the scenario and I push down the pains of familiarity it triggers inside me. Minutes turn into two hours as we push past the progress point I hoped for today. With ants on a log and Jessica's giggles at me trying to eat celery, I say we've covered mostly what we needed to, almost finishing half the project.

"Oh, we should totally get the nursing diagnosis book because it has all the answers in it and saves time." Jessica snickers while packing up her things.

"I agree since I don't think Spencer or Carly will join us."

"Well, if they want credit then they better put some input." She frowns and yanks her bag closed with a loud zip. "I refuse to let someone get an A for our hard work."

Nodding in agreement, I zip up my bookbag. "So, I'll see you Friday, right?"

Her teal-haired head nods. "Yuppers, and I'll pick you up to go to BDubs because, well.. I would like to get a good seat... Oooh, that reminds me, we should do the tower beer," Jessica teases.

I can't help that I like to go the speed limit. Is that a crime? I furrow my brows and Jessica bumps her shoulder with mine. "You better get homeeee before it gets darkkkk. Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home?"

"No, it's not fair," I assure her as I turn off the study room light.

"Alright, don't say I didn't ask. It's your conga drum on the platter if Maxine or Jaylan find out," Jessica teases again.

I throw her a frown. "I'm not afraid of them."

"I'm telling." Jessica giggles as walk through the library.

My feet stop halfway out as I remember the nursing diagnosis book she mentioned. "I have to get that book"

"I'll wait for you." She stops too.

I nod and quickly walk to the section down towards the back where all the health research section is. Okay, let's seee. Nursing diagnosis... Nursing diagnosis.... Okay, I know it's around here.

Furrowing my brows, I continue to search the middle shelf where it should be and see this book nowhere instead. My eyes shift higher and I huff when I see the book on the sixth shelf. Of course.

Grumbling, I scan around for the stool that librarians use normally to put books away but there are none in sight. I guess I'm going to have to climb to get it. Placing my bookbag down, I look around to make sure no one is looking and I look back up at the stupid nursing diagnosing book so high.

Times like this I need the  to reach for me.

Sighing, I jump up and wave my hands back and forth to grab it but still no luck. I guess I will climb onto the second one. Still looking around to make sure no one is looking, I step on the wobbly second shelf. My ankle rolls and I stumble back into someone's hard, tall body. Two large hands wrap around my waist, breaking my fall.

"Woah!" I say as the hands grip me tightly.

A deep laugh breathes in my ear, making me wiggle away out of their grip like their hands are lava. The only person who can touch my waist is Clifford the Big Red Dog. And if he knew the familiar person who reaches up and retrieves my book for me, he would be barking like an angry chihuahua.

"Thanks," I softly say.

"Just ask for help next time." Rashad flashes a smile while handing me the book.

"Thanks," I say again.

"Sorry... I've been ghost-like." He sends me an apologetic smile and leans on the shelf a bit with folded arms.

"It happens when you are a health major." I return the smile but step back

"Isn't that the truth." He rubs the back of his head. "Hey, uhh.. Could you tell Jaylan to text me sometime?"

"S...sure." I softly say.

Holding the back of my hand over my elbow. I observe his face once more. His eyes darken slightly and his face looks much more relaxed since the last time I've seen him, when he ignored me while running in the park the day Coloring Book decided to get a new tattoo.

He scans his eyes, observing my face and down my body. The scrutiny of his gaze makes the butterflies hide underneath their bed. I step back a bit because the heat he brings between us makes me sweat uncomfortably under my arms.

"Congratulations on you two dating..." he tosses back, in almost like an envious way. 

Silence surrounds us and the weight of his energy makes the butterflies close the blinds, turning their store's sign from open to closed.

"I'll umm, see you around," I offer a smile I hope is polite enough and step further away.

"Yeah......" He nods, still rubbing his neck. "Well... If you need anything let me know."

Without saying a word, I look down at my crocs. He chuckles a bit and I feel his eyes staring at me. "I guess Jaylan got to you too, huh?"

I feel like I'm getting cornered by his words and I step backwards again.

Got to me? I wonder what he means by that.

"I'll see you around, Rashad," I end and spin my crocs, bolting right to the check out desk. My eyes glance over to Rashad, who is shaking his head and mumbling underneath his breath.

I know I'm not the type of person to get in between friendship rifts but for some reason I'm starting to see more of Sofia in Rashad then I did before. It was like my eyes opened just then and now I have to keep myself on guard.

━━━━━━━✿━━━━━━

Jaylan's loud cackles echo throughout his living room like he's actually here right next to me as music softly plays in the background. Furrowing my eyebrows, I whimper because I one again snap my rubber band on my fingers.

"Cereal Killer, you good?" he says, showing his painted red cereal box with a hint of Rice Krispie blended through.

"I'm okay." I hold my ring finger that stings the most.

Jaylan gasps as if I stick the other one up and I furrow my brows at him heavier. He throws his head back and laughs while he attaches the empty paper towel for the neck of his cereal box guitar.

"I wish I could kiss your fingers, baby," he coos at me, making an air kiss. I wish he could too.

I hadn't noticed how much he did that until he was gone, even the soft way his scratchy hands hold mine in the car. Driving, alone and with the seat all the way forwards, isn't worth the candy store I've turned his passenger's seat into.

I dip my chin down as I continue to place the rubber bands one at a time on my cereal box and over the sound hole.

"Beautiful," he adds as he smirks, placing his rubber bands with ease around his box too.

"I hope you have your song ready." I strum my cereal box guitar with a big, cheesy grin.

"Oh, I definitely do," he gloats, strumming it loudly and snapping his one rubber band.

I giggle, throwing my head back on the sofa because that's what he gets. He waves his hand and mumbles a few curse words.

Jordy snickers too and he peeks in, showing his large, family-sized cereal box. "Check mine out," he boasts and holds it closer to Jaylan's phone. It's painted in zebra stripes, which I'm completely jealous of because I was going for a heart shaped guitar but one side is crooked, so it looks ugly now.

I timidly show mine and Jordy nods, looking impressed. "Nice. I like the blue hearts."

"Thanks Jordy." I beam.

"Actually, thank you for making the cereal protein snack! Coach withheld that until after practice." Jordy frowns.

"You didn't have snack time?" I ask, with high brows and wonder if I need to call Coach T again.

"No, he was a bit cranky today." Jordy sends up a lazy smile.

"Maybe you'll get it tomorrow for Peanut Cluster Day tomorrow," I offer quietly.

"Oh wow!" His eyes light up. "I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder, Lizzie."

Smiling wildly, Jaylan sucks his teeth and snatches the phone from Jordy with a playful smile.

"Jaylan be nice," I warn him because he's probably cereal box guitar jealous... he should be, Jordy's is much better.

He playfully presses his lips again and smiles wide after. "Squeaker, Squeaker has a big conga drum," Jaylan sings very off-key. The hard way he pucks down on his single-string cereal box guitar makes me furrow my brows with a smile. He gives me a warm smile, showing all his perfect white teeth in the camera.

"Doc McStuffins is going to pass nursing school to take care of meee," he continues. "For all of eternityyyyyy."

My ears are hurting but I sink my teeth in my lower lip because his joy seems more pure. The joy he is sharing right now feels like it's been stored away for a long time. I feel Like Jaylan needs to tap more into that so he can outweigh the heaviness of the grief that lingers behind him everyday with losing his mom.

"I read another letter today, Giggles." He stops strumming his rubber band.

"Which one?" I beam, holding my cereal guitar to my chest.

"When you miss my laugh," he smiles but even on facetime, I see the sadness making his eyes heavy.

This letter was harder to write than others because most of Jaylan's laughs are when he's teasing or pranking me. So instead I included a few pictures, well, every picture I could find where I look cute and Jaylan's head is cut off, and some cute sayings.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST VWXYZ. I think I missed something. Oh, it's U!

I miss you like ham misses burger.

I'm not sleeping the same without you strangling my trachea.

I tilt my head and my cheeks warm up because Jaylan says my laughter reminds him of pure sunshine and his laugh reminds me of dinosaurs laughing... if that's even possible but I'm pretty that happened.

"D-d... did it help?"

"Of course, especially when I heard you laughing just now breaking this rubber band... I was adding a star to your chart."

Grunting at him, his smile widens like he's won a prize even though he is cheating. His sticker system makes no sense.

"Heyyyy! You can't just abuse the sticker chart system like that!" I furrow my brows with a slight smile. "You'll destroy its integrity."

He shoots a wink at me and shimmy his back against the side of his bed. "Are you propping your foot up, Jaylan?"

"Yes, Doc." He flips the camera around, showing him being a good patient.

"Is it okay?"

"It's fine, just a bit sore, but I'm good," he assures me, flipping back the camera and giving me cross eyes. I giggle and warmth spreads across my body.

"So, what was the highlight of your day?" I pour all my Lucky Charms marshmallow cereal in this cool baby blue bowl that Jaylan surprised me with today. When I got to his house, there was an Amazon package with my name on it.

"Hmmm, probably eating all that cereal with Jordy this morning."

"What did they have?" I beam, taking a bite of my cereal.

Jaylan smirks at me being so interested and holds up his box, which is of course healthy, old people cereal raisin bran. "Let's see, they had Apple Jacks, Cookie Crisp, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Wheaties... All the cereal you can think of and you can add toppings."

"Did you put fruit in it?" I crinkle my nose.

"Of course." He winks, showing me a yellow banana.

Crinkling my nose as he peels it back, he puts it in his cereal while laughing because he knows I'm judging him. "Why must you torture me?" I stick a spoonful of sugary goodness in my mouth.

All he does is give an arrogant smirk and takes a spoonful of his dry cardboard flakes. "How was passing cereal out at the cafeteria today or your morning walk, Giggles?" He playfully presses his lips.

I invert my upper lip, not sure how exactly he found out I did that out. He arches his brown and shakes his head like he's about to say something. "It was a hit. Everyone liked my Gimme a Smack shirt," I boast.

"Imma give you a smack on that conga drum I find you walking agan.. Lizzie I told you-" he teases but with a serious tone. It's almost similar to Papa's when I do something naughty, like make a pond so the frogs and ducks could come in our backyard before school and leaving the water hose on all day.

Blocking his glare, I cover my face in my hands. "I know I know," I grumble. "Use your car but Jaylan it was a nice day out."

"I have a sunroof," he advertises, which I know because Jessica and I used it on our way to school this morning.

"But I like walking," I soften my voice.

"Then at least walk with a buddy," he insists.

"I will, Papi," I tease with a heightened voice and cover my mouth.

His eyes darken and focus right onto my face, making my cheeks extra warm. I sink my teeth in my lower lip as if he is actually going to crawl right out of the facetime screen and get me. He rubs his jaw, flashing a smile and I couldn't help but smile like the Cheshire cat, making my mouth hurt.

I wonder if he gets butterflies when I call him that.... Maybe he'll know how it feels when he calls me babe... Ugh, even thinking the word makes me all wiggly inside.

"Lizzie." He breathes a chuckle. "You are something, girl. Anyway, you ready for your fun-filled weekend with Aunt Lisa and Uncle Steve?"

Joy radiates in my body, like electricity going right to my face. "I am, I actually have to give her a time to pick me up."

"She's been talking about it ALL afternoon, about your girl's day. And Uncle Steve's raving about a place he wants to take you."  He cheerfully says, with brighten eyes

"I can't wait, and I'm going to sleep in your bed," I tease.

I can only imagine Jaylan's childhood room filled with basketball posters, trophies, and probably swimsuit models, which I'm going to take down and replace it with mine.  "Oh really?" He arch his brow with a smile.

"But my main mission is to find your Tigger because he's probably starved, cold, and scared," I remember.

Jaylan cackles, holding up Olivia and wrapping his large, trachea-crushing arms around her neck. "JAYLAN!"

He thinks I'm kidding but I'm really about to call Lexi or Max for an intervention.

But he is lucky he is cute.

Edited and spiced by still_just_me.