I suddenly find myself both shocked and saddened that Blake is leaving. I guess I didn’t realize he would be going so soon. I was hoping he would be here for dinner. I was going to have the girls make him a cake, as a thank you for helping me these last two days. I take a deep breath to force down the soccer ball in my throat. Seriously, I must be hormonal right now. There’s nothing to be this upset about.
“Yeah, he did. I can’t drive right now so he’ll definitely need a ride. Thank you for offering,” I say politely.
I look up from Trace to see Harlow and Blake walking into the kitchen arm in arm. When did they get so chummy? He must have used his charms on her too, just like he did with the girls. I guess no one is immune to them, not even Harlow.
Very interesting.
Still completely confused, I give them both my best fake smile as they walk up to the table. “Trace is going to take Blake home, I think, right Trace?”
“Yeah, I think so. If that’s okay with him,” he says looking at me. He then turns toward Blake and adds, “Sorry buddy, I need your help moving some of my heavier furniture. My cousin and Harlow helped me load it, but I’m gonna need help unloading it. That okay with you? Then I’ll drop you at your place.”
I watch as Blake looks at Harlow and as Harlow looks from Blake to Trace. Then Harlow gives Trace a look I know well, the ‘we are so gonna have a talk later’ look. What the hell is going on? I feel like I’ve landed in some weird episode of The Twilight Zone. Trace looks at Harlow with his eyes wide. “What?”
“Nothing, honey,” she says a little too sweetly. “Alright, well, you boys get out of here then. I need my girl-time with Alex.”
Trace and I both get up from the table and all four of us walk into the living room.
Blake stops by the couch and turns to me. “I need to change and then we’ll be off. I’m pretty sure most people are out of their pajamas by this time.”
I look down and laugh to myself because it didn’t even dawn on my until this very moment that we are both still in our pajamas.
“Um…evidently not in this house.” I motion toward the bedroom. “I moved your clothes into my room. They’re in my armoire on the bottom shelf. You can change in there or in the bathroom.”
“Thanks.” He turns to walk to the bedroom. “I’ll only be a minute and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
This is not how I planned the rest of the day going. I really wanted to watch Pretty in Pink with Blake – next up in the John Hughes marathon, play some more tennis – because I wanted a rematch… I know his last serve was out, and make him his “thank you” cake.
This sucks.
I turn to Harlow to ask her if she wants to watch Pretty in Pink with me, but she and Trace are evidently knee deep in a very involved conversation. Sighing loudly, I make my way across the living room to go find the girls. They’re going to be just as happy as I am about the turn of events.
“Girls!” I shout walking down their hallway. I open Nycole’s and Kyndall’s room and see all three of them all setting up for a tea party. Even Nycole. I take a second to observe them, because I have a feeling this is the last time they’ll be in this good of a mood for the rest of the day. And quite possibly tonight. Harlow and I definitely have our work cut out for us.
“Girls.” Three sets of eyes land on my face. “Blake has to go now, so I need you to come say goodbye to him. Be sweet and tell him thank you for being such a big help, okay?”
Immediately, Rylie’s eyes begin to tear up, but I can tell she’s trying to be strong. Frowns on all of their faces, they slowly put down their tea cups and walk out of the room. Following them into the living room, I see Blake exiting the bedroom in the same clothes he wore yesterday. Yep – he still looks as good as he did then.
Immediately, Rylie runs across the room to Blake and he opens his arms to catch her. He gives her a big bear hug and then gently sets her back on her feet. He crouches down to the floor so he can look Nycole and Kyndall in their pitiful faces. “No sad faces, girls. Remember, we have a date for breakfast soon.”
He extends his arms to each of the other girls, one on each side, and squeezes them tightly – with Rylie right in the middle. “Promise me that you’ll help your mommy as much as you can. No fighting – deal?” They all nod their heads at him. “I’ll be getting reports from her. I expect to get only good ones. And if I do, I might bring something super special to our next breakfast date, okay?” The girls continue to nod at him as he rises from the floor. They each hug his legs and turn to look at me.
“Why don’t we watch some TV girls? Harlow? Can you put something on for them?” I’m starting to feel bad for Trace having to listen to Harlow ramble on. And seeing as though I know very well how it feels, I figure I’ll toss him a bone and attempt to distract her. She looks up at me, gives me some version of a smile, then looks at the girls giving them a real smile. I’m so gonna figure out what’s going on if it kills me. I turn to look at Blake.
He clears his throat and jerks his head toward the door. “Um, Alex – can I have a minute?”
“Sure,” I say in my pretend happy voice. I follow him to the door where he stops and turns around. He puts both arms around me, giving me a gentle hug. When he pulls back, he puts his hands on my shoulders and looks into my eyes. I get the feeling that he wants to tell me something.
“What?” Maybe his response will shed some light on what exactly has been happening since Harlow and Trace arrived.
“Nothing, Alex,” he says moving his face right in front of mine. “Listen, I just want you to know that you can call me if you need anything. I know Harlow’s here to help you if you need it, but I really want you to know that you can call me anytime. For anything…or for nothing at all. This weekend, well, it’s been one of the best weekends I’ve had in a really long time. I’m just sorry I had to mangle your hand in order for it to happen.”
He flashes me a brilliant smile and I think my heart literally just skipped a beat. God this man is beautiful. Especially when about two inches from my face. I shake my head to regain clarity.
I clear my throat because all of a sudden it feels like I’ve swallowed a bucket full of sand.
“Blake, spending the last couple of days with you, I’ve had the most fun I have had in years. Even though my hand was mangled and I seemed to cry…a lot,” I say with a little giggle. “This weekend, well – it made my heart feel whole again…if that makes sense.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, place my ear against his chest, and say quietly, “Thank you, Blake. You’ve helped me more than you could possibly ever realize.”
Through his chest, I hear a long exhale before he answers. “Alex, I would do anything for you. I hope you know that,” he says with his chin placed on the top of my head.
Squeezing him tighter, I chuckle lightly.
“Well if that’s true…then promise me you won’t let the girls use the whole freakin’ bag of chocolate chips next time.”
And then another wall collapses.
After quickly introducing Trace to the girls before he and Blake walk out the door, I find myself in my bedroom, lying flat on my back across the bed. Holding my hurt hand against my chest, I stare at the armoire where I put Blake’s clothes just hours ago.
So much has happened over the last twenty-four hours. I guess that’s the sign of a true friend; you can literally go years without speaking, but when you meet again you just pick up right where you left off, never skipping a beat. I smile to myself as I think of Blake joking with the girls in the kitchen, quoting movie lines with me, humming the Barney song, making breakfast…yeah, there’s something very comforting about this friendship. My heart feels peaceful, a feeling I haven’t felt in years.