Page 5 of Wait for the Dream

We had fun dancing, and when he asked me to go back to his place I agreed. I’d expected more–our chemistry while dancing was pretty good. It was more of a ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’ and then he was rolling off me and strolling into the bathroom before I realized we’d even started. While he was in the bathroom I texted Aiden and asked him to come get me.

I get up to go to the bathroom, once Daniel is done in there. I quickly pile my hair in a bun on top of my head and use the bathroom, cleaning myself up the best I can. I will definitely be taking a shower when I get home. I check my phone and see a text from Aiden has come through less than a minute after the one I sent, like he was just sitting there waiting for my text, letting me know he would be here in ten minutes. Honestly, his overprotective ass probably was just sitting there waiting for my text to come through. I love that man more than anything in the world, but he’s a bit of a mother hen. Whoever he ends up with better be ready to deal with his hovering.

With a quick goodbye, I walk out of Daniel’s apartment and head down stairs. Aiden is leaning against his forest-green Jeep Wrangler, which he’s parked right outside the building. He’s in a pair of low-slung grey sweatpants—his usual—and a black long-sleeved henley. The material stretches across his broad shoulders. It contrasts perfectly against his dirty blond hair, unkempt as if he’d been running his fingers through it for the last few hours.

He looks like he’s just rolled out of bed, and he still somehow manages to be the most attractive man I’ve ever seen. He’s always been the hottest guy in the room—not that I’d ever tell him that. It would go straight to his head. When I step outside, his honey-brown eyes assess me, making sure nothing is wrong.

“You alright?” he asks me when I immediately wrap my arms around his middle and bury my face in his chest, inhaling his pine-and-citrus scent. I honestly don’t know why I feel overwhelmed at this moment, but I do.

After a few minutes like that, I tilt my head up to look at him. His face is set in a hard scowl and he looks like he’s ready to walk into Daniel’s apartment and kill him.

“I’m fine. I just felt overwhelmed for a minute. He didn’t do anything wrong, so no need to go all caveman and kill him. I think I’m just disappointed in how the night went. Daniel seemed like a nice guy when we met yesterday, but as the night progressed I stopped being sure. After tonight, I know he’s not the one, not that I thought he was to begin with.” I pull away and move to get into the Jeep. I don’t want to talk about this anymore honestly.

So I change the subject. “I need to get some homework done tonight before game night tomorrow, want to hang out at my apartment?” He opens the passenger door for me, and gives me his hand to help me climb in. I’m too short to get in without help because of the lift kit he put in.

“Only if you make me a coffee. I’m tired, but I also need to get this fucking paper for that stupid English class done,” he says after he rounds the hood of the Jeep and hops into the driver’s seat.

“Can we stop at Taco Bell instead? I need a Baja Blast and a chicken quesadilla.”

“I’m so down! You know how I feel about cinnamon twists!”

“You’re such a freak!” I laugh at his weird taste in sweet treats.

“You sure you’re okay, Blue? You still seem upset.”

“Honestly, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

He glances my way, one eyebrow raised in a look that says, really? I know he will always worry about me, and I can’t hide anything from him. Being friends since we were four means he knows me better than anyone else. We have basically spent every waking moment together, and countless sleeping ones as well. Because I have shitty parents, I spent the night at the Bakers more times than I spent at my house. My parents were always out late or out of town, and Elizabeth Baker, who I’ve pretty much always called Momma, had a rule, ‘if your parents aren’t home by eight , you’re staying at our house.’ She stuck to it ninety-percent of the time they weren’t home by eight. I honestly didn’t mind, I loved being at their house. If we’re being really honest, Momma and Matthew Baker are more my parents than my actual parents. Bear, Maddy, Maggy, and Charly are the siblings I always wanted—and they are my family.

Age 10

“God, I hate him!” I shout as I storm into the Baker’s house, slamming the door behind me.

“Bailey Nicole, I know you did not just slam that door,” Momma yells from the kitchen, “And we don’t hate in this house.”

“Sorry, Momma,” I mutter before walking into the living room and plopping down on the couch next to Pop.

“What’s going on, Bee?” Pop scoots closer to me and throws his arm over my shoulder pulling me close. I lay my head against him and the first tear rolls down my cheek.

“You know that Father/Daughter dance Maggy and Charly asked you to go to with them?” I ask quietly. Our school is putting on a Father/Daughter dance in a couple weeks, and I really wanted my dad to go.

Pop sighs before answering, as if he knows what’s coming. “Yes.”

“I asked my dad to go with me, and he said, and I quote, ‘I have more important things to deal with than a silly dance.’ before walking out of the room like the conversation never happened.”

I know I have two parents, but I’m convinced neither of them care about me. I wanted my dad there—just once—for something that was important to me. I always show up for them, even when I don’t want to. I wish just once that they could do the same for me.

“I’m sorry, my girl.” He plants a kiss on my forehead.

“Pop, I know you’re not my real dad, but could I maybe go with you and the girls?” I ask shyly, “You’ve always felt like more of a dad to me, anyway. I don’t know why I didn’t just ask you first.”

“Of course you can, my girl. You know I love you like my own.”

I look up at him, and the smile on his face is genuine. It’s the same smile he gives Magnolia and Charlotte.

“You don’t think the girls will mind if I tag along?” I ask.

“Please come, Bee! It will be so much more fun if you’re with us!” Charlotte says as she runs into the living room.