Dandelion

Thirteen

The next week was easily one of the best weeks of Greyson's life. He went out to see Briar every day at the restaurant and then would meet up at the t-ball field on the nights that Eli played. He went to see Sophie's game as well, but something about Briar and her son was becoming like home to Greyson. One night, after Briar's shift, she invited him over to her house for what they called "brownies at midnight."

Greyson didn't expect Briar to live in something fancy, but he also didn't expect to arrive at a place that was half fallen apart. He became angry that she had been living in a place like this, and if it was the last thing he did, he would make sure that Briar and Eli would be in something nicer before too long.

"It's not much to look at, but rent's pretty cheap and they don't care about Cookie," she said as she walked around her truck as he hopped out of his. He looked at her confused.

"Cookie?" He asked right as Eli burst through the front door excitedly. A small dog darted out in a burst of barks and hops and Greyson put two and two together.

"Cool name," he chuckled and knelt down as the small dog licked his hand and then took off toward the tree line behind the trailer.

"Nana has the brownie's almost done!" Eli shouted and ran back inside shouting "he's here," in his wake. Greyson chuckled as Briar gave him a sympathetic look. She started toward the door and Greyson followed her like the lost puppy that he absolutely was becoming. Every moment they had spent together, she had kissed him like there was no tomorrow and Greyson couldn't get enough of it. Though parts of him were beginning to hate him very, very much. The rest of the world would fade away and in those small moments she would be the only thing that existed. The first night he helped her clean her diner and they had danced together, Greyson never wanted to leave. He knew the other foot would eventually drop, he knew there were risks to them being together, but the hell if he cared at the moment, she was in front of him. The way she smiled at him, the way she laughed, it was the only thing he needed.

When Greyson stepped inside, he was surprised to see the small trailer so homey looking. He looked at all the pictures of Eli, as well as a few paintings. He stepped closer and noticed the signature at the bottom.

"You did these?" He looked at Briar.

"It's just a hobby," she shrugged and walked into the kitchen to her mother. Of course she could paint, was there anything that she couldn't do? Eli came barreling around the corner and shot Greyson with a nerf gun.

"Hey!" He laughed.

"I told you that I had a big gun!" Eli said excitedly.

"That you did, bud," Greyson stepped closer as Eli held it out for him to take.

"I got more! Come on!" Eli ran down the hall, Greyson chuckled as he followed the little boy into a small room covered in superheroes and baseball and toys.

"See? This is my guns in this box. And in this one all my baseball cards," he halfway lisped out. Greyson walked over and listened as Eli went through all his baseball cards happily. He then moved over to a boat load of action figures and Greyson chuckled more.

"Man, I wish I had this much cool stuff growing up," Greyson said as he picked up a superman action figure.

"Did you not have toys?" Eli looked at him confused.

"I did, but not as cool as these," Greyson smiled as he lifted superman's arm to make him fly.

"Oh, that's because I have the best mama," Eli smiled a snaggle tooth grin, Greyson chuckled.

"That you do, bud."

"Boys, brownies are ready!" Cordelia shouted. Greyson stood up and made superman fly back to where Eli had picked him up. Eli darted out of the room and Greyson paused right at the door noticing a split frame on the wall. In one side it was a picture of Briar and Eli when he was maybe three and on the other side was a picture of Briar when she was a little younger holding a small baby in her arms with a man sitting behind her. It must have been Matthew, and now looking closely, Greyson could see a lot of Eli in his face. The man's hair was a sandy blonde, and he had bright green eyes. He wore a smile of a proud father, and seeing Briar look just as proud made something in his chest stir. Greyson sighed as he stepped out into the hall.