Perfect Dream

Chapter 1

Brynlee's POV:

Joe had moved into a condo not too far from my apartment, which was gorgeous. The view was absolutely breathtaking. Tonight we were getting dinner and drinks to celebrate him becoming a pro and his move to Cincy. I was hoping and praying this time we wouldn't get drunk, especially because I'm breastfeeding Riley. I was a nervous train wreck to say the least. I wasn't nervous about seeing him, I was nervous on if he'd beg me to tell him my "secret" or not and I was nervous about leaving Riley for the first time. My mom was in town so she was watching Riley for the night.

We were meeting at Yard House at 5:30 and it was currently 5:15 so I needed to hurry my butt up if I was going to be on time. I was rushing around my apartment trying to make sure everything was ready for mom and Riley so that they'd have no issues. I checked the milk supply for bottles, diapers were freshly restocked along with a clean changing table, and all the baby monitors were charged and ready to go.

"Brynlee Kate! Calm down and GO! We are going to be perfectly fine. In case you forgot, I was a mother long before you and I think you and your brother turned out perfectly fine," My mom, Clara, chuckled watching me count the milk bags again, for the third time.

"I know mom. It's just scary to leave my little boy for the first time, it's him and I against the world and I have separation anxiety and I haven't even left yet."

"That's perfectly normal sweetheart. I would be concerned if you weren't reacting this way. But we are going to be fine. Aren't we my handsome grandson?" My mom said, tickling Riley.

"Okay I swear I'm going now, I'm already going to be late. I'll be home no later than 10, I promise," I said, grabbing Riley from my mom to hug and kiss him before I left.

"Say hello to Joe for me! And no babies this time! Not until he knows about Riley and you two admit you're feelings to one another! Have fun my baby!" Mom says shooing me out the door.

"Jeez I love you too mom!"

***********

I got to Yard House at 5:40, knowing I probably would never hear the end of this from Joe. I was never late and he knew that. But I've had my fair share of slip ups since having Riley. I knew I was going to have to make up a good lie for him to believe me on this one. I walked in and was immediately greeted by a hostess that led me to the table Joe was sitting at in the corner of the restaurant. The second I saw him sitting at the table my heart was in a puddle. There was a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and roses laying on my side of the table, waiting for me. Joe knew sunflowers were my favorite flowers, they were secretly his too. Joe looked handsome himself, more handsome than I remembered.

"Brynie!" Joe exclaimed, getting up from the table when he saw me. He closed the space between us quickly and wrapped me in his arms. This is where I felt the most comfortable, his arms were always so warm and welcoming. The hug lasted quite a few seconds and before we pulled away I felt him kiss my forehead.

"Mr. Big Shot, Cincy looks good on you." I smile, taking in his appearance before taking a seat across from him.

"You look like a literal angel. Have you always been this beautiful or have I just not seen you in that long?" Joe asked, looking at me in awe.

"Stoppp it. You're just being a suck up now."

"No Brynlee, I'm serious. You look beautiful," Joe smiled at me before we got engrossed in deep conversation about the last year.

*********
The next thing I knew it was almost 8. We had been eating and talking for the last 3 hours. I guess that's what happens when you haven't seen your best friend in a year. I found out that he was seeing someone, Olivia, but he ended things with her before the draft because of and I quote from him, "some suspicious vibes." It kind of hurt me knowing he had been seeing someone while I was pregnant, but I knew I couldn't let him know that I was upset about it because he still didn't know about Riley. I know, I'm a shitty person for keeping this from him, still. He claimed that Robin was very odd whenever Olivia was around but he could never figure out why.

"Why do you think she'd act like that? Mom loves everyone and Olivia was always a sweetheart to mom and dad." Joe asked, taking another sip of his drink.

"I don't know Joey. Mom's have this thing called "mother's intution," I don't know if you've ever heard of it. But it's a real thing, I swear. Maybe she knew something that you didn't," Shut your mouth now Brnylee or he's going to catch on.

By 9 we both had quiet a few drinks, me being slightly more intoxicated than him. I normally can handle my alcohol pretty well but after having Riley and because I had to stop drinking for 9 months, my alcohol tolerance has gone down. Joe started to notice and ordered me a big glass of water so I could start sobering up. Smart move Joseph, smart move.

"Damn I didn't realize how much of a light weight you were Bryn. It's like you've lost your tolerance or something," Joe chuckled, watching me gulp down the glass of water.

"I figured I'm almost 24 years old and I have a big girl job now. I've got to start being a responsible adult and chill on the drinking and partying like I did in college. Plus I started gaining a bunch of weight and I wanted to lose it, so I stopped drinking for a while." I lied, trying to get off the topic of my lack of drinking.

"Let's be real, you never were a party girl. Only when I was around, especially that night last summer. So, should we get out of here? The night is still young, we can go back to the condo and you can see it for yourself."

"Let me just check in with my mom. She's in town and has been at my apartment this whole time," I said, grabbing my phone out of my purse to make sure I didn't have any texts regarding Riley. Thankfully there was only one, saying that Riley took a bottle and went down without a fight. That wasn't suprising to me. I really was blessed with an easy babe.

"Momma Clara is in town?! Why didn't you tell me? Screw going to my place, I want to go see my momma!" Joe said, jumping out of his seat. Joe and I always called each others mom, momma. My mom was Momma Clara to Joe, and Robin was Momma Robin to me.

"No! I mean not tonight. It's actually getting late and I'm sure she's exhausted, she may already be asleep." I said, trying to convince him not to come over.

"Come on! I haven't seen her in months, I miss her so much." Joe said, giving me a pouty lip.

"No Joe, how about tomorrow? I'm sure she's free for breakfast, y'all can go on a little breakfast date together. I won't be able to come because I've got to do some work for preseason."

"Alright fine. But promise you'll tell her hi for me and mention breakfast? Send me your address too so I can come pick her up," Joe said, sighing that I told him no.

"Of course. She'll love to see you." I smiled, standing up myself so that we could leave the resturant.

I really dodged a bullet on that one. Of course if I didn't have Riley I would've let him come over, my mom and Joe's relationship was always a good one. He really was like her second son and she was riding the Brynlee/Joe marriage train since the day I told her I was pregnant with Riley. But, I've seriously got to figure out how I'm going to bring up Riley. Maybe I'll tell him I have a son first and see how he is with Riley before dropping the bomb on him that Riley is actually his. I'm a terrible liar, I'm sure he's got some suspicions about everything already.