If Kisses Should Win

Part thirty-four

Another night passed. Then another. Then one more.  Soon it had been a week from when I left the house. Lakes we incredibly kind to me and Arlo. It also helped that Lakes was absolutely in love with Arlo. He would hold him while he counted his fingers and toes. He would babble back to him and blow bubbles as Arlo did.
I smiled at them playing on the floor as I made dinner. In all honesty Lakes looks kinda scary. His long messy hair (that I've tried to brush and put up but he had a break down about it) his tattoos and piercings also really didn't help but he is the kindest soul I think I have met.
He comes off as cold and distant but in reality he is goofy and warm. Take this situation for instance. For a bit of background we had gone out shopping and I had left Arlo with Lakes while I grabbed something we had forgotten....

The grocery story incident
(Lakes POV)

"What do you think buddy? Should we pick out some candy and sneak it into the cart when your mom gets back?"
I stood holding Arlo looking through the small candy displace that they had on the end of one of the aisles. I picked out some chocolate but then heard Dex's voice call me. He was in the frozen food section a couple aisles away and his voice sounded worried so I took off walking quite fast. I had barely made it to the aisle Dex was in before this old hag stopped me.
"Excuse me! Where are you going with that child?"
My face screwed back in disgust. Did she really think I was stealing Arlo?!
"To his mother."
I answer plainly trying to get passed her but she started to talk in an even louder voice.
"No you are not! You probably took that poor thing! Give him here!"
I turned slightly to get Arlo out of the crazy womens reach.
"Stop! Don't touch him! First off I AM taking him to his mom who is right around the corner and second it's none of your goddamn business now is it. So leave before I call the cops."
She huffed loudly.
"Look at you! You look like someone who would take a child!"
Before I could hit her Dex came around the corner.
"What's going on?"
He came up beside me looking at the women. Then at Arlo and I.
"This lady here accused me of stealing Arlo."
"What?!"
I nodded. My thoughts exactly.
"Ma'am this is my good friend and baby so please leave us alone. You have no business meddling in others personal lives. So leave."
She turned on her heals and stormed away.

Back to present
(Dex's POV)

We chuckle about it anytime either of us say a thing remotely close to the incident.
I plated up dinner and sat it out on the small table that sat along the wall.
"Dinners done boys."
Lakes whispered something to Arlo and they both got up. Lakes sat down sitting Arlo on his lap carefully.
We ate in a comfortable silence. Once Arlo started to get fussy I took him from Lakes and began to feed him his bottle.
Lakes did the dishes as I got Arlo and I ready for bed. After that Lakes got himself ready.
As you can see we have a system. I've only been here for a little over a week but I'm already so used to living with him. He was also home at night at a decent time. I understand Elliot works really hard for his job but it's very stressful to be at home alone until at the least 11. He would leave early and then come back late. I would talk to him for probably only 10 to 15 minutes then we would go to sleep. He would give Arlo a kiss and wouldn't say anything else.
He never saw me or his son. We never saw him either. It really sucked. It's nice to have another adult to eat with. Another adult to watch TV and talk to. I was...lonely I guess?
I was brought out of my thought with a slight touch on the shoulder.
"Ready to lay down for the night? We can talk for a while if you want."
I broke. The tears came faster than I could stop them. The sobs escaped my lips and my body began to shake.
Lakes wrapped his arms around me pulling me into a hug. I clung to him as I cried and cried.
"We don't have to...let's just lay down."
I laughed slightly.
"It's...it's not that."
I sniffled and pulled away slightly.
"It's you."
As I said that I realized that it came out totally different than what I meant.
"Oh...I-"
"No! That's not what I meant! I meant that you...you are you."
He gave me a weird look.
"What?"
I laughed a little again.
"I mean that...you have been here. You have been came home every night at the same time. You eat dinner with me and helped me take care of Arlo."
He smiled. It was a goofy smile. Not like the big Elliot smile though. I'm mad at Elliot and still can't help but think about him.
The tears started to come down my face again. Lakes pulled me into a hug again rubbing my back slowly. He comforted me until I stopped crying mostly.
Then the doorbell rang. Odd I thought. Who rings the doorbell at 10:30 at night?
"I'll get it."
Lakes got up heading to the door. I followed after him but somehow my feet got tangled up in the blankets and it the floor hard landing on my ass my legs sprawled out on either side of me. Lakes turned around looking at me with worry but I waved him off.
The person at the door rang the bell again and again.
"I'm coming!"
When he opened the door I wasn't exactly paying attention to who it was. I was too busy with my ass hurting from falling. I didn't really look up until Lakes was thrown down onto the ground. The man started to yell at lakes.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"

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HELLO!!!!!! Another update! I'm on a roll this week!!! ANYWAYS BYE FOR NOW!!