Stranded

A bonus :))

I spun in a slow circle as I scanned the empty house. A house that was going to be our home very shortly. If I could manage to stop being lazy, that is. We just arrived an hour ago, and I wasn't quite ready to start the lovely process of unpacking.

"You in here, bubble bear?"

I snorted. "I've told you that nick name is ridiculous and I'll never respond to it."

Trever's grin was playful as he came into the living room swinging his keys. "But you did respond to it so who wins here?"

I rolled my eyes. "Always a competition with you."

His arms wrapped around my waist as he rested his chin on my shoulder. "It's only because I love you, Marley."

I reached up and rubbed his head like the giant puppy he is. "Can you believe we're here? We've got a house with more than one bedroom!"

"We've earned it, I think," Trever murmured into my hair. "But I might be too tired to unpack a single thing."

I turned in his arms to face him and hooked my fingers behind his neck. "Well same here. Being such an awesome wife is very exhausting."

Trever smiled. It still gave me butterflies. "No wonder we're so tired. Maybe we should get divorced and decrease our exhaustion."

A laugh bubbled out of me. "That wasn't really smooth, was it?"

His brow furrowed. "Yeah, I guess that didn't really make sense. I'll tell you later when I revise it."

"Still not smooth."

"Oh shush." Trever kissed my cheek.

I closed my eyes as we remained holding each other. The last two weeks had been utterly crazy as we packed up our little old house to move here. This was the first moment of peace we'd found and I was going to enjoy it.

Trever started swaying back and forth, bringing us into a very slow dance. I swayed with him. Little moments like this kept us united throughout the years, and I always cherish them.

"It's so quiet," I whispered.

"It won't be for long. Erin will make sure of that."

I couldn't help but beam at the thought of our adopted daughter of two years. She was only six, but she had an adventurous and loud spirit. "True. She takes after you, even if you're not blood related."

Trever spun me like we finished a grand dance. "Then she'll rule the world."

"Probably not in a good way."

"Hey!"

I kissed him. "I still love you. Come on, let's each grab one box and we'll call it a day." I was glad Ashlyn was able to watch Erin for a few hours. Moving all the boxes in and out of the moving truck would have stressed Erin out, and that would've made it more difficult for Trever and I.

Trever filled me in on a meeting he had at work as we brought a few boxes in, and I gladly listened as I loved hearing about him and his day. I especially loved hearing him interact with Erin. It made me love him more than I thought possible.

As we opened up a few essential boxes, my phone rang and I answered it on speaker so I could use both hands. "What's up, Ash?"

"I hate to cut your quiet time short, but you might want to come get Erin." Ashlyn's voice was light with laughter, so I didn't feel immediately concerned.

"Why, did something happen?"

Erin's voice could just barely be heard through the speaker as Ashlyn laughed. "Your little angel may or may not have just gotten into a little fight with another kid."

I paused. "What?"

Trever wiggled his eyebrows at me from across the room. "Sounds familiar."

"Did anyone get hurt?" I asked, biting back a laugh. I was an adult now, I shouldn't be giggling about a baby fight.

"No, not really. But the momma is pissed. I'd suggest you get here. We're at the park."

I let out a dramatic sigh. "Be there in a few." I hung up and Trever immediately busted up laughing.

"This is your fault, Marley."

"Says who?"

"Says the universe." Trever jumped up. "You're the one that tackled me way back then, Erin is just following her mother's example."

I set my hands on my hips. "Maybe she had a good reason. Like a kid sending her to the floor." I smirked. "How's that?"

He smirked as well as his eyes moved over me. "You know what happens when you look at me like that."

My heart jumped just like in high school. I held my finger up. "Nooo, we have to go take care of this. You'll make us late." I stepped behind a stack of boxes as a barrier.

Trever's expression didn't change. "Technically we don't have a set time, so we can't be late." He jumped around the boxes.

I let out a laugh as he caught me. "Trever!"

He kissed me for a moment longer than I thought might be safe and then pulled back. "Fine. We'll have fun later."

"It's a date." I snatched his keys from his pocket. "Let's go!"

The park was only a few minutes away and when we pulled up to the playground, Erin spotted our truck immediately.

I jumped out and crouched in the grass, arms held out as she ran to me, her black curls bouncing. "Hi angel!"

"Momma!" I squeezed her in a hug as she reached me.

"Have you had fun?"

Trever suddenly wrapped his arms around both of us. "There's my girls!"

Erin shrieked out a laugh. Right in my ear. But I loved the sound.

Then I heard a woman loudly clear her throat. The woman who was sternly talking to Ashlyn when we arrived. The kid standing with her was hiding behind her, but peeking out.

I smiled at Trever. "I guess you and I were prepared for this day."

Trever grinned. "Let's go kick some a- butt. Kick some butt."

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I know this is very random, but after reading yalls comments on this story, I thought it'd be fun to treat ya to a Lil bonus chapter, a peak into their normal lives after the events of Stranded. This chapter is just for you who read and enjoyed the book 😄. Thanks for reading it! It brings me great joy. Y'all are awesome!! And who knows? Maybe Erin will get a story in the future :)). Anyway, I'm done being cheesy. Thanks for reading (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)