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"I know, daddy." CJ repeated for the fifth time, running a manicure-needing hand through Gus's outgrown, bleached hair. She switched the phone to her other ear as she bent down to kiss the sleeping man's cheek. His face was warm from the afternoon sunlight coming in through the windows of Corinna's bedroom.
"I want to make sure you're safe." Her father explained again, exhausted. He only called to make sure CJ was going to make her flight on time- not to hear that she changed her mind completely.
"And I am," CJ stated. "I just don't think I'm ready to leave yet. I called around and I'm going to look at a few two-bedrooms later."
"Your dad and I want to be able to see our grandson." Robert explained.
"You will, daddy. You can come stay with us whenever you want, and I'll come visit every chance I get."
"Alright, love." He sighed. "Just... let me know if you need anything. Groceries, baby things, help with the rent. And stay away from that boy you were with. I don't care that he's the father... You don't need the extra stress."
"Got it. Love you." CJ pressed the red button on her screen and crawled back under the leopard-print covers to hold Gus close to herself.
"Whoa," Gus rubbed his eyes sleepily. "I think the baby kicked me."
CJ smiled warmly, placing a hand over the baby's kicking feet. "Mhm. Tamara said he's 'feisty'."
Gus smiled back, moving a few stray pieces of hair away from the girl's sparkling-blue eyes.
"Tamara still doesn't know that she's your mom, does she?" He asked suddenly.
"Tamara doesn't even know my real name." CJ shook her head. "I was going to tell her last night, but... I just couldn't do it. I'm scared."
"Scared of having three parents? Shit, I only have one." Gus laughed, but stopped when he noticed that CJ wasn't laughing with him. "Sorry."
"I have to pee." CJ announced and left the room.
Gus knew that she was just saying that to avoid making plans to tell Tamara the truth, but he let her go anyway. He looked around his friend's messy room for his shirt and stumbled out into the living room where Corinna was lying on her sectional.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty." She greeted the barely-awake man. "Did you and CJ kiss and make up?"
"Somethin' like that." Gus smirked, looking through the girls fridge for something to eat. "Thanks for letting us sleep over."
"As long as that's all you did." Corinna warned. "We're going apartment hunting later, did she tell you?"
"She mentioned it sometime last night... or this morning. It's all running together." Gus admitted. Corinna quickly made her way to the kitchen to get close enough to Gus to speak quietly without CJ hearing her.
"Is that lady really her mom?" She asked in a hushed tone. "She didn't tell me anything about it until we got back from the ER."
"I guess," Gus shrugged. "That's why she doesn't want to leave yet."
Corinna nodded in understanding. Just then CJ returned from the restroom and wrapped her arms around Gus's torso. Gus naturally hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.
"Don't leave me again."
"I'm right here." Gus reassured her.
"I think we should move in together." She looked up into Gus's dark eyes.
"Yeah?" He smiled. "We can do that."
"I mean it. We're going to do this for real this time." She said seriously.
Gus agreed, kissing her once more on the lips. For real this time he repeated in his head. Maybe it's a good time to make things official.
____________________
Layla lied on her back in Tracy's bed just letting her brain feel fuzzy. She looked over at an older polaroid of Tracy, Gus, and herself that was taped to his wall.
"Peep was smart to get help," she thought out loud. "Getting his shit together."
"Mhm," Tracy hummed, not really listening as counted the cash the girl gave him.
"You think he's doing okay?"
"What do you mean?"
Layla sat upright and looked at Tracy. "In rehab. Do you think he's okay? He's all alone there." She frowned.
"He's here." Tracy stated nonchalantly.
"What?!"
"CJ said he stopped by last night. I texted him and he said he's chillin' with her and Corinna." He shrugged.
He didn't get a response. Just a gust of air as the girl grabbed her bag and rushed past him and out of the apartment.
____________________
Corinna and CJ made it to the first apartment tour after dropping Gus off at an NA meeting. CJ looked around at the rooms, following the lady showing the apartment.
Gus agreeing to move in together had CJ feeling ecstatic; she couldn't help but picture the two of them making breakfast together in the big open kitchen, dancing together on the hardwood floors of the living room, the sound of baby feet running up and down the hallways. It all felt so dreamy.
She looked around the master bedroom and envisioned where her bed would go, where to put the desk and dressers, and tried to picture what Gus would bring and where it would fit. The closet seems big enough for both of us.. if I downsize she silently noted.
They slowly entered the second room. The baby's room. The view was beautiful- you could see the ocean from the window. CJ couldn't help but daydream about her and Gus taking their son down to the beach and playing in the sand. She smiled, rubbing her hand over her belly.
"I know you said you were wanting a two bedroom, but this unit has three for basically the same price," The woman commented. "You never know if you need the extra space; especially if you decide to have more children." She winked at CJ.
The thought of having a little family of baby Peeps made CJ blush. "How soon can we move in?"
"We still have a couple more to look at, babe," Corinna laughed.
"I want this one." CJ smiled. "This one is perfect."
____________________
Gus took his phone out of his pocket as soon as his meeting ended. He quickly replied to a text from his mom asking how he was doing and was about to call CJ, but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who was waiting outside.
