An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

The Fourth Cookout (Part One)

LENA POV

"You really did not need to make that big of a cake," I laugh as Julius pulls the giant cake out he had made up just for today as we would be celebrating my birthday with the kids as well as the 4th. It just made it a whole lot easier to celebrate on a weekend day. Plus, I'd be going out of town tomorrow morning for work to Los Angeles, and I just didn't want to miss celebrating with them if I could help it.

"Welllll, honey bunny, you know me! I couldn't JUST make a simple German chocolate cake like you always want. I had to add all of these layers THENNNNNN I wanted to use the red, white and blue fondant as well as these flags and sparklers! That's right, honey! We get to light sparklers on this cake!" Julius waves his hands for emphasis as I can only shake my head and laugh.

After the parade, I had changed from my sundress to something a little more casual which consisted of jeans shorts and a red tank top. I also pulled my hair on top of my head, for it was turning out to be a very hot day. Grabbing my sunblock, I begin rubbing it on my arms as I look out Julius' patio door to see the kids outside having a giant water fight which could only make me laugh as Phillip was firing up his grill.

"Need me to do anything?" I hear Stef walk into the kitchen as I turn around to see she had not only changed but showered as I'm sure that long ass walk in this heat was exhausting and sweaty. She looks beautiful to me as always in her shorts and white tank top as her hair is drying in soft waves and she lights a smoke.

"You can always help Philip grill the burgers. The man insists he can do it, but the last time he did, we were eating hockey pucks for DAYYYSSSSSS!!!!!" He says as he mixes the potato salad I had brought, and I walk over to him.

"Jules, you don't need to keep mixing that," I laugh as I take the spoon from him. "I promise I mixed it thoroughly when I pulled out of my fridge this afternoon."

"Well, I didn't know! Wouldn't want our guests to take a huge bite of mustard if it's not mixed properly!" He shakes his head as he pushes his glasses up his nose and I laugh as I cover my salad and set it back in the fridge.

"What time are Gary and Marty coming down?" Stef says as she leans against the island, smoking away as she has yet to look at me.

"Oh honey, they should be here any minute! I talked to Gary early this morning, and he said they'd be here around 4!" Julius answers as he pulls out the vegetables for his veggie tray.

"Here, let me help you," I say as he waves me off with his giant knife.

"Nooooo, Mocha! Go take a breather! I get too nervous when other people use my knives. You should know this by now!" He says as he begins chopping the green peppers, and I shake my head as I pour myself a glass of lemonade and head on outside.

My heart is racing because I have yet to ask Stef about the kids. I don't know why I have put it off this long, but I have. And I feel the awkwardness flooding from her so much right now, I wish she could drink. I don't know what it is going to take for her to actually relax in life, and I wish I had some answers for her. She was much too stiff and uptight, and well, it actually broke my heart for she didn't used to always be like this...at all. If she gives me a hard time about the kids, I know I'll have no choice but to tell Denni I can't go even if she says this is for the gallery, and I'll be paid for going.

I smile as I see Corey having fun, something I hadn't seen in quite some time as he is running around in his swimming trunks and a muscle t-shirt tossing water balloons at Jude who is catching them as they break and giggling. Frankie and Callie seem to be hiding from Stefanie who is looking for them, and from what I can tell they've each lost quite a few times as they are all drenched. Thankfully they have on their swimsuits as I would hate for them to drip water all over Julius' floors as we'd never hear the end of it.