Why Try {unedited}

35

35

Cody takes my hand and tries to crack my knuckles. I didn't bother snatching it away from him because Jeremiah is on the other side of the living room, playing with Tom and I have the need to watch them closely.

It's not that I didn't trust Jem with my son, but I was just worried that he might accidentally hurt him given that he's such a big guy but unlike Cody has no soft spot for babies.

Cody releases my hand and looks at Jem and Tom too.

"You know, there's a reason to why I'm here in your house," Cody tells me.

I look at him. "And that is?"

"I'm here to babysit Brooklyn Jr," he shrugs.

"Why?"

"Because I haven't been spending that much time with him and I'm afraid that he'll replace me with Jeremiah," he admits.

"Seriously?" I asked him amusingly.

"Think what you want. I need me some Tom bond."

I pinched his cheek. "You're such a dad."

He bows his head mockingly. "Of course." He stands up from the couch and walked towards Tom and picks him up. He takes Tom outside on the porch.

"I see that Cody wants to have Tom," Jeremiah muses.

"Forgive him. It's not the baby's fault that he's hypnotizing his uncle," I smiled apologetically. "You don't have to be jealous. You're the dad."

"Well, you're still not letting Tom acknowledge me as his dad. Neither do you," he says back. "I mean, unless you talk in a detached way like now."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

He sits next to me. "Hey, I got an idea," he starts.

"What?"

"I should take you somewhere nice," he tells me.

I stare at him.

"I mean, you've been stressed with everything and taking care of Tom and you got a black eye. I just know that you deserve some relaxation."

"Well if you want to take me out, I need to wear some shades. I literally look like a legit panda."

He chuckles. "That's okay. You still look beautiful even with the panda blood."

My cheeks turned warm so I look away to hide my embarrassment.

"So, I come here again at four?" He asks me.

"But you're already here," I told him.

"Well, I want to make this date official. You know, with the picking up and ringing the doorbell thing," he shrugged.

"Who said this was a date?" I cross my arms over my chest.

"I did."

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After taking a shower and fixing my hair and letting Tawni apply some makeup on my face (against my will, if I may add), I changed into some white ruffled sundress. Tawni also lent me her white strappy three-inch heels.

I was now sitting on Tawni's bed, Tawni still trying to fix my low loose bun by letting go some tendrils at the front of my face.

Cody and Tom were on the other side of the bed, Tom drinking milk from his bottle and Cody watching me intently.

"You know, I've practiced this hairdo for so long because I always wanted to wear my hair this way at my wedding," Tawni sighs.

I took her hand and squeezed it assuringly. "Tawni," I said sympathetically.