✴️Everything Changed At 21 (Luke Bryan fic)

Family Dynamic

2 months later

Shrugging on my gray jacket I went down the wooden stairs in the large farmhouse hearing the kids already up and running round in front of the fireplace. Putting my hands on my hips I noticed that they hadn't done any more schoolwork since we stopped last night to watch a movie before bed. "Kiddos, I thought we made a deal. If I let you watch a movie you would get up and finish your homework."

"But mamaw it's Saturday morning." Bo said back to me peeking his head over the back of the couch.

Sending him a half glare Tate saw my look and knew better once he responded back to me. "Can't we just play for an hour and then do work..."

"Tatum, don't make me have to ground you from having ice cream after dinner. Now ya'll made me a promise and your daddy wouldn't like you breaking it. So go do your assignment and where is your sister - Chloe Bryan, get off the fireplace mantel!" I shrieked seeing that she had climbed up there somehow and was about to fall on her head until I caught her after she fell off the edge.

"I was trying to perform like daddy." She giggled before I sat her down on the couch beside Bo.

Brushing hair from my face I huffed not thinking that raising these kids would be that hard. But I guess it seemed easier when CL was an infant. "Leia, you could hurt yourself badly. Now no more climbing on the fireplace got it?"

"Yes mama." She said sweetly hearing the front door creak open and Chloe entered with Luther and some groceries in her arms until I rushed to take Luther from her other arm so she could sit them down.

Luther nuzzles into my shirt gripping it in his tiny fingers. "Hey so how was the store?"

"Fine I got pretty much everything for dinner. How have your kiddos been?" She asked me closing the fridge when putting cold stuff away.

Bo rose up from behind the couch when I thought he was doing work. "She won't let me and Tate play."

"I thought I told you to go do schoolwork." Whipping my head around I glared at Luke's youngest boy.

Chloe L ran off with her brother leaving us alone so I turned back to my best friend who leaned against the island. "Being little trouble makers I see."

"Exactly just like their daddy." I nodded, sitting Luther down to watch tv. "Hey, can I talk to you in the other room for a second?"

She nodded walking out of the kitchen and I followed her down the hallway until we were away from the kids' earshot. Brushing my hands down the front of my shirt I sighed heavily at my best friend. "What's wrong, Y/n."

"It's only been two months and I freaking miss him like crazy. I don't remember it being this hard when the kids were younger. But now...it's a lot harder. I just crave him to be here. Is that wrong of me?" I questioned her wrapping my arms around myself avoiding her gaze briefly.

"No, Absolutely not. I miss Carter all the time, especially when I've put Luther to sleep. So you shouldn't feel guilty about missing him."

Biting my lip I figured she had a point and in all honesty I had guessed that was why he and Caroline had broken things off. Things change once you have kids and it's not just you against the world anymore. Leaning my back into the wall behind me. "I'm thinking I might call him. Can you make sure the boys and CL do their schoolwork for me?"

"Sure but you have to help me make dinner later." Chloe stuck out her hand waiting for me to agree.

Shaking her hand we had made an agreement if one if us watched the kids then the other would make dinner that night. "Deal. I'll see you later." We went our separate ways with me closing the door to our bedroom and locking it so the kids wouldn't hear downstairs since they always loved to talk with their daddy when I called him.