How is This My Life?

Chapter 5

Adrian POV

Turning down the radio as my phone rang, I saw it was Aaron. I'd just driven fifteen hours to make it here in time to help with any last-minute shit that needed done for this wedding. And so, I could spend time with my best friend, my brotha, before he got hitched. 

"Yeah man. Pulling up now." The door to the left side of the duplex swung open, and out barreled this bear that was my brotha from anotha motha, Aaron. After getting medically discharged six months ago, thanks to the injury I got nine months ago, I'm ready to just be a civilian and get started on my life. Aaron was pretty much the only one I stayed in touch with when I left for the military. Never had family worth stayin' in touch with. Mama loved the needle more than her kids. My sister and brother left the house and never looked back. Not even for me. Aaron became my brother.

So, when he called me two years after finishing high school saying that he'd met the love of his life at college end of fresh man year, I was happy for him. When he called next to say that their families didn't approve because he was black and she was white, it baffled me because they'd taken me in for years. That was the last time I spoke to his family. He told me all about his girl, and we talked damn near every day. When he told me about her best friend who I'd be staying with for the wedding, I was cool with it. Never been around small babies, but I'd be on a different floor from them so my pacing wouldn't keep them up.

Getting out of my truck, I rushed up to him, wrapping him a hug.

"Missed you man. Happy you're here."

"Missed you too. Might be stayin'. Ain't got anywhere to go home to." He just nodded. There was a tiny woman behind him, "Oh! This is my girl, and our boy, Denise and we haven't picked out a name yet." He beamed, chest out like the proud papa I always knew he'd be. Sticking my hand out to shake hers, she pulled me into a hug.

"You're family. Welcome. It's nice to finally meet you." She was cute, just perfect for him. I could see the way he fussed over her, and at dinner that night, I saw how she fussed over him. Making sure to serve me and Aaron at the same time. As we were about to eat, I heard a cry that sounded like it came from upstairs.

"I'll grab her. You guys eat." Aaron said. He came down a few minutes later with a pink bundle. Did he have more than one kid? "This is my god-daughter, Tennley. Isn't she just a cutie?"

"Sorry I'm late!" The most angelic voice I'd ever heard shouted from the front of the duplex, followed by a sigh, "Today was insane in the ED. I swear. People try to fit things they shouldn't in places they shouldn't just to see if they can be taken out." Her voice was getting closer, while I just sat there, frozen, the voice was so beautiful. "Who would have thought a fucking light bulb would fit in someone's- Oh. I'm sorry I didn't know you guys had a guest."

She came into view. "Oh! You must be Adrian. I'm Elise." She held her hand out to me. I just starred at her. She's beautiful. Pretty sure my jaw's on the floor. How can one person be so pretty? So perfect? She's got chocolate brown hair and the bluest eyes I've ever seen. She's even tinier than Denise.

"Or not." She pulled her hand back. Shit.

"I am. Sorry. You took my breath away." That wasn't supposed to come out of my mouth, "Nice to meet you." I said as she took the baby from Aaron.

"How was my girl today?" That's her baby? That's right. She had a baby recently. Aaron told me. How did I forget that?! I mentally face palm myself. Great first impression I've made.

"She just woke up. Think she's hungry." Denise said. Aaron dished up dinner for Elise, beautiful name, beautiful girl, and she pulled her shirt up to feed the baby.

Dinner continued that way, with Elise feeding the baby while Denise and Aaron took care of cutting her food and fussing over who was going to burp the baby.

"I'll burp her. If you show me how." She looked at me. Those beautiful eyes, taking me in, seeing if she can trust me with her world.

"Put this on your shoulder," she thrust a cloth at me. Once it was there. She came closer and set the baby on my shoulder. "Support her so she doesn't slide down, then gently pat her back until she burps." She never took her eyes off what I was doing, making sure I was following her instructions, until Tennley burped, making my eyes go wide.

Elise laughed at me while I asked, "Does she always burp like that?! That was a grown man burp!" Everyone was laughing now, and I swear, I joined in a little because Elise had the most beautiful laugh.

"Yes. She does most of the time." She smiled at me, wiping her eyes she was laughing so hard.

After everyone was done, we all went to our respective homes, well, I went with Elise and Tennley to their side of the duplex, while Denise and Aaron stayed here. She showed me to my room and showed me how to pull down the murphy bed, where the bathroom was, and apologized in advanced for Tennley waking up in the middle of the night.

Once it was quiet in the house, I checked the locks again, then finally laid down. I couldn't sleep. I always had trouble sleeping, especially in new places. Maybe I'd look for a job here or see if there was another duplex close that was available. Pulling out my phone, I checked online. Applying to a few jobs and duplexes that were close to the dot I had on my location.

How was this my life? I planned to be in the full twenty and was out at thirteen years.

How was this my life?