S E E K I N G
... Everything's cool.
• • •
"There's no way one person needs this many shoes." Calum heaves a sigh, after dropping the third storage box full of footwear on his living room floor. "It's crazy."
"You think it's crazy because you only wear Vans. I'm surprised they haven't cut you a check by now." She teases spinning on the island stool with Duke in her lap.
"Whatever." His hands go to his hips as he tries to catch his breath. "Mate is there anything else in the trunk?"
"No, that's the last of it." Roy slides a box in. "Well, I would say welcome home Audr, but you're here so much it's practically your home already."
"Ha, true." She laughs.
"But, I still saw it fitting to get you a move in gift. So if you'll follow me." The blonde leads them towards the kitchen where a white box sits on the island. "Ta da." He flips the top open; revealing a buttercream cake with the words WELCOME TO THE FAMILY AUDRA! in pink frosting.
"Awe, thanks Spicoli." She gives him a side hug. "I feel so special."
"You're welcome." He groans at the nickname, but hugs her nonetheless. "Now, if you guys will excuse me, I'm gonna go try to get this knot out of my back. That last box really did it to me."
"There's some Epsom salt in the medicine cabinet." Calum points out, before his friend can leave.
"So where's my move in gift from you sir?" She blocks him from walking.
"Didn't know I had to get you one. But I hope this will do." He cups her face and kisses her.
"Eh, boring. I've gotten a lot of those already. But I'll take it because you're cute."
"I learned from you. Now, let me get these upstairs. I'm not gonna feel like doing this later." He refers to her things that were crowded in the den.
"I'll help you out with that." She goes to grab something.
"Like hell you will." He glances at her strangely. "I barely wanted you to bring your suitcase in. I've got it."
"So you're just gonna carry all of those things up by yourself?"
"I can handle it babe." He laughs lightly.
"I know. But it still feels weird to just let you do all that. I'll make dinner tonight. Call it even?"
He turns to look at her with a small smile on his face. "No. Because you're gonna relax and take things easy."
"Okay, but I still think I should-"
"Relax and take things easy." He repeats. "For now, why don't you get some cake, and give Duke the attention he's desperately begging for." He motions to the dog who was yapping at her heels.
"Fine." She opens her arm for Duke to hop in. "But I will repay you for this."
"Looking forward to it."
• • •
"So, I was telling Mona that Sebas didn't need a new bed. Like he's perfectly fine in the one I gave him."
"Right."
"That bed is the only piece of me he has like...he literally won't sleep without my sweater in it. So, she goes on this whole tangent about how London has cuter stuff and I'm like that's all well and good, but don't try to be the favorite and make me to be som...." She looks down at his head in her lap. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Mhm." He mumbles tiredly; eyes closed and his cheeks squished against her thigh.
"Yeah, of course you are." Her hands go to his hair. "If you're so tired, why don't you just go up to bed."
"I will... but I like hearing you ramble."
"I am not rambling." She scoffs pretending to be offended. "This is a serious topic we're talking about. I'm at risk of becoming a deadbeat parent to Sebas."
He snorts. "I'm pretty sure he knows his mom cares for him, babe."
"That's all well and good. I tell him I love him every time he's on Facetime with Mo. But my absence speaks louder than my words."
"I guess." He yawns.
"So, you agree that I'm a deadbeat then?"
"I didn't say that."
"You said, I guess. Which means you're starting to think I'm a deadbeat pet mom."
"No, it doesn't. I just said it because...."
"Because...?" She presses him.
"Yeah, because." He breathes out a laugh.
"You're unbelievable." She nods. "If you think I'm a deadbeat pet mom, just say that."
"Alright enough. Can we stop talking about deadbeats around our girl please?" He angles himself to face her stomach. "Don't worry girl, mommy and daddy won't ever be deadbeats. We'll love you so much." And he almost has a heart attack, when he feels the bump of her belly move under his palm. "Wait! Did you feel that too?"
"It's my stomach, so yeah I did." She says coolly; a laugh threatening as Calum still has his hand frozen in place.
"She just kicked. She kicked when she heard my voice."
"I knowwww. I felt it too."
"Why are you not as impressed as I am?!" He says in a high-pitched voice.
"Because, she's done this before. Many times. I'm starting to think she just kicks for fun these days."
"That was so...beautiful." He says with a dopey smile on his face."
"Well get used to it dad. She's a kicker. And she doesn't hold back.
"I want her to do it again."
"And I don't. Like I'm literally the one she's kicking. It was cute in the beginning, but now it seems personal."
"She's definitely going to take after me then."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean she's going to be a footie star like her dad." He says smugly, getting up.
She rolls her eyes. "You're so desperate for someone to take after you I swear."
"Of course, I am. But we know it's the truth."
"Yeah, whatever." She reaches out her arms for him to help her up. "And by the way, you're not a footie star."
"Ouch."
"What? It's true. You're just a rockstar that happens to know how to play."
"I could've been a footie star if I wanted to though."
"True."
"Would you support me if I quit the band, and decided to play instead?"
The seriousness in his tone prompts her to look at him; but the playful look on his face, let's her know that he wasn't. "Babe, I would support you if you wanted to be a princess."
"What princess would I even be?" He laughs.
"Hmm." She actually thinks about it, making him laugh even harder. "I don't know, maybe this ambiguous hybrid between Moana and Mulan."
"I suppose." He chuckles.
