Love Is Blind

Tired Talks

  Sometime around ten thirty, Tabby, Janie, and Leo were all sprawled across the floor. The three scattered children were fast asleep, randomly found blankets tossed around them. "We should probably get going. These three are never going to sleep through the night if we stay here too much longer," Mandy admitted sometime around eleven.

  Removing myself from Lacey's arms, noticing how she had been drifting off herself, I made my way over to the two young girls. Gingerly, I picked them up and cradled them to my chest. Seeing what I was doing, Tony quickly helped Mandy get all their things together and then he scooped Leo off the floor.

  Mandy held the door appreciatively and I gave her a sweet smile before carrying the twins out to the car. Buckling them into their car seats, I made sure they stayed asleep before I turned. Tony had already strapped Leo in and he smiled at me in the darkened night.

  "Thank you, Jakey. For all of this. Dinner, spending time with us, helping us put the kids in the car. It was really nice," Mandy smiled, pushing my hair back and into place with her long, purple acrylic nails.

  Pushing her hand away with a small scowl, I chuckled, "Yeah, yeah. Any time, big sis. You know that I love having the five of you around, no matter how much I gripe and complain about it." 

  Wrapping his arm around Mandy's waist, Tony gave me a smile and then shook my hand politely. He had never been one for affection except towards Mandy and the kids; it had actually been a big red flag when they first started dating. "Thanks for having us, Jake."

  "Anytime, Tony. Like I said, I really love having you guys around."

  "We should do it more often!" Mandy suggested, her excitement subdued by the obvious exhaustion that had begun pulling down the edges of her eyes. Eyes that matched mine and my mother's perfectly.

  "We should. We'll get started on that, okay?" Kissing her temple, I hugged her tightly to my chest before I allowed Tony to get her door and help her in.

  Shivering in the frigid air, I only stood on the front porch another few moments, to wave farewell as they drove off, before I scurried back inside. My dad and mom were packing up, as well as helping out Lacey's family.

  "Everyone leaving?" I ask, pouting a bit, but even I was growing tired and I knew that I wouldn't last more than a few hours after they had left.

  "Sadly, we've got a long drive ahead of us. We'll see you again soon, okay?" My mother promised, kissing my cheek.

  "Be safe," I mumbled as my dad pulled me in for a quick hug before patting my shoulder affectionately.

  "We will, son. Don't worry," My father responded, practically automatically, and then they were out of the door.

  Asher walked up to me next. Putting my hand out to shake his, he shook his head and then tugged me into a bear hug that could have snapped a few ribs if he wanted it to. "Take care of my baby sister, Anderson. Or else I will make you regret it."

  Chuckling at his goodhearted threat, I nodded, "Can do, sir!" I saluted and he instantly laughed. With one final pat to my back, he headed out to the car his mother had driven.

  Christine and Ryan hugged me next. Both promised that they'd see me again soon and yet again congratulated me on Lacey and my engagement. Once they had hurried into the brisk night, I turned to go get Lacey.

  Stretching out her arms, she yawned loudly and then blinked sluggishly as I walked over. "Bed time?" She mumbled, wrapping her arms loosely around my neck.

  Nodding, I smiled down at her, my forehead resting against hers, "Yes it is, honeybee. My only question is if you can actually drag yourself upstairs or if you'll fall asleep halfway."

  Giggling groggily, Lacey shrugged, shifting her hold on my neck some, "Probably the latter. I'm full and warm, so I'm tired."

  "Well, my brief trip outside woke me up enough that I can make it. So, I guess I'll be helping you, too," Without any other form of warning, I slid my hand under Lacey's legs and picked her up.

  Shrieking, her loose grip around my neck and shoulders tightened to almost vice-like, "Jake!"

  Grinning, I tossed her over my shoulder gently, into a fireman's hold. Beating against my back, she wasted her remaining energy to pound her fists against my back as she giggled like crazy. Carrying her upstairs was easy and soon enough, I threw her carefully on to the bed.

  "You are a complete maniac!" She told me, as if I didn't already know, and then stood.

  Following her into the bathroom, I grabbed my toothbrush and began to brush my teeth as she changed into a festive set of pajamas. When I finished, I grinned at her, snaking my hand out to flick the massive red cotton ball on the hood of her fuzzy onesie, "Nice red nose, Rudolph."

  She laughed and dodged my next attempt, toothbrush hanging from her mouth, words barely discernible, "Fanks, Wake."

  "Guess my name is Wake now, huh?" I asked as I headed back towards the bedroom.

  Spitting and rinsing out her mouth before she answered, Lacey nodded at me, "Yep. It is. You're now dubbed Wakob."

  Rolling my eyes, I yanked back the sheet and shoved my feet under the comforter and chuckled at her, "Thank Wacey."

  Playfully glaring at me, Lacey took up her own position beside me. Soon she was situated with her head resting on my shoulder, feet tangled with mine, and my left arm resting lightly across her torso. "Nicknames are done now."

  "Good. I didn't really want to call you Wacey forever. I sounded like a child with a lisp."

  Giggling quietly, her breath fanning out across my neck, Lacey agreed, "Yeah, a little bit. But Jake, you're great with kids. I saw you today with Janie, Tabby and Leo. You would make an amazing father."

  Shrugging a bit, which shifted her head on my arm, I closed my eyes, "Maybe. That's what Mandy used to say, but I think that the only reason she told me that was so I would babysit her little monsters more often."

  "Doesn't matter. You're seriously really good with them."

  Opening my eyes, I trained them on Lacey's shining green ones, "Are you saying you'd like to have kids with me?"

  Instantly, Lacey went to retract her statement, "Well, no. Not exactly. I mean. Uh..." She continued to fumble for a couple of minutes before she finally nodded a little, her eyes making their way back to mine, "Not now. But soon? Maybe sometime in the near future? You know?"

  Relaxing, I ran a hand up and down her back, "Yeah, baby, I do know. I wanna have kids with you someday, too. Don't worry."

  Jokingly, she punched my arm with a groan, "God, you're a jerk. Jacob the jerk."

  I chuckled and nodded, "Certainly am. But guess what? I'm your jerk, Lacey Webber."

  "And you're going to be my jerk for a very, very, very long time, babe," She promised, eyes trailing down to stare at the new piece of jewelry that adorned her slender fingers.

  "I hope you like it...." I bit my lip, finally letting the worry I had felt show.

  "Of course! I love it, Jake!" As if to prove her point, she leaned up and kissed me deeply.

  Kissing back for a moment, I squeezed her gently. When I pulled away, she snuggled closer into my side, "M'tired, Jake."

  Smiling softly into her hair, I nodded, "Okay, baby. Sleep."

  She nodded, "Night, Jake. I love you."

  Hearing her breathing even out within seconds, I mumbled softly into the empty air, "Goodnight, Lacey. I love you, too."