After my meltdown in Tobias's arms I told him not to tell anyone, but of course he didn't listen which made my siblings take shifts to watch us.. They are practically living with us now.. I haven't had a flashback since that day, maybe my mind was afraid that my siblings are going to stay forever.. Tobias didn't ask about Dylan and I didn't tell him.. I just don't want his pitty.. Anyways he keeps checking up on us, giving me compliments, bringing flowers and presents to 'cheer us up' he says.. It's kinda nice of him, even my kids are warming up to him.
"I don't believe you Hill, why won't you consider going out with him.. He's great and you used to love him" Riley started about my love life.
"Used to remember?" I countered.
"In a couple of years the kids are outta here.. You wanna be all alone??"
"Of course I won't be all alone, I'll get a puppy and I have Pico and Luna" Pico is my male cockatiel.. He's a bird.. And Luna is my beautiful pink Galah.. She's a beautiful parrot.
"Those won't last forever.. They live like for 16 years?"
"Pico lives for 16 years but Luna could reach 80" I told her.
"Yeah whatever, my point is that you need someone to stay with you.. What if you got bored"
"Here we go again" I muttered under my breath so she won't hear me.. I tuned her out as she started ranting about how I need a man to keep me company.
It's not like i'll be totally alone.. I've got a lot of brothers and sisters, I've got friends and my kids won't totally cut me off.. I've got 2 amazing birds and after a year or two I'm getting a dog since Adam always wants one.. I've got my flowering and my work.. I'm a busy person. I won't ever feel alone right?
"Helloo Hillaryyy are you listening.. You always do that when I'm talking about your future"
"Oh sorry" I told her not meaning it.
"Mom we're back" Stephany's voice sang in my ear "Oh hey aunt Riley, uncle James just dropped off Talia and Blake at your house" Although Ri and I look exactly alike, our kids never mistake us.
"I better leave then" Ri said "Think about what I said" She directed her words to me and I just nodded.
"Mom, Collin is coming over" Jake yelled from the kitchen "Don't assume that we're friends. I'm just keeping an eye on him since Talia confessed that she likes him.." He told me..
"Fine with me" I said.
"So mom? A guy from school asked me out.. and I like him"
"Oh My God." I cooed "My baby is all grown up"
"I don't know what to wear and Ryland can't help me.. Would you?"
"Are you kidding? Of course I'm going to help you.. When's the date? We need to go shopping"
"Tomorrow after school" She said nervously.
"Fine.. We'll have to go now"
"What about Collin and his dad?" Jake asked.
"Tobias is coming? Are you trying to set us up Jackson?" He avoided my gaze which meant that its true "Why would you do that? I thought you hated him"
"Well.. He's a nice person.. Collin told me all about him.. Plus he was friends with dad" Jake replied.
"He wasn't friends with your dad.. In fact they fought a lot." I told him the truth.
"We fought because of you" Tobias's voice echoed from the doorway.
"What do you mean?" Steph and Collin asked simultaneously.
"See your mom and I were friends, but I never told her that I wanted to be more than just friends with her.. and then came your dad who loved your mom and she loved him back.. After rejecting me I stopped talking to your mother until college where we started dating, but after she had cancer she shut me out.. And now I'm back but the question remains, will she go out with me?" He did s brief summary of our relationship.. It sounds that I always reject him.
"Awwwh mom you have a history with the guy" Steph awwhed.
"See mom he still likes you.. You deserve someone who'll love you."
"Did he bribe you kids? You usually hate guys I like" I said blushing after realising what I said
"So you do like me? I take it as a yes... I'll pick you up tomorrow at 8" He stated not leaving any room for discussion before taking Collin and leaving.
"Guess we both need to go shopping" Stephany said making me blush.. Since when do I blush? Maybe.. Just maybe I get what Riley was telling me.
"You excited mom?? Cause I sure am." Steph squeeled after putting on her purple dress.. "Tyler is the most handsom guy at school mom.. I bet that I'm going to have a perfect date."
"You sure will honey. Steve is going to scare the hell out of him though"
"What??" Just when she said that there was a knock on the door and Steven answered.
"Don't go down there without your shoes" I told her.. She was scared that Tyler would run away because my brother was pretty scary when it comes to boys.. Ask Emma. "Don't worry it's just a little threat so the boy wouldn't try anything on you." I comforted her which totally freaked her out.
She left on her first date ever and I waited half an hour till mine arrived. Steve didn't scare my date instead he made him laugh with his stupidity..
"So where are we going?"
"It's a surprise"
"Oh my God.. How'd you find this place?" I gushed.. We were standing under the dark sky that was filled with tiny bright stars all above us... Infront of us was the most beautiful lake reflecting the night sky, the weather wasn't cold nor hot.. In fact it was perfect.
He pulled a chair for me and I sat to a table still captivated by the beautiful piece of natural art. "This is amazing" I said. It was only the two of us.
"You're amazing" He replied kissing the back of my hand before sitting across from me.. How cliché, but I blushed anyways. He just has that effect on me nowadays.
We started talking about all sorts of things, about our lives and about what happened between us. He told me that I broke his heart when I told him to go, that I was the reason why he went to China. I told him that my sisters were my surrogate mothers.. Each one of them carried a child of mine.. How everyone was there for me.. After dinner we ended up sitting under a tree talking about my life.. I don't know how, but I told him about Dylan.. I was comfortable with him.. I just snuggled with him and told him everything.. What surprised me the most is that I didn't cry.. I just told him everything and he listened. He hugged me tight after I finished the story of my life, and he told me that everything is going to be alright, that he'll always be there for me.
"I had fun" I said standing infront of my door.
"I had fun too" He said leaning in for a goodnight kiss.. I met him halfway pressing my lips to his gentle ones. I felt a rush of adrenaline but we parted.
"I know you like me Hillary" He told me barely whispering "But I'm gonna make you love me" He said pecking my lips once more and left me staring at his car riding off through the shaddows of the night. I felt like a teenager again..
