Loving You

Chapter 9

We all piled into Elliots jeep and the kids asked a lot of questions. Finally Maureen asked if we could turn the radio on. We listened to the music and sat in a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride. When we reached the ice cream shop everyone got out. We went in and ordered our ice creams. We sat down to eat and everyone was quiet for a while. Elliot grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed it lightly, silently asking if I was ready. I squeezed back. "So guys we wanted to talk to you about something." Elliot started looking at all of the kids.

"We were wondering how you would feel if your dad started dating again?" I finished taking Elliott's hand in mine again under the table.

"OH MY GOD!" Maureen squeeled loudly, the only one who caught on.

"What? What? I wanna know!" Kathleen said getting excited and smacking her sisters arm. Lizzie and Dickie didn't get it at all but sat and ate their ice cream.

"I knew it Liv! Remember, I told you so at the store!" Maureen said completely ignoring Kathleen.

"What are you talking about? I don't get it!" Kathleen continued to whine. Looking between Elliot and I for help. We just sat and chuckled.

"What we're trying to say is-" Ellioat began but got caught off by Maureen.

"What they're trying to say is that they're together. They're dating!" Maureen smiled at us approvingly. Kathleen looked shocked for a minute and that scared me. What if she was mad?

"How do you feel about that?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to upset her.

I think... I think I love it!" Kathleen said after awhile. I breathed a sigh of relief and Elliot rubbed my knuckles with his thumb to calm me down.

"What do you guys think about that?" Elliot asked the twins since they haven't said a word the entire time.

"I don't know." Said Lizzie

"Me neither." Spoke her brother.

I chuckled softly and said, "Would you like it if your dad and I dated?"

"Ooh you mean boyfriend/girlfriend? Like Barbie and Ken!" Lizzie said excited that she understood what was going on.

Everyone laughed and Elliot and answered, "Yes boyfriend/girlfriend, would that be okay with you guys?"

"Yeah sure!" Lizzie said and elbowing her brother to see what he thought.

"That's fine I guess but I just want to say I thought she was pretty first." Dickie said and went back to his ice cream. I laughed at him and Elliot wrapped his arms around my shoulders, kissing the side of my head. 

"Awwwe" Maureen and Kathleen said in unison. I smiled at them and blushed. Elliot just rolled his eyes and chuckled.

We finished our ice cream and got back into the car. We talked and talked for awhile until Dickie asked, "Dad can we stay with you and Livvy tonight?" All the kids agreed and started to beg.

"Alright, alright you can come over..." Elliot said. All the kids cheered and Elliot continued, "You can come over if it's okay with Liv." He said grinning at me.

I looked at him shocked that he would leave up to me. They started getting me to stay and I of course said yes. We had to go by Kathys house so they could pack bags then we would go back to Elliots.

Once we got to Kathy's, Elliot parked in the driveway and turned around to speak to the kids, "Okay guys we have to pretty quick, in and out, we have to get back home because Olivia needs to take a nap. Okay?" All the kids nodded in understanding and hurried into the house.