I'm Raising My Bestfriend's Child

Thirty and Flirty

"Elena! Lui!" Trisha bombarded us right when we walked thru the door. You could cut the woman's fake-ness with a knife it was so thick. "Yeah?" Lui answered, strapping on his apron. "I just wanted to tell y'all, good luck on the thirty orders. Kenneth says you have to stay after." Trisha was one of the only people that could call Mr. Mole-Rat Kenneth. Of course. Lui looked at me with concern, "Th-Thirty? What about Aiden?"

"I'll pick him up on lunch break, he can stay with us. Mr. Mole-Rat might be a jack-wagon, but he said that only if an emergency can the workers' children stay here. And this is an emergency." I said paying no attention to Trisha fixing her hair-extensions. Lui mumbled something that I assume was to Trisha. It sounded angry and hurtful. "What's the first order, Elena?" I looked at the paper,  "Huh, another birthday cake order." Lui tossed me my apron, and I started cracking eggs. Fifteen orders in, and it was lunch time. "Can I come? On the way back we could get some Chick-Fil-A." I nodded, grabbed my keys, and Lui and I got in my car. "Does Aiden actually  enjoy staying at the daycare?" Surprisingly, he does.  "Yeah, he's made a few friends."

Lui followed me into the daycare, "Blech! It smells like wine!" He observed, covering his nose. It does. It always does. Aiden never came home with bruises or a bad vocabulary, so I didn't care. "Here to pick up Aiden already?" The little old lady at the front desk asked. "Yeah, busy day today," I said, she completely ignored what I said and turned her attention to Lui, "Oh! This must be your husband!" She called out and Amy walked in with Aiden, set him down. I hung my head, "Well,..." Lui put his hand on my shoulder, "Sure am!"

I've always told people that the father is in the picture, but never said who. People stopped asking and I stopped caring. Aiden ran to me, luckily he was so excited to see me, that he wasn't paying any attention to our conversation. Lui smiled at him and he smiled back. "Well, it was nice meeting you.." Amy said hinting to know his name, "Lui." Amy smiled, "Lui."  She repeated. We walked to my car, Lui strapped Aiden in, and I cranked up the engine. He slid in the passenger side, "Thanks..." He cocked his head, "Huh?" I stared down at my hands, "Thanks, for telling them you were my husband." I said weakly. He was quiet for a moment, "Elena...You're welcome," Lui turned to face me, Aiden interrupted, "Mommy, I'm hungry!" Lui looked forward again, "Sorry, honey, let's go eat." I pulled out of the parking lot, and made my way to Chick-Fil-A.

Lui put Aiden on his shoulders when we got out at the restaurant, he giggled. "Hey, can I play on the playground in here?" Aiden asked, talking more to Lui instead of me. Lui looked at me for assurance, I nodded. "Sure thing, buddy." As we were passing the parking lot, a car flew thru, almost hitting Lui and Aiden. My heart stopped. Lui's face tuned red, the car honked, he sat down Aiden, "Go to your mom," Aiden ran into my arms. Lui walked over to driver's side, (the diver cursing at him and by now everyone was staring.) "What's your problem? Speeding thru the parking lot like a dumb***! You could've hit me and a two-year-old!  You're a special type of stupid." Lui had never cursed before, at least, I've never heard him. The driver flicked him off, "Oooh, I'm sorry, did I hurt your fweelings?" Lui gripped his fists, the driver kept smarting off, people were staring, and Aiden was confused. Lui snatched opened the car door, almost causing the handle to break off, he dragged the driver out. I've seen fights. I've seen two people get close to killing each other. But I've never seen anything like this. Lui had the man pinned with his knees in his arms, punching him, over and over and over... Finally, the manager ran out and said both of them had to go and could never come back again.  When Lui let the blooded man up, he kicked a dent in his car, then limped over to my car. The man in the car did  get some hits in Lui's eye was black, and lip was bleeding. I ran over to my car Aiden in my arms. The manager said we had to leave right away  so I pulled out, and pulled into the next restaurant over. "Get in the back, so I can fix your lip." I said, searching for the First-Aid kit I always had in my car. "No." He said, his arms were crossed, and  hadn't noticed, but his nose was bleeding too. "Lui, I need to help yo-" He interrupted me, "NO." He said sternly. The friend and mother in me wouldn't take no  for an answer.

I grabbed him by his chin and turned his face to me, I opened the aid kit, and began to put some anti-bacterial ointment, "Ow!" He cried and smacked my hand away, "Lui! I know you're upset, but stop being a brat!" I screamed, the people walking to their cars probably heard me. He was quiet. I continued to heal his wounds. Aiden watched closely then asked, "...Can we still get some food, Mommy?" I had actually heard his stomach growl a few times while I was helping -still mad- Lui. "Of course, baby. But we'll have to go thru the drive-thru, or we'll be late" He nodded, Lui finally spoke, "I'll pay for my own." He said, still sounding flustered. "Hey, Aiden, how about before we order, you put on your headphones and watch a cartoon." I handed him  his tablet and headphones. When he had his ears plugged, I turned to Lui. "Please don't be mad Lui." He looked out his window, "I'm not." He still had his arms crossed, and he was sucking his gums. If there's one thing I know about Lui it's that if he's sucking his gums, he's P-Oed. "Then why are you being so short with me?" I asked, seeing if Aiden still had his headphones in-he did. "I'm not." Lui repeated, I nodded, giving up "Alright..." Before I could back up and head over to the drive-thru, Lui got out and walked in. I had gotten to the point where I didn't care. "Aiden, what do you want to eat?" I asked, he took out his headphones, "Chicken nuggets!" He called out, climbing into the passenger side, I laughed and stroked his hair. I pulled around to the drive-thru, ordered and while I was in line after, Lui climbed into back seat. He had a drink and a burger. Aiden turned around in his seat, "Do you want to trade seats?" He asked, Lui shook his head.

We all ate on our way back to work. When we arrived, Lui said "Aiden, go to my car, and get something for me, okay? I need you to find my red pin." He was parked a car over to me. Aiden nodded and hopped out. "Elena, come back here." He said, "No. You're mad." I said getting my things ready to go in. He quickly climbed up in the passenger seat, "Wait, Elena,..I'm sorry." He apologized, "Lui you can't ju-" He gently grabbed me by my chin, and kissed me.