What It Seems | Wattys 2023

Chapter 38

There was a shopping cart completely jam-packed to the brim of sparklers, fireworks, firecrackers - everything that made the sky look bright full of a variety of colors and something that made it sound like an explosion. The big packs that couldn't fit in the cart were horded onto the rack of the haul.

"Oh, my gosh, you two have nearly bought the whole store," I revealed to the two tall guys who happened to be my brother and the other was my boyfriend. Aiden didn't pay any mind to what I just said, but Baylor turned around with a look of blissfulness. He managed to smile as he stacked the last box of fireworks into the cart. As if he were bribing me with a coy expression, he cracked a smile. I rolled my eyes with a chuckle.

"Man, there isn't anymore," Aiden carped, moaning.

"Have you seen the cart? There isn't enough room," I vented.

"So."

I huff and tried pulling the cart, but due to the weight of the fireworks, it was clear that my muscles weren't powerful enough. Baylor noticed, so he grabbed the front of the cart and pulled it behind him as I pushed the cart. We strolled through the store, Aiden leading the way to the checkout.

"I guess you could say we're stocking up for next year," I murmur.

The price was well over two-hundred dollars, shocking Aiden and Baylor both. They didn't complain at all about it, but by the time we got to the truck, they were criticizing. The bad thing about the loading part was that I had to help. Without a care in the world, the both of them were slowly packing bags into the truck and it was freezing outside.

"Can I have the keys? I'm freezing," I query Baylor with chattering teeth and (nearly) frost bitten hands.

He pulled his keys from his pocket and handed them to me. His bare-skinned hands were somehow warm, and just by his reaction, he was shocked at my body temperature.

"There's an extra jacket in the backseat," he revealed.

"Thank you," I smile gratefully. I amble to the other side of the truck and climb into the traveler seat and shove the keys into the ignition. I cut the Jeep on, and just as I did, I cut on the heat. Baylor hopped into the driver's seat and Aiden bounded into the backseat.

"Can you hand me that jacket?" I inquired Aiden who had just huffed from the icy atmosphere outside. He hurled the coat from the back, the jacket landing on the console. I thank him and glide the hoodie over my torso. The whiff of Baylor's jacket was of good-scented cologne that was probably expensive, according to Baylor's taste, and fabric softener.

The ride back to Baylor's was somewhat short due to the vacant traffic. "Jo invited us to come over to her house for tonight since it's New Year's Eve. She said her mom is cooking dinner and they're gonna shoot fireworks at midnight."

I didn't hesitate to agree to go, but Baylor was unsure. He seemed as if he were trying to figure out a scenario that might happen at Jo's.

His eyebrows hitched together. "Eh, I don't know . . .," he paused, "I've never met her mom or never been over to her house and just being invited would be weird. Like just showing up to eat is kinda rude for me to do," Baylor elaborated.

Aiden laughed, "Dude, you and Jo are friends and she's never met you, so her mom is inviting you to come over so y'all can meet and chill. It's just her mom and sister."

"Yeah, for me?" I smiled. Baylor glanced at me for a second and bit his lip.

"Okay."

"Y'all sicken me," Aiden sneered.

"Shut up."

***

"Oh my goodness," Ms. Vivian clutched me in a tight hug and smiled. "You get prettier and prettier every time I see you. How've you been, sweetheart? I haven't seen you in ages." Ms. Vivian is somewhat of a mother that I haven't had for eleven years. She still has the southern drawl, the accent leaving a heavy effect on her voice.