Happier // Sequel to After Thoughts

25

August 1st

"Good luck!" I adjust Evan's tie and kiss his jaw. "I love you. Be good. Go bring home the bacon."

Evan chuckles at me and kisses my forehead. "Love you, too. See you later. Tell the kids I said bye when they wake up. And tell them to have fun at day care."

"I will. They're so grown up." I pout.

"They are, babe," Evan gives me another kiss, then steps out of the apartment for his first day of work.

There's a knock at the door, and I immediately know it's Evan. Maybe he forgot something, or just wants an extra good luck kiss.

But I'm mistaken.

"Hey, Jo," I sigh.

"Through everything, I've realized how much I love you. I can't be without you a second longer." He automatically says.

"I'm tired of fighting about this."

"What will change your mind?" Joey cries out, taking my hands in his.

"Nothing! I came here for two reasons. To be with Evan, and to get away from you. Now go home, Jo. You made a mistake flying out here just to win me back. I'm in love with Evan."

"You barely know the kid!"

"Says who?" I ask.

"Favorite sport?"

"Golf. Even you knew that."

"Color?"

"Orange."

"Does he prefer hoodies or sweatshirts?"

I scoff. "Why would I know?"

"I know you prefer sweatshirts, and you love the ones I work out in. They smell the most like me since I've been sweaty, but you like it that way. Your favorite sweatshirt was my USA one. I first gave it to you on our third date. We were getting ice cream, and I noticed you shivering, so I gave it to you. You hesitated at first, but I insisted, so you took it. You used to wear it all the time, unless I was using it or you were washing it, then made me use it so it could smell like me."

I give him a small smile, remembering my obsession with that sweatshirt, and that date.

"I remember everything about you," Joey tells me, pushing aside a strand of hair that fell into my face. "I could never love anyone else as much as I love you, Blair. You are my one and only. My soul mate. My true love."

"I was doing fine," I tell him, trying to stop the oncoming tears. "Really. But then you walk back into my life, acting as if you never broke my heart."

Joey pauses for a second and just stares at me. "Are you ever going to listen to me?"

"What?" I mumble.

"Tell me what Evan has done for you." He says, completely avoiding what he just said a second ago, but I just sigh.

"Got me a house. Takes care of the kids. Loves me. Has a high paying job to supply for us. Supports me in every single way."

"I've done all of those things." Joey steps forward, making him tower over me, my face an inch apart from his chest. "Why won't you fucking love me again?"

I just grab his face and kiss him. I know, it's bad, so bad, but I can't help it. I'm meant to be with Joey, but I can't just dump Evan right after he gets me an apartment for us to live in together...

"Go to my bedroom, it's in the hallway and the first room to the right. I'm going To take Wes and London to day care, and I'll be back soon, okay?"

He smiles. "Are you sure you wanna do this?"

"No. But I'm going to do it anyway." I kiss his cheek and let him walk to my bedroom. I quickly fix up a breakfast then wake the kids, feeding them, then getting them both dressed.

I'm in a bit of a rush, but how you can you blame me? My hot ex boyfriend is waiting for me in my bedroom.

"Now, Wesley, day care is a lot different than the house or the grocery store. London will be taken care of by the adults, but you're going to be with a lot of new kids. Some will be two years old, like you, but some will be older than you. Just remember to be nice to everyone, and don't throw a fit over something stupid. Make a friend. Okay?"

"Okay, mommy," He hugs my neck, and I can tell he's a bit nervous. I am, too, but for completely different reasons right now.

I pick London up and hold Wesley's hand as we walk into the day care center. The lady at the front named Clara introduces herself to the kids, and Wesley is a bit shy, but London just cheers, making us both laugh.

"Wesley, you can go on and play with everyone else." Clara tells him. He looks at me for permission, and I nod.

"Be careful, I love you. Go make a friend."

•••

"Oh, I needed that,"

Joey smiles and places a kiss on my lips. "Me, too. Lara was fine, but no one can compare to you."

"Evan was awful, let me tell you," I say with a giggle.

"So are you gonna dump him and come home with me?"

I sigh and shake my head. "Not yet. Soon, but not yet."

Joey nods and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to his bare chest. I wrap my arms around his neck and we just lie there together, just like we used to.

After our little nap together, I check the clock next to my bed.

"Joey, wake up," I say, kissing his lips.

He quietly grumbles. "I have to go, don't I?"

"Yeah, Evan will be home in thirty minutes with the kids."

"Oh, the kids. We made perfect kids."

I giggle. "We did. You can stay to see them, if you want, just make yourself look like you didn't just have sex."

"Alright, my love," He smiles and gives me another kiss.