Between Us (all of us #1)

T W E N T Y

A U B R E E

Trenton: 8:00

That was the time we agreed on hours ago when I left the party. Except now, I'm standing in the kitchen listening to Diesel and Chloe's giggles in my living room, serving as a sign that they're not leaving anytime soon.

There's no way I'm going through with this while Diesel's home. I'm already having second thoughts, teetering the fine line between going back on it or proceeding only because I've already ventured way deep into forbidden territory. I may as well follow through.

I don't think I really have much of a choice now. Trenton's had his heart set on tonight for two months. I'd be terrible to go back on it now.

Me: They're still here. I have a feeling Chloe's going to stay the night.

Trenton: Well, tell her she has to leave. You're the parent here.

I hang my head. This is ridiculous.

Me: It's too late for all that. She's already pregnant with my son's baby.

Trenton: So what? That was her decision. Kick them both out.

Trenton: kidding. Throw on Legally Blonde for Chloe and make Diesel some warm milk. He's easy to put out that way.

I chuckle just as Diesel enters the kitchen and my face straightens up quick.

"Is that Dad?" he asks, coming toward me with a plate of crumbs. I lock my phone screen and place it over my chest in case Trenton texts me again.

"Yeah."

"You guys are doing good." He says it more like a question that he wants me to elaborate on. This is the first time Diesel's ever shown any interest in our relationship—my perspective on it, at least.

"Yeah, we are." I smile at him, my throat knotting. "I'm almost wondering what's happened that made him come back a whole different person."

He faintly smiles back at me, but doesn't respond. Instead, rinses the plate and places it in the right side of the sink before leaving me there.

That's a start to something, I guess.

I peel my phone from my chest and unlock the screen.

Trenton: I'll be there in five.

My breath catches in my throat and I suddenly feel a little bit faint, like every last drop of blood has drained from my body. Five minutes. Five.

Except, what I assumed was five minutes is in fact five seconds because the front door opens, making my heart do cartwheels in my chest.

I can't tell if I'm excited or just nervous. Everything we're about to do is all kinds of wrong, but that's not stopping either of us.

I find myself fixing my hair without a mirror in the middle of the kitchen. Adjusting the front of my dress, pressing my lips together to smooth out my lipstick. Primping for an eighteen year old? I've clearly lost my mind.

Trenton pokes his head in the kitchen. "Hey, Mrs. C." Sounding lax, his deep voice makes my face flush and heat up and I know I'm bright red.

"Hi." I breathe out my words, realizing I've completely reverted to my teenage self. He gives me his coy smile before tapping the wall like it'll be my ass later and disappears.

Solana: Turn on your photogenic memory. I'm gonna need details. *thumbs up emoji*

Solana: Proud of you.