Gunner

Love

Lily

"Baby, your friends are here!" I exclaim.

Aaliyah comes running out of her room with a big smile as she sees her two best friends, Lorenzo and Parker.

"Hey guys!!" Aaliyah greets. "We can go play in the living room!"

They run after her and I laugh.

"Woah!" Gunner bumps into her. "Where are you going, little ones?"

"Play in the living room with my horsies!" Aaliyah smiles.

"I'm gonna plow the arena with my toy truck!!" Lorenzo cheekily smiles.

"And I'm gonna build jumps for Liyah's horse!" Parker exclaims.

I walk over to the kids. "You guys have five minutes to play before we go to Aaliyahs lesson then lunch and ice cream!"

"Yay!!" they run quickly.

I laugh and Gunner shakes his head, kissing my forehead. "You're gonna take them out for two hours?" he laughs.

"I love the boys, I have no problems with them" I pat his back.

"Well I wish I could come, take pictures of Aaliyah during her riding lesson" he says and I nod in agreement.

"I can't wait until we can buy her her own horse" I sigh.

"Thirteenth birthday as long as she's still dedicated" he rubs my shoulder and I look towards the living room.

"Well I better get her ready, enjoy your work" I chuckle and walk away.

"I can't put my boots on" Aaliyah frowns, making my laugh, kneeling down to help her. "Thank you"

"Of course, doll. Who are you hoping to ride today?" I zip up her boots.

"Clover! He's my favorite!" she exclaims.

"But he's huge!!" I laugh.

She shrugs. "I love big horsies!"

"Is he bigger than me?" Parker gasps.

"Of course, Park! He's a horse!!" Lorenzo hits him.

"Okay, no more fighting, let's get in the car" I laugh as I grab my keys.

The boys and Aaliyah run towards the door while I say my goodbyes to Gunner before heading out.

Parker gets the window car seat, Lorenzo gets the middle, and Aaliyah gets the other window seat.

"Ready to go?" I get in the drivers.

They excitedly nod and I put my seatbelt on before heading to the barn which isn't too far from here.

Gunner and I had our gorgeous little blonde daughter who's now four and in pre-k!

If you can't tell, she's obsessed with horses and as bad as I want to get her one, Gunner wants to wait and make sure it's not a phase.

Which, I understand.

And she has her two best friends in the whole world!

Aaliyah has no trouble at all making friends, she's the light of the classroom! But she's just really clicked with Lorenzo and Parker.

They act like brothers with her, especially since they're two months and three months older than her and think they're really three years older.

That made no sense.

If you made that out, you're a legend.

I pull into the barn and as soon as I turn the car off, the kids run out of the car.

"Why hello, cutie!" Aaliyah's riding instructor, Shania, greets.

"Hi Mrs. Shania!" Aaliyah hugs her.

They've also grown so close to each other.

"Are these the famous Lorenzo and Parker you always talk about?!" Shania gasps.

"Yeah!!" Aaliyah smiles.

"I'm Lorenzo!"

"I'm Parker!"

"Nice to finally meet you boys! Now come on, let's go get Clover" Shania holds Aaliyahs hand and leads her to the barn.

I walk with the boys.

"That horse is huge" Parker gasps.

"And Aaliyah rides those?!" Lorenzo looks at me and I nod with a smile. "Wow"

"Guys! Meet Clover!" Aaliyah walks out the huge chestnut horse.

"Woah" Parker looks up. "He's taller than the sky!!"

"Yeah!!" Lorenzo looks up with Parker.

I playfully shake my head as I laugh.

**

"Ice cream!!" Aaliyah sits down with her vanilla cup.

"I loooove oreo!" Parker sits next to her.

"Chocolate!" and Lorenzo sits next to him.

I quickly take a picture of my favorite four year olds as they eat and laugh.

"Silly kids" I start eating my cookie dough.

"I hope we're best friends forever!" Parker wraps his arms around Aaliyah and Lorenzo, pulling them into him.

"We will!" Lorenzo smiles.

"Yeah! Forever and ever!" Aaliyah smiles ear to ear.

I smile, taking another picture.

These kids have the most pure heart of gold.

They've always looked out for each other since the day they met.

Just like siblings.

And I really hope this friendship lasts forever like they plan... I know friendships break.

**

"Mommy can we play in my room?" Aaliyah looks at me.

"Of course, just leave the door opened" I ruffle her hair and she runs into her huge room with her friends.

Laughing, I make my way to my room. "Gunner were back-"

My heart drops and eyes widen when Gunner looks back at me,

mid sex with another girl.