Not in the Same Way

Thirty Two

"What are you trying to do to me?" I ask Darbs as I press the doorbell on Michaels front door and step back so that I can admire the way her legs look in the short ass skirt she wore tonight.

"Revenge is sweet, love." She said, leaning her head back enough to catch my eye.

"You can't really be serious saying we won't have-" my sentence is interrupted by the appearance of Michael at the door.

"Oh my God, People!" He says excitedly, holding the door open to allow us in, Moose immediately jumping so that her paws tap excitedly against my shin.

"Hi moosey." I say bending down to scratch behind her ears and letting her lick all over me.

"Hi!" I hear Crystal's voice call through the house before I see her.

"Hi!" Darby says excitedly crossing the room to hug her friend.

"So..." Michael says, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall his eyes drifting over to Crystal and Darby as they disappear out of sight.

"So....what?" I ask though I'm sure I can guess what he's wanting to know.

"You and Darbs?" He clarified.

"Yeah, she's giving me another shot."

"And you let the internet invade your privacy why?" He questions

My eyebrows gather together as I stare at him a bit perplexed.

"I just wanted to clear the air. Why? You think I fucked up?"

"Have you looked at what's being said?"

Fuck.

"Um, no. Not really. Darby said she checked it out and it wasn't that bad." I say shrugging.

"She's lying to you then."

"What?" I ask, finally standing much to Moose's dismay.

"It's bad Cal. They're basically saying it was too out of character for you and that she must have posted it. They're also questioning if you're even Ava's dad."

I rub at the side of my face with my hand, a scowl filling my features.

"Are you fucking joking?" I ask, my voice hushed but laced with anger.

He shakes his head.

"Fuck, I wanted to make it better not worse. Why would Darby lie, though?" I ask, my mind suddenly focused on that part of the information I had just received.

"She's been trying to protect you since the day you met her, Cal. From yourself, from the press and now from your own fans. Are you seriously surprised?"

I sigh and follow him as he moves towards the backyard.

"I guess I'm not surprised. I just had hoped for better. I'll talk to her when we get home tonight."

He doesn't reply just stops by the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and removing a white claw for himself and offering one to me. I accept it and resume our path out to the back where everyone else is gathered.

I say hello to the others, Kylie, Bennett, Andy and Sarah before taking a seat on the outdoor sofa beside Darby.

"You still feel okay about coming?" I ask her

"Yeah, I feel fine now. Everyone here has been here and doesn't have symptoms and neither do we and we're the ones who had to go in to that clinic so if anyone was going to have something it would be us."

I nod and press a kiss to her temple.

"Aves, come here!" Michael calls out to the little girl, squatting down a few feet away from her. Ava gives him a glare before turning to look at Darby and I for confirmation.

"Go on Aves, go see uncle Mikey." Darby stands her on her feet and Ava walks on shaky legs over to our waiting friend.

"Come help me DJ." He says scooping her up and holding her to his side as he walks over to the outdoor DJ setup he has.

"Darby, what can I get you to drink?" Crystal asks, ever the perfect hostess.

"Just water is fine." She says softly.

I look over to her.

"Darbs, it's fine have a glass of wine."

"I need to keep an eye on Ava and I might need to drive home."

"Darby you never get a night to have fun you're always on Mom duty. Me and Michael will keep the baby entertained, I'm getting you wine. Is Moscato still your favorite?"

She bites her lip and I know her so I knows she's thinking, not sure drinking is the best idea but it's been so long since she's had a night to really unwind and I hope she'll take the opportunity.

Crystal returns a moment later with the glass and hold its out to her, I eye her carefully.

"Come on Darby. We have a room you guys can stay in so you don't have to worry about getting home. I know you brought Ava's diaper bag and we have clothes you and Cal can borrow. Just take the damn drink."

She considers it for another long moment before finally accepting it with a smile and taking a small sip.

I lean back on the couch my arm around Darby as I watch Michael set everything up at his DJ station, talking to Ava the whole time.

"There backyard is nice as fuck, isn't it?" I ask her.

"This whole house is incredible."

"Maybe we'll upgrade one day." I say thoughtfully looking around at my friends recently purchased home.

"We?" She asks. Her lips pressed in a small close lipped smile.

"Well, yeah. I told you I don't have plans to mess this up, Darbs."

She sinks back against me seeming to be content with my answer but I mean it. There are so many things I want with her. Before I had been too stupid to admit it but I want a future with her. I want a diamond ring and a white dress and a bigger house and a sibling for Ava. I won't overwhelm her with all of that now but I know that all of my future plans now depict her in them.

I look up and wave as Andy and Sarah join us on the couches, Crystal having gone over to the DJ setup to play with Ava while Mikey started up some music.

"So I heard you have an idea for a music video." I say to Andy, I'd talked to Ash yesterday who had told me about it.

"Yeah, so I know you guys really wanted a video for wildflower and we did the lyric video thing but I was talking Ashton the other day and we had an idea."

"Okay shoot."

"I'm gonna get a green screen and we'll pass it between houses and the girls can film for you. You'll have specific parts and once Sarah and I have it worked out we'll tell you what your shots will look like and what you should do in front of the screen. I think it's gonna be good."

"Sounds good, just tell me what you need."

He dives into instructions for me and Darby squeezes my hand, going to join Crystal and Ava who are dancing to the music. I'm only half listening to what Andy is saying as I watch her sip from her wine glass and sway her hips to the bass of whatever song Michael is playing right now.

My eyes are glued to her, but then again they almost always are.

An: what do we think?

Ily,
Sav 🖤