Jupiter

Chapter 6

I stopped off at dad's house to grab what I needed for Galexy and I before heading to uncle Jeff's to pick up my baby boy. Entering the house, I find aunt June and Connie sitting on the caramel colored carpet playing with Exy, while Copper is sitting on the couch doing his homework. 

"Hey, thanks for watching him," I tell my aunt with an honest smile. 

"You're welcome, love. What did Jeff want that couldn't wait until he was home?" she asks, when she notices my uneasy demeanor. 

"He wanted me to talk to dad, who was in his office when I arrived," I mumble sitting on the carpet next to Exy, who I give a bright smile too.

"How did that go?" Connie asks curiously.

"Fine, I guess. Dad explained a few things to me, along with saying he broke up with Harris,"" I shrug, not wanting to reveal anything too personal to my cousins.

"Pa-pa!" Galexy demands, crawling into my lap with a toothy grin. 

"Hi Exy," I reply, lifting him into my arms to kiss all over his chubby cheeks - earning a happy squeal from him before he kisses my cheek.

"Are you having dinner with us before heading to Blakes?" aunt June asks after a moment of silence.

"Um, no, we're heading to Blake's shortly," I reply, cuddling Exy, who has his head on my right shoulder. 

"You do know that the two of you don't have to stay somewhere else, right?"she questions seriously.

"I know and I appreciate that and everything you guys have done for us, but we've disrupted your lives enough," I admit with a frown.

"That's crap, you guys haven't disrupted our lives. We don't mind the two of you being here," Cooper comments from the couch. 

"Thanks for saying that, Cooper," I weakly smile at him, and he silently nods back in response.

An hour later, everything that I brough here for Galexy and I is packed and loaded into the back of the Jeep, with the help of Cooper. Aunt June has ahold of Galexy for me, and uncle Jeff arrived home from work five minutes ago. 

"You don't have to leave, Jup," he tells me sincerly as I take Galexy from aunt June.

"I know, but I need to stay with Blake for a few days, as his dad is leaving on a buisness trip. Blake hates staying home alone," I smile with a soft smile, bouncing Exy on my right arm, while holding him with my left hand so he doesn't fall. 

"Bla!" Galexy hollers happily, causing all of us to laugh fondly.

"Yes, Bla," I assure him with a wide smile.

"Okay, but if you two need anythign at all, please ask us," he seriously comments. 

"I will, and thanks for everything," I agree, tearing up slightly - yes, I'm always this emotional, and I don't need your negative judment.

"Family hug!" Connie hollers, instantly hugging Galexy and I from the front the best she could. 

Cooper hugs us from behind with his head resting on my shoulder, aunt June on my right side, and uncle Jeff on my left side. Galexy and I giggle loudly and so does everyone else, and our hug last several minutes before we have to all pull away, as Galexy was becoming agrivated. 

"Say buh-by, Exy," I instruct him, waving my left hand to show him what I wanted him to do.

He giggles as he waves his chubby little right hand; "Buh-by."

"Bye-bye Exy," the four of them reply back, while waving at him with smiles. 

Uncle Jeff then turns to me, as he seriously says; "Bye Jupiter, I want you to text me when you arrive at Blake's."

Nodding at him as I buckle Galexy into his carseat, I promise him; "I will."

Shutting his door, I give them one last wave and a smile as I open my door, and climb inisde the driver's side. Driving to Blake's house, I have the radio playing, and Galexy is 'singing' along with the song that's playing, and this makes me smile. Parking in Blake's driveway next to his metallic blue colored Dodge Ram, I shut the Jeep off, and then text uncle Jeff as requested. 

Climbing out with my keys and wallet in my right hand, I open Exy's door as Blake exits the house, as he greets me; "Hey man."

"Hey Blake," I greet back with a small smile.

Once I have Galexy out of the Jeep, Blake instantly holds his hands out and says; "Give me my godson, please."

Smirking at him, I hand over Galexy to him before turning back around to grab our bags from the back, leaving my school bag since all of my work is completed. Following Blake and Galexy into the house, where I shut the door behind us before taking our bags to the spare bedroom we always use when we sleep over. Walking back down the short hallway that is lined with pictures of Blake over the years, Blake and I, Blake and Exy, Blake and his dad, Alan - I hear Blake and Exy laughing together. 

Smiling at the sound, I find them sitting on the couch, with Exy on Blake's lap facing his uncle with my best friend making funny faces at my son. Quietly giggling at them, I sit down on the other end of the couch from them, just watching them interact together, while I remain quiet. 

That moment is broken when Galexy notices me in the room with them, so he hollers; "Pa-pa, ea'!"

"Sure Exy," I agree, smiling at him as I stand to grab his puffs from the cabinet in the kitchen - we keep snacks here for him to have when we visit.

Opening the cupboard door next to the fridge, I jump when my phone dings with a new message, but I ignore it as I grab the container of puffs. Shutting the cupboard door, I move over to the sink to grab a plastic bowl from the cupboard next to the sink, before heading back into the living room. Pouring a small amount into the blue and green bowl, I hand it to Blake, so Galexy doesn't shove fistfulls into his mouth and choke. 

Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I turn it on to see uncle Jeff has texted; "Hey, Jup. I just got off the phone with Jason Owen, his son, Jace was worried about you. He said he noticed you had been crying, and he wanted to know if you were better. You didn't mention that you 'bumped' into him. Can I give Jason your number to give to Jace, so you two can talk?"

My mouth drops open in shock, and Blake notices right away; "What's wrong?

Flipping my iPhone 11 around to allow him to read uncle Jeff's text. He laughts at the part about me bumping into Jace; "Did you really 'bump' into that Jace guy?"

"Yeah, I was exiting the elevator the same time he was trying to enter the elevator," I sigh with red tinted cheeks. 

"What are you going to tell Jeff?" he asks handing Galexy another puff, who is happily munching on his snack. 

Biting my lower lip, I make my decision as I carefully type out my reply; "Sure, he can have my number, and I'm ignoring the rest of your text. Love you and the rest, and have a good night."

Quickly pressing the send button before I can change my mind, I then bring my gaze up to his; "I told uncle Jeff he can give my number to Jason for Jace. Making a new friend can never hurt, right?" 

Blake raises his right eyebrow at me; "A new friend? Come on, Jup, he asked how you were, and took the time to find out if you were alright. I'm sure he wants to be more than friends." 

"Huh?" I dumbly asks with a frown, not understanding what he's implying.

Blake softly sighs at me with a fond shake of his head; "Dude, he wants to date you."

"Oh," I whisper, biting my lip in thought.