The Elaborate Parent Trap

Chapter Four

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Chris made her way around the kitchen island and to the door, opening it. "Hey! Come on in." Chris greeted when she saw Matt and River standing there. "Jade is up in her room if you want to go play," Chris told River.

"Thank you!" He said excitedly, running up the stairs to play.

"Did you want a coffee or a drink?" Chris asked Matt moving back around the counter.

"I'd love a coffee, thanks." He replied with a smile.

Meanwhile, sitting over on the stairs, River and Jade were watching closely. "Being sick didn't work. Think this might?" River asked.

"I hope so. Maybe you can invite us to your house next?" Jade asked.

"Okay. I heard Daddy telling Uncle Brian about your Mommy yesterday, called her pretty." River grinned.

"Mommy was talking to my Auntie Echo and said she really liked your Daddy. Mommy said they've been texting a lot too." Jade smirked.

"Daddy told Uncle Bri the same thing. We gotta keep doing this Jay Jay. It's gonna work soon." River said excitedly.

The kids ran off before bursting into fits of giggles inside her room. Downstairs, Chris and Matt sat across from each other at her kitchen island. "I hope I'm not overstepping, but Jadelyn told me that River's mom isn't around. I just wanted to say I'm glad she found a friend she could relate to. She hasn't had her dad around in six years since he left, so it's nice for her to have a friend she can talk to." Chris told Matt, feeling bad for even saying it but Matt nodded.

"Not overstepping, I was going to say the same thing. Riv's mom left about seven years ago, it's just been us since. I'm glad too that he and Jade can talk and connect like this." Matt replied. Chris nodded and sipped her tea slowly when Matt spoke again. "I uh, I'm sorry about Jade's dad. You deserve better." Matt said.

Chris blushed and looked down into her mug. "Thank you. Same to you with River's mom. You seem like a really good guy Matt." Chris told him.

"Thanks," Matt replied and the conversation tapered off a little until Matt coughed and broke the slightly awkward silence. "So, how have you been?" He asked.

"Good, shop has been busy this week, hoping for a bit of a slow down soon, to be honest. I love the cash flow, but my hands and back hate me." Chris laughed, thankful for the change of subject. "How about you?" She asked.

"Good, recording has been going good so that's a plus. Aside from that just been hanging out with the guys and my parents." Matt shrugged. "Did you get past that part in Gears four that you were stuck on?" Matt asked with a smirk remembering her raging through text the night before.

"I don't wanna talk about it," Chris grumbled but laughed.

"I can help if you want?" Matt offered.

"That would be fantastic thank you." Chris laughed and waved for him to follow her into the living room.

She set them up for co-op and as the save loaded, she went and put lunch in the oven. As lunch cooked, Matt and Christina got caught up in their co-op game. Everyone had lunch when it was ready before the kids ran back off, Chris and Matt went back to their game.

"You killed us!" Chris exclaimed pushing him with her shoulder about twenty minutes later.

"Nu-uh! You did!" Matt argued back laughing as he pushed her back gently.

"Did not! Look, it says Player two!" Chris exclaimed, laughing as she playfully pushed him again.

She turned to look at him and found he was inches from her face, already looking at her, that damned dimpled smile, turning her cheeks red. Matt looked away quickly and so did Chris, just as little feet came running into the room. "Mommy! Can we go get ice cream?" Jade asked.

"Please Daddy!" River pleaded.

Matt cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah, we can go get ice cream." He nodded looking back at Chris.

"Yeah, let's go." She nodded, thinking to herself how thankful she was for the kids' distraction.

The two escorted their kids out to their vehicles and buckled them in. "Where did you want to go?" She asked Matt.

"The one down at the pier?" Matt offered.

Chris nodded and said, she would just follow him. So, she tailgated Matt all the way down to a cute little place down at the pier where they parked and climbed out. They made their way to a picnic table when Matt asked what everyone wanted. "I'll get ours Matt it's okay," Chris told him.

"No, I've got it. What do you want?" He asked.

"Vanilla!" Jade exclaimed happily.

"Just a chocolate please," Chris said shaking her head, just inherently knowing not to argue with the man.

Matt nodded and wandered off to get the ice cream as the kids chatting happily, debating why their favourite was the best over the other's choice. Chris shook her head and was laughing at their tiny argument when Matt returned, handing out the ice cream to everyone. They ate in a comfortable silence, before taking the kids for a small walk down to the park. Matt and Christina talked quite a bit, both learning new things about one another, like how they both enjoyed golf. Matt loved video games just as much as Christina, however, their opinions differed on their favourite game.

Finally, it was getting dark and it was time to say goodbye. The kids bid their goodbyes as Matt and Christina got them buckled into their seats. "I had a really good time today, it's nice to be able to have a friend that doesn't care about the fame." Matt smiled.

"It was a lot of fun; the kids seem to have enjoyed it a lot too." Chris smiled.

Matt reached out and pulled the tiny woman to his chest in a hug. Chris was slightly startled but hugged him back before pulling away. "Goodnight Chris." Matt bid, as he went to climb into his truck.

"Goodnight Matt." She replied, climbing into her own truck.

Jadelyn was already asleep in the back seat and Chris waved to Matt as he drove away before tipping her head back against her seat. "Fuck." She sighed, knowing this wasn't good.

She had a crush on her daughter's best friend's dad... This couldn't end well...