Brayden couldn’t stop talking about the cookout all
day, so as soon as he saw the guys come outside
he yelled into the house “Momma they’re there lets
go.” And was across the yard before I could stop
him. I shook my head as I followed him to find
Justin swinging him around in circles making
Brayden giggle. I smiled “I’m sorry guys he’s been
so excited all day that he’s been waiting on the
patio for you guys to come outside.”I said. “Don’t
worry about it you guys are welcome here whenever
you want.”J.C. said. “Thanks.”I said smiling at him.
“Well since you’re here you might as well stick
around.”Lance said as he caught the football Chris
threw at him. “I guess.”I sighed as Lynn walked out
into the yard. “Abby hey! Glad you could make
it.”Lynn said grinning at me. “Well I didn’t really
have a choice did I?”I said glaring at her making
her laugh. “Momma daddy and I are going to play
catch come play with us!”Brayden exclaimed
running over to me. “Uh… Why don’t you play with
daddy and I’ll come over in a little bit.”I said
glancing up at Justin. “Okay.”Brayden said not
fazed by my hesitation. “Things still tense between
you two?”J.C. asked sitting down beside me. “Yeah,
I mean I know how I feel, but all I know about him
is that he said he was upset over the situation and
he didn’t know how long it would take him to get
over it.”I said quietly making sure Justin wasn’t
listening. “I really wouldn’t worry about it he’s
beating himself up over it.”J.C. said as I looked at
him in disbelief. “I find that really hard to believe.”I
said as Lynn jumped in “It’s true, he’s just
stubborn.”Lynn almost sang as she flitted by. I
shook my head as the conversation drifted to a
lighter subject. A little bit later after the
guys had calmed down some and decided it was
time to start the food Chris exclaimed that the
steak and burgers were done. I reluctantly got up
and walked over to where everyone else was
standing. “Brayden what do you want?”I asked
turning around to see that Justin was already
getting his plate. “I got it.”Justin said. I just nodded
as I quickly turned around trying to find something
to busy myself with. “Here.”J.C. chuckled as he
handed me a plate. I smiled in thanks and turned
back around to get my food. By then time I was
done getting my food the only place left to sit was
beside Justin, and J.C. and Lynn just sat there
grinning at me. I swear if looks could kill they’d
both be dead right now. I sighed as I sat down and
tried to focus on my food and not Justin. He
seemed to be avoiding me too, but I wasn’t sure if
I was glad for it or more disappointed. I finished
eating and impatiently waited for someone else to
finish also so I had an excuse to get up. Finally
after what seemed like forever Lynn finished and
got up and started to clean up. I immediately
jumped up and offered to help her. “Sure.”Lynn
smiled as we started to carry things into the house.
Just then Lynn’s phone started ringing. “Oh I have
to take this.” Lynn said “Justin will you come in here
and help Abby clean up?” Lynn yelled out the door
before disappearing into the other room. Justin
sighed knowing he couldn’t tell his mom no and got
up and slowly walked into the house. “Uh…I don’t
really know where anything goes.”I said not looking
up at him. “Yeah I’ll show you.”Justin said walking
over to me. I turned around from putting the plate
of burgers into the fridge and ran right into Justin’s
chest. “You better watch were you’re going.”Justin
smiled down at me as he caught me. “I …uh…
yeah.”I stuttered staring back up at him. We both
just stood there staring at each other until finally
after what seemed like a million years Justin slowly
brought his head down and captured my lips in a
kiss. I slowly reached up wrapping my arms around
his neck as I gave into him and kissed him back
deepening it. A soft moan escaped Justin’s lip as he
slowly pulled back. We stared at each other for a
minute before everything finally registered.
Suddenly Justin let me go backing away from me. “I
….I can’t….I…uh…gotta go.”Justin stuttered as he
turned around and bolted up the stairs leaving me
standing in the kitchen speechless with tears
forming in my eyes.