My cell phone rings around 5:45 in the fucking morning. I pick up just to make it stop. "Unh?"
"What's up?"
"Tyler?"
"I'm pretty sure that's my name. I'm almost certain you're dating my brother."
"What the fuck? Not even six in the morning. We're getting up in an hour or so. Josh'll call you back. Later."
"Wait! One question."
"Fuck. What?"
"When are you guys gonna be here?"
"Who said anything about me and the kids coming to Bowie?"

"Well, Josh said he was gonna drive eight fucking hours, spend all day yesterday, last night and today with you guys. I kinda figured it out."
"I know Josh will be back around three am, tomorrow. Gonna spend today with a friend of mine. Then he's gonna be on his way to Bowie."
"Alright. Just wish I could meet you."
"Soon enough, Ty, very soon." I smile and hang up.

45 minutes later the alarm on both our cell phones are going off. "Remind me why we're getting up this early." We turn the alarms off and face each other.
I give him a kiss. "To have the kids up and ready by 9, give us some time to wake up and shower before they get up around 8. On the road for ten. Could we stop in at Sasha's, so I can see my nieces and nephews? On the way back to Bowie?"
"No more than a half hour. I wanna get back to my grandmom's by 4:30 tomorrow morning."
"That's fine. I'll buzz her later and ask. Hmmmmnnnnn." I get on Facebook mobile and post on her wall. 'Sasher, is we cleared for a quick stop at your place today? Would like to see my nieces and nephews. Miss y'all!' "Let's shower, cassinova." I smile and he just smiles back, shaking his head.

"Justin called me that eight months ago."
"I know. I thought it was funny. C'mon, I wanna shower before the kids get up!"
"Or what?"
"No Thanksgiving lovin."

He jumps up and throws the blankets off him. "Let's go." He grabs my hand and pulls me to the bathroom for a shower. I giggle. "What?"
"I say no love and you jump up faster than I've ever seen anyone move."
"I can't help it if I'm addicted to you. That's one addiction I don't wanna kick. It's a healthy one too." He kisses me and smiles, playfully. I get in the shower, wash up, and shave before getting out. I wrap a towel around me and go get dressed. I throw my bag on my mom's bed, look for and find my fave jeans, a comfy tank top, thermal shirt, t-shirt, panties, and socks. I sit on the bed and get my clothes on. I snag JC's sweatshirt and put it on. I grab the dirty clothes and put them in a smaller bag that fits in my big bag. I put my shoes on and ask JC what he likes for coffee. "French vanilla, three sugars and five creams."

I roll my eyes and walk over to Gourmet Donuts to get our coffees, kids' drinks and enough donuts for breakfast. "Figures. I'm gonna get him addicted to Gourmet. When we come out this way again, he's gonna want their coffee." I walk into Gourmet, order his coffee, the kids' drinks and the donuts. I think about mine and shrug. "Could I also get an extra large iced caramel coffee with five extra pumps of caramel and a little sugar please?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." I hand her the money for the order and she makes my coffee. She gives me a tray for the drinks and the donuts in a box. I rest the drinks in the tray on the donuts to make it easier to carry. I come back in the house and JC is sitting at the table.
He sees me pass the side window and opens the doors for me. "That was quick. You didn't take either car."
"Didn't need to . It's only a couple doors away. What used to be Norm's right next door and then a few feet after that is Gourmet. Try it, their coffee is so fucking good. I love it."
He looks at the cups. He likes his hot in chilly weather. "Thanks, baby." He gives me a kiss.
"You're welcome. Try it."
He takes a sip and smiles. "I found the coffee shop I like where you're from."
I smile. "And they're cheap."
"I love this."
I smile. "You're a cheap date, you know that?"
"Hey, I like to save more money than I spend." He shrugs.
I kiss him. "I know. It's also why we agree on finances so easily."

His cell phone starts vibrating across the table. He looks at it. "Tyler's up before ten in the morning?"
"He called before five this morning."
"Why?" He reads the text message his brother sent. He laughs and lets me read the text message. "This is what he's been saying for the past month."

I read it. 'Josh, are you bringing my future wife with you?'
I laugh. "Can I answer it?"
"Sure."
I reply to his text with 'Only if you handle the fact that she loves me, calls you by my name and her kids continue to call you uncle XD'
He looks at me. "What'd you say?" I show him what I sent Tyler. "You gave yourself away with that smiley. Tyler says so." He hands me his cell phone again, silently telling me that Tyler is my problem till it's done.
I read the text. 'Funny, Sam. Smiley gave you away. So I take it I'll never get my chance?'
I giggle. 'Nope. 20 yr crush, sincerity, and the MAN your bro is-well, NOBODY can top or trump it.'
'Come on, mami. Test that.'
'Smh. 'Ler, not happenin. I'm too much for you to handle. Just be glad to call me family.'
'Damn. Do you even like me?'
'As a friend and my man's brother, but no more than that. Maybe one day I can call you my brother. Let's not rush that.'
'I guess I can deal with that'
'Hope so'
'Ttyl?'
'Sure, later, 'Ler.'