Little Casey wobbled across the beach in tiny red shorts, a blue vest top and a black sun hat with striped sunglasses to match. "See? I told you the glasses and the hat were too big for him!" Kyle cried as he and Ricky walked along the beach.
"What so he should get sunburnt instead?" Ricky replied, carrying her sandals in one hand. Her beige maxi dress flowed down to her feet.
"He's 1! You can't keep him wrapped in cotton wool forever!"
"Actually..." Ricky said, motioning for Kyle to give her back her bag. She took out some sunblock. "I think I should put some more on him don't cha reckon?"
Kyle shook his head and walked off to pick his nephew up in his arms. Casey squealed with delight as Ricky looked on smiling at the two of them. After all the drama, they'd been through over the past year it was nice to finally get some normalcy back into their lives. It was devastating finding out that Brax had deceived them but the way they'd got through it was by supporting each other. Kyle tickled Casey and he was overcome with giggles, tugging on to his Uncle's black t-shirt. Yes, this is what life was meant to be like. She suddenly felt a pang of sadness. What it could've been like if Brax were still around...
Later on, the three of them decided to pass through Angelo's. "It's your day off Kyle you couldn't just relax?"
"Managers can't relax! Not with all that needs to be done." He replied.
"Well aren't you lucky to have me to help you then?"
Kyle smiled, looking at Ricky intently, "Yes I am."
Phoebe interrupted the moment. She was about to walk past the table the trio were on when Ricky called out her name.
"Hey Ric, hey little guy how's it going?" She picked Casey up and spun him around.
"Careful now. He's just eaten, haven't you Case?"
"Yup wouldn't want him chucking up all over you." Kyle said.
"He's so adorable, I don't think I could stay mad at him." Phoebe replied as she gave Casey back to Kyle to hold.
"So...are you here to see Ash?" Ricky asked.
Kyle tensed a bit.
"Yeah...yeah, we were gonna hang out for lunch." Phoebe said.
"Oh cool. Well I hope you guys have fun. I'm off to the little girl's room."
After Ricky left there was an awkward silence between Phoebe and Kyle. Phoebe couldn't stand it any longer so decided to make conversation.
"So...how's work?"
"Good...hard sometimes but of course you know that."
"Casey's lucky to have you."
"He's a great kid." Kyle said, affectionately rubbing Casey's head as he played with a toy.
"And you and Ricky are coping alright..you know with everything about Brax?"
"He's gone. We're all happy just to get on with our lives. It's for the best really."
"What? That Brax is gone?" Phoebe was taken aback.
"Noooo...the way things worked out. Casey, me, Ricky. We're family and we wouldn't have got through it without each other."
"You mean you wouldn't have got through it without Ricky?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kyle retorted.
Phoebe took a deep breath before responding. "Kyle...I've been meaning to say this for a while but Ash told me to stay out of it. You're my friend, despite all our ups and downs you and deserve the truth."
"And what is the truth according to you?" Kyle could feel his pulse racing.
"You're spending all this time with Casey and Ricky and...I think it's unhealthy."
"Excuse me? Did you not just hear me say that we're FAMILY?" His voice rose as he spoke.
"Calm down Kyle. I meant that...look you're not Brax. This little scenario you're playing out with Ricky is not real. You're gonna get hurt."
"Brax was - is my brother and he's not here but I am. All I'm doing is taking care of Casey and Ricky just like he'd always wanted me to." He replied defensively.
"Look whatever, fine. I just thought you should know that you're playing with fire and you're gonna get burnt. But obviously, as always you're stubborn and you won't listen."
"Well keep your advice to yourself next time." Kyle snarled just as Ricky returned. She sensed the tension between them.
"Is everything ok here?"
"Yeah, it's all good. You ready to go?"
Ricky nodded. They packed up their things and set off.
"See ya later Phoebs!" Ricky called back.
"See ya Ric!" Phoebe replied as she sat waiting for Ash.
When they finally arrived home, Casey was fast asleep and things were awkward as they'd travelled in silence.
"Are you alright Kyle?"
"Yeah...are you?"
"Yup it's just you've been quiet the whole way back."
"I'm just tired that's all Ricky."
But she wouldn't let it go and kept asking him questions as he put Casey into his cot.
"Nothing happened at Angelo's with Phoebe." Kyle insisted.
"Oh really? 'Cos when I left you guys were fine and when I came back you could barely look at each other."
"What took you so long anyway?" Kyle asked, trying to change the subject.
Ricky smiled, "I ran into Ash after I came out so we had a chat, stop avoiding my questions!"
"Ok fine!" Kyle cried, in a whisper as not to wake Casey. "She thinks that...you, Casey and I are playing happy families."
Ricky was quiet before responding with "and what do you think?"
"I think it's ridiculous." Kyle said as he went to sit on the sofa.
"You're lying." Ricky said.
"Why are we even having this conversation? Brax is my brother-"
"Kyle..." Ricky walked over to the sofa, sat down and placed her hand on his.
"Maybe she's right."
"Have you spoken to her?"
"Yes...at first I was angry but then I realised she was right."
Kyle couldn't believe everything that was coming out of Ricky ' s mouth. Did she really believe Phoebe? Did he? It was so confusing. He just wanted to be loyal to his brother but then one look at Ricky and he'd find himself gazing at how beautiful she was. He admired her strength, her courage. Still he wasn't prepared to betray his brother.
"I feel the same way." Ricky said, interrupting his thoughts.
Kyle put his head in his hands his heart was pounding. "Kyle, look at me."
"I can't."
"Kyle. Look. At. Me."
Kyle glanced up at Ricky. Seizing the moment, Ricky leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips. After the kiss ended, they had their heads against each other.
"We can't do this." Kyle whispered.
"Why not?" Ricky replied. "Brax was selfish. He went after Dean even though I told him not to. He ended up in prison and then he broke out. He faked his own death and decided to take off without us. He abandoned us Kyle, both of us! We were going through hell and he didn't even care..."
Ricky voice began to break as tears streamed down her cheeks. Kyle broke away from her and got up, heading towards the door. Ricky followed him.
"Where are you going?"
"I can't do this."
"Isn't this what you've always wanted Kyle? To have a family? Well here we are, ok? Don't you want to be apart of our lives?"
Everything Kyle had been keeping locked in his heart; everything he'd been battling with came pouring out suddenly.
"You think I don't want to be selfish too? You think I'm not hurt at what Brax did to us? Yes! It was awful! My life was on a downward spiral for months and to find out it was all for nothing..."
He hesitated. Ricky reached for him but he stepped back. "Then there was you and Casey. I had to think about taking care of both you like Brax wanted me to. And all the while I was falling in love with you."
He turned around, feeling ashamed at what he'd said. Ricky took his hand and turned him back to face her.
"Forget about Brax. Forget about Phoebe or even Ash. Tell me Kyle, what do you want?"
He touched her face before pulling her in closer. "You."
