Okay, so I was suppose to go to Orlando this week, but since there is a hurricane on it's way, I'm stuck at home. I really needed the vacation, but hopefully I will reschedule. I also needed some time with the husband. So here is a long chapter for your enjoyment. If I get enough reviews, I should have a new chapter up by the end of the long weekend. It just depends on you. Thanks again for reading Enjoy.
Madison and Ephram were sitting next to each other at the blackjack table. Madison had a mound of chips in front of her and Ephram had a very short stack of chips. Ephram looked at his watch, it was 2 in the morning. Madison noticed Ephram looking at his watch.
"Ready to go?" Madison asked.
"Absolutely, I can't win tonight."
The dealer cashed them out and they left.
On the drive home, Madison fell asleep and Ephram was left to fend for himself and stay awake. When they got back to his apartment, he woke her up.
"What time is it?" Madison said rubbing her face to wake up.
"It's almost 4."
"Can I use the bathroom before I head home?"
"Absolutely."
They went up to his apartment. Ephram put on a pot of coffee while Madison was in the bathroom. Madison came out of the bathroom just as the he was turning the television on.
"Aren't you tired?" She walked over to him by the television.
"Not really."
"Well, I guess I better be going."
Ephram walked over to her, "You want a cup of coffee. It should be ready in a few minutes."
"No that's okay. I need to go home and go to bed."
"That's probably what I should be doing too."
"I had a really good time tonight Ephram."
Ephram smiled and said, "I did too."
Madison hesitated saying anything else and then leaned in and gave him a kiss on his lips.
"It was nice just spending time you like we did in Everwood."
"Except now, it's legal."
Madison let out a slight laugh. "True."
"Let me walk you out to the car."
They walked out to the car and Ephram held open the door for Madison.
"Now are you sure you can make it home?" Ephram questioned.
"I'm sure."
"Just checking."
"I'm fine."
"Okay, then. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah." Madison gave him a smile that made him smile.
Ephram took the initiative this time and leaned in and kissed her ever so softly on her lips. Madison got into the car and Ephram was about to close the door.
"How about I make dinner for us tonight? We can all watch a movie together."
Madison was hesitant to accept so quickly. "Well, I sort of already had plans for tonight, but I can change them."
"Look, it was just an idea. If you already have plans, that's fine."
"What time?"
"Six, okay?"
"Six." She nodded firmly in agreement.
Madison left and Ephram went back inside and went to sleep. He picked up Jake at 2 and they went to the grocery store.
"Daddy, why are we at the grocery store?"
Ephram had grabbed over of the carts for the kids that had a vehicle on the front of it and Jake was inside the vehicle.
"I'm cooking dinner for you and me and Mommy."
"Mommy's coming over for dinner." Jake stuck his head out the side and looked at his dad.
"Yep and I need your help. What does Mommy like to eat?"
"She likes meatloaf but I hate meatloaf. I never eat all of it when she makes it."
"Okay, no meatloaf. What else does she like?"
"She likes spaghetti. We have it every week."
"Then spaghetti it is."
They were walking by the florist area in the store and Ephram got an idea.
"How 'bout you give Mommy a rose when she comes over?"
"Why?" Jake said bluntly.
"Because that's what boys do to be nice to girls."
"Okay."
Ephram grabbed a red rose, which was wrapped with tissue. They finished getting all of the ingredients and headed to the video store to get videos – two for Jake and one for Ephram and Madison. When they got home, Ephram started getting ready to cook and he let Jake help him bake chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
By the time he got the spaghetti going it was 5:00 and Ephram needed to still take a shower.
"Jake, I'm going to go take a shower, okay? Just watch cartoons and I'll be out in a few minutes okay."
Jake was so mesmerized by the cartoons that he just yelled back, "Okay."
Ephram came out of his bedroom about 20 minutes later and Jake was still sitting in the same place he was before Ephram went into take his shower. He went over by Jake and started putting some of his toys into his toy box and Jake looked at him.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm." Ephram said picking up Jake's toys.
"Why did you get all cleaned up for dinner?"
"I just wanted to that's all. By the way, can you do me a favor and pick up your toys in your room a little bit so Mommy doesn't think I let you go crazy while you're here with me."
"I'm watching cartoons."
"Jake, please, this one time okay?"
"Why are you picking up for Mommy?"
"Because she is going to be our guest and it's just the nice thing to do."
"Do boys always have to be this nice?"
"Absolutely. Especially around girls."
"Girls are so mean though."
Ephram finished picking up the toys and was heading toward the kitchen. "Not all girls are mean. Mommy's a girl, is she mean?"
"Sometimes."
"Yeah and I'm sure she's mean when you cause her to be mean."
Jake didn't respond to Ephram.
"See, I knew it. Now, go pick up your toys. Mommy should be here soon."
Jake ran into his room and Ephram could here him throwing his toys into his toy bin.
Ephram got the salad ready and put it on the table and put the garlic bread into the oven. As Ephram was pulling the milk jug out of the fridge, Jake came running into the kitchen.
"All done."
"Good deal. Now, take these glasses to the table for me please."
"We never eat at the table."
"Well, Mommy's coming over so we are."
Jake went and put the glasses on the table and he went back to the kitchen and watched Ephram running around crazily trying to make sure everything was going well when the doorbell rang. Ephram and Jake looked at each other.
"Go answer the door."
Jake ran opened the door. Madison was standing there in some jeans and a white sleeveless button down top.
"Hey, Mommy."
"Hey, Jake."
Madison walked in and saw that Ephram was putting the salad on the table. Ephram looked at Madison and then at Jake who was standing beside her.
"Jake, you forgot to giving your Mom something."
"Oh, right." Jake ran to the counter and grabbed the rose and ran back to Madison. "This is for you."
Madison took the rose and smelled it. "Thank you so much, Jake. That was very nice of you."
"Daddy said boys are suppose to be nice to girls."
Madison looked at Ephram and they smiled at one another.
"That's right, sweetie. You're suppose to."
"Well, dinner's ready."
They all went and sat down at the table and ate. Jake was the center of attention talking about what he and Jimmy did the night before. When they were done, Ephram put in one of the movies Jake had picked out and Ephram went back into the kitchen to clean up. Madison saw Ephram cleaning the dishes off the table and followed him into the kitchen.
"Need any help."
"I got it." Ephram was loading the dishwasher.
Madison leaned against the counter. "This feels really weird."
Ephram turned and looked at her. "Yeah."
"I mean, we're acting like we're friends."
Ephram started walking over to her. "Do you not want to be friends?"
"What do you want?"
"I want..."
Jake came yelling into the kitchen and interrupted Ephram. "Come on. Aren't you gonna watch the movie with me?"
"Sorry, sweetie." Jake pulled on Madison's hand they left the kitchen.
Ephram went into the den about 10 minutes later and Jake was laying down on the floor watching the movie and Madison was sitting on the couch. Ephram sat down in the recliner next to the couch.
An hour later the movie was over and Jake had passed out on the floor. Ephram went and picked him up off the floor and took him to bed. Madison went to the kitchen and started looking for something to drink.
Ephram stood at the edge of the kitchen watching Madison, "Find anything interesting?"
"Hey, just looking for something to drink."
"I see."
"I got us a movie to watch if you want to stay."
"What type of movie did you get us?"
"A horror movie."
"I see someone doesn't forget details."
Madison handed him a beer from the top shelf of the refrigerator.
"Got any popcorn?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
Ephram made some popcorn and they walked back into the den. Ephram put the movie in and went and sat beside Madison on the couch. Ephram and Madison looked at each other.
"You're right, this is weird." Ephram said.
"Look, let's just watch the movie."
While they were watching the movie, Madison picked up a piece of popcorn and discreetly threw it at Ephram while keeping eye contact with the TV. Ephram took the piece of popcorn and threw it back at her. They smiled at one another. Madison threw another piece at him.
"Popcorn goes in your mouth like this." He threw a piece of popcorn in his mouth.
"Really, like this." Madison took a handful of popcorn and shoved it into Ephram's mouth.
Ephram spit some out and coughed. He then proceeded to take a piece of popcorn and shoved it into Madison's mouth. Madison bit down on his finger before he could pull it out. Then he threw a hand full of popcorn at her and then she threw some back. They tried to be quiet but it wasn't working. Madison ran into the kitchen trying to get away and Ephram kept throwing popcorn. He cornered her by the counter and grabbed her and shoved some popcorn into her mouth.
"Gotcha." Ephram said.
Madison just smiled at him; they were inches apart. Ephram wanted to kiss her so much, she just looked so good and they were getting along so well. He hesitated too long for Madison's liking so she took advantage of the moment and grabbed his head in her hands and pulled him into a kiss. Ephram responded by wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. He let out a moan of enjoyment and Madison smiled as she kissed him. Madison opened her mouth and Ephram let his tongue roam her mouth like it did several months before, except this time it was different. Ephram trailed down her neck with kisses to her collarbone. Madison started pulling Ephram's shirt out of his pants and Ephram moved his hands to Madison's shirt and started unbuttoning it. They looked at one another breathing heavily.
Ephram spoke first, "We never finished the conversation from earlier."
"I think I got your answer."
Madison leaned up and kissed him again and she started undoing his belt as he was finishing unbuttoning her shirt. Ephram started to take her shirt off of her when Jake started screaming.
Ephram pulled away and Madison looked disappointed. Madison started buttoning up her shirt, "I'll take care of him." Madison kissed him one last time. "Don't go anywhere. We're not done talking."
