Best Friend
Chapter 17 - With Open Arms
R-M
* Sorry for the delayed update. I literally keep running out of space in my FF library, and the process of deleting and restoring is a pain in the ass for me. So, I had space for this chapter. I have written three more chapters to follow this, but they need editing and this FF library needs to get dealt with lol.
* Please Enjoy and thank you as always for reading my stories and supporting me!
Bonnie flew in with Dylan and Ginny late Sunday night. Mason told her he couldn't pick them up because he was out with clients. "Hey Bon, we can catch an über together." Ginny said.
"Sure." She said gloomily.
Ginny gently tapped Bonnie's arm, "Hey, Bon. It's okay to express hurt. Or anger. Please. Don't shut down now that we are home."
"I know. Honestly. I'm not hurt, Gin. I'm used to it. I just thought, he'd see how amazing Damon was, and maybe I would come home and he'd be...different."
"Bonnie, you don't have to stay alone tonight. Why don't you and Dylan come home with me. You can use my car in the morning to get home. Or I can drop you off if you don't have to leave at the butt crack of dawn." She laughed. Knowing Bonnie's days started early.
"Thanks Gin. I think we can manage to sleep in tomorrow."
...
Bonnie trickled in, the next day during the afternoon, with Dylan and Ginny. Mason was sitting on the couch waiting for her, with a less than pleasant welcome. They were chuckling as they walked in, Ginny with a pastrami sandwiches and Bonnie with vegetarian chili cheese fries. Bonnie hadn't recognized Mason was there in the darkness, because he didn't open the blinds, and they walked straight to the table dropping all of Bonnie and Dylan's bags by the door. They left with two bags and came home with five. No thanks to Abby and Damon having spoiled them while they were visiting.
"Ugh. I'm starving. We literally sat in our pajamas until noon. Gosh, it's been a while since I've done that." Bonnie said.
"Me too. I can't wait to eat." Ginny said. As they sat down, Bonnie headed for the kitchen to grab some napkins and plates. She reached up on her toes to get plates, and a larger arm reached over her.
"Why didn't you come home last night?" He startled her.
"Oh, Mase. Sorry, we stayed with Ginny. It was late and didn't make sense to catch two different cars."
"You could've called, or said something."
"I'm sorry. I left a voicemail before my phone died. Check your voicemail."
"Bon, my voicemails are flooded with business calls. Which I don't check until I'm in the office. Why would you leave a voicemail?"
"Mase, you weren't home anyways. Why should we have come home alone?"
"I was here by three am. You knew it was business." He was getting frustrated.
"You know, I have company. So, I'm not discussing is right now."
"Seems like you can speak correctly again! Good! I was sick of all that country grammar." He said with an attitude. He walked away from her and into the bedroom slamming the door.
Bonnie walked out into the dining room with a flustered look on her face. She took a seat next to Ginny, who was wondering what was happening next. "It's okay, Ginny. Let's eat. I'm starving and I don't have time to pander to a grown man acting like a baby."
They started to eat, and Mason walked out of the bedroom. "Seriously. A baby? I was worried. I didn't work out today or go to the office. It's called consideration. Then you're sitting here stuffing your face with garbage."
Ginny ate quietly.
"Mason! Get out!"
"What?"
"You heard me. Get out. I'm sitting here with my son and my best friend, trying to collect myself after a month of being gone. A month which you were supposed to have spent seven days with me, and you didn't. It's been a long few weeks. So, if you can't relax with us and just enjoy us being home, then leave. Don't come back until you have a better attitude."
"Whoa." Ginny whispered to herself. "I'm going to go check Dylan's diaper." Ginny picked Dylan up and walked him to his bedroom which he never used to give them space.
"So, what? You go to that old country town of yours, and come back and forget how to act? Suddenly, you lost your mind, speaking to me like I'm a child." He asked angrily.
"I'm not speaking to you like a child. I'm just sick of your backhanded comments. Mason, you never came back for my mother's wedding. You made your business priority over my sons first circus trip."
"Our son."
"No, Mason." She said frankly. "If he was your son, his first circus trip would've meant more. His father sat there with him the entire time, and watched the twinkle in his eyes. Listened to his oohs and aahs. And clapped next to him. Your priority, was not Dimitri."
"Dylan. His name is Dylan. Dimitri is his middle name. And why suddenly is he Dimitri? And suddenly my job is an issue? This is how it's always been."
"No, his name is Dimitri Dylan, and it's not sudden. It's always been his name. Dylan has always been his middle name slash nickname. It's my fault for never letting you know that. But, understand… I spent three weeks vouching for you with my family. With Damon. I kept telling them what an amazing father figure you have been to him, and you go and act like neither of us mattered the entire time you were there, which was literally, only three days Mason, because you cut our time short. You couldn't manage, for three days, to make us a priority? Don't have me fighting this battle alone."
"My job is my priority. It takes care of us."
But, even if your business is always your priority, it's no longer acceptable to me, that it constantly comes before our family. I've never put my job before you and Dylan. Hints me going to Europe for us, as a family. It means I have to stop working and support your career. I've done that once before, it did not work in my favor. It left me alone all of the time."
"Well, your job doesn't pay as well as mine, so, it only makes sense. And you need to take care of Dylan. It's fucking Europe Bon. Any woman would want this. You seem to be getting side tracked with the idea that, I'm going to slow down tomorrow."
At that point Ginny walks out of the room with Dylan. "We'll finish this conversation later." She said.
He looked at her and left. Slamming the door behind him. Bonnie looked at Ginny who was ready to comfort her, before she lost her mind. "What?" Bonnie asked feeling refreshed.
"You good, Bon? You need to talk?"
"No. I'm perfectly good. Let's eat." She smiled and got her son in his seat and opened the blinds and sat and had lunch with her son and his God mother.
It was quiet for a few minutes and Ginny looked at Bonnie, until they made eye contact. Bonnie spoke after holding in a breath. "Gaaaah, that felt sooo good." She said and they both laughed.
"Gah-lee. Girl. I felt good for you. Man, was it a long time coming or what?" Ginny rubbed her friend's shoulder smiling.
"I don't know, Gin. Honestly, after you and my mom speaking about it, I gave it a lot of thought. It was difficult to see myself the way I never wanted to. Listen, when I watched my mom, or other women in these situations, it's always easy to say what I would do if I were them. Or how they should handle it better. But the truth is, until it is you, you don't always see it. It's easy for people to say how pathetic, or how stupid, until it's them. We all want happiness in this world. So, when we are screwing up, it's better someone you love just be honest with you. Both you, my mother, and Doodle said something."
"What did he say?"
Bonnie laughed. "He was very respectful, actually. He told me that, he could say a lot, but he won't. He accepted my happiness but let me know I deserved better. And he told me whenever I was ready to hear the truth, to just ask him."
"Now that you look at you and Mason, what do you see?"
"I thought I was holding it together all these years. I thought I was checking everything off my list. College, career, money, fiancé, sky-rise, expensive pre-school, but... it's never been me. I'm a small-town girl. I love houses in the country, big backyards, fishing, flowers, country-line dancing and karaoke. Hell, Target, was uppity to me when I was growing up. But, I loved target. I still do. I have no idea what I'm doing Ginny. I didn't realize how, one-sided my relationship was. I thought I was... I don't know, being the opposite of what I grew up with. So, I held on to it. I didn't think it was wrong. I thought it was right because it was everything I didn't have with my momma and daddy."
"Bonnie, you can have your country life, and family."
"My career Ginny. I went away to school for this. I gained my independence."
"You can have both."
"Mason doesn't want what I want."
"Then what keeps you holding on?"
"I love him. He sees my potential. He sees that I can be amazing." She shook her head and laughed. "I just always wanted a partner that supported my dreams the same way I supported theirs. Now... pass me that coke." Bonnie took a large gulp and hummed. "It's not a crime to eat like this once a month, is it?"
"Not at all." Both girls stuffed their faces with chilly cheese fries. "Oh gosh." Ginny said savoring her bite.
"Who are you tellin' girl, this too shall pass. We are running at the gym tomorrow. Today, we suffer jet lag and time change, and stuff our faces with junk food."
"Tomorrow is going to suck."
"Yeah. It is."
.x.
A week later...
"Mike, I miss your face. I'm not sure how you did it, but, You, literally made me, miss your bearded face."
Mike, man-giggled in the phone. "I don't have a bearded face. My face is smooth and my cleft chin is prominent. I hadn't done PT, in two weeks. So, I will be bustin' my ass for the next few weeks before I get my first group of cadets this summer."
"Wow. That sounds entirely too sexy. Physical training and a sweaty body."
"You know, I am kind of sexy. Especially with a buzz cut." He said sarcastically.
"Oh no, you cut your hair too?"
"I did. I'm sorry. Now you feel like you need to run for the hills, right?"
"Not at all. I'm curious as to what you look like all cleaned up."
"Ginny?"
"Yes, Mike?"
"I was thinking, I'm sure glad I met you. That last week with you was so easy going. Bird and Sal, are my family. As long as I've known them, they are some of the only people, who make me feel like family, from the get go. She's like a sister to me, and I can see why you two are friends. My point is, I felt comfortable with you. It felt right."
"I feel the same. Just laughing and joking, like you're a friend. It was easy going. It's hard to have that with men these days without jumping right into sex."
"Yeah, well, like I said, your pace."
"This long-distance thing is... going to make it tough.
"So, maybe we should make a plan for that second date. You know the one I owe you." He said.
"Really, okay?" She smiled into the cell phone. "How about I come to Blacksburg?"
"I was thinking I come out to LA?"
"LA? Really?"
"Yeah, unless you have roommates or something?"
"Ummm, I don't... but..."
"Oh shit, I was presumptuous. I can stay at a hotel."
"Well, I mean, why come to LA?"
"I've never been there. I'm from Georgia. Hell, I've never been to the west coast."
"Okay. I need adequate time, I mean, I just started training, so my days are busy. But..."
"Ginny, relax. We'll figure it out. How's your schedule in the next couple of weeks?"
"Much lighter than it will be in the Summer." She smiled and didn't let it crack a sound in her voice. Ginny wanted to pretend to not be excited.
"Good, because, I'm busy this summer with my cadets. So, it would have to be the next few weeks." He was looking at his rigid work schedule, and going through his calendar on his phone. She was texting Bonnie while he sat quietly looking at his schedule.
G- OMG! Mike's coming to LA
B- OMG! What when?
G- IDK. Less than a month... fuck... Bon? Wtf?
B- Aren't you happy?
G- Hell yeah. But nerves, like a MF
B- Don't worry, I gotchu boo!
G- K. Call you 2mrow K?
B- K. Love u
G- Love u2
Ginny was silently gloating and smiling to herself, as Mike was looking over his schedule.
"Okay, Gin, you there?"
"Yup, still here." She plays it too casual.
"May, good for you?"
"Yeah, anytime in May."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll start looking into hotels."
"Yeah. Totes. Sounds good." She bit her bottom lips in genuine excitement.
Two weeks after leaving Mystic Falls
Bonnie giggled as she played with Dylan. They'd been down to the park every other day for the past two weeks. The small park in front of the condominiums they lived in. He loved running from her the most and they'd been running around for almost forty-five minutes.
"Oh, gosh baby boy. Momma, needs a break. We've got to go make dinner. Come on."
Dylan fought her every step of the way, running to the swings and begging for a push by tugging on it. "No, baby boy, it's getting later, and we still need to take a bath." She lifted him up and carried him into the building awaiting the elevator. She left her phone upstairs, making it a point to spend some uninterrupted time playing with her son. This helped him to fall asleep every night, like Damon had told her. When she reached her place, and walked in, she had several missed calls from Mason. She rolled her eyes. After their fight, two weeks ago, he left and hadn't been back. She hadn't see him at the gym, and he didn't call to to say anything. She bought to call him back when her phone rang. "Doodle? Saved by the bell."
Damon had called her every day to speak to her and Dylan. But normally he called in the afternoon, not the evening. "Hey, you normally call earlier in the day."
"Sorry, baby girl, I was caught up looking at a plot of land today."
"Land?"
"Yeah, baby girl. I told you, I was buying a house."
"Gosh, sounds so exciting. A house, in the country. Ohh. One day." She sighed.
"One day what?"
"Wishful thinking buys me a house in the country."
"Maybe leave that expensive apartment you live in, and go put that money towards your wishful thinking." She smiled into the phone, listening to him.
"Maybe I will... one day."
"Hell, I looked into the cost of living in LA, and you can get a house, in Virginia, for half the cost of the place your livin' right now. Not just any house, but 4,500 square foot house on a couple acres of land." He caught her off guard with his observation. "I mean, you live in 1,800 square feet, right now. With no land, or ownership to it."
"Doodle, why were you comparing cost of livin' between Los Angeles and Mystic Falls?"
"Oh, uhh, well I mean, I just thought about possibly...nevermind. Point is, your over payin' where you're at. With absolutely no yard."
"Doodle, I know." She sighed, feeling guilty. "Hey I need to wash a couple dishes so I can cook dinner. I'm gone, put you on FaceTime with Dimitri, while he sits in his high chair. Okay?" Damon's Facetime session with his son, definitely made up for Mason's lack of communication with Dylan, as he hadn't called or spoken to his soon to be step son.
"Alright, baby girl. Let me get outside on the porch, so he can see this little dog that I've been feedin' everyday."
"A dog doodle?"
"Yes, I named him Puppy.
"Puppy, that's cute."
"Yeah, I figured it'd be easy for Dimitri to say. But, this little guy ain't got no home. He comes around every evening."
"Oh, I forgot, your three hours ahead. Okay hold on." She put the phone on FaceTime and let her son look at it, watching his dad, and listening. She washed dishes listening to Damon speak to Dylan. First, he made funny noises. For a few minutes making Dylan laugh. Then he showed him the dog and said, "Puppy." Over and over. Hoping to get Dylan to repeat.
But to no avail, he just remained amused by the hairy creature on the phone and kept saying, "Oooh." Bonnie remained quiet, smiling. Damon had an amazing relationship with their son. He went above and beyond to make things easy on Bonnie, and she took notice.
"Hey baby boy. Da da. Da da. Pwease, say it. Say it for da da." He begged.
Bonnie's eyes watered listening to them. She couldn't contain the emotion. It hurt her to realize there was distance because of her. She tried covering her sniffing through the water faucet, but she was angry at herself. She wiped her face and turned the water off. "Da da." Dylan finally said it again.
"Oh, baby boy." She exclaimed. She kissed his face. "You did it."
She grabbed the phone and her and Damon were excited together. "Baby girl, I can't wait to see him. A few more days."
"I know. I'm so excited. He needs this."
"So, do I." Damon said. He looked at her reddened eyes. "Aye, what's wrong?"
"Me, nothing. Just had a long day is all."
"And I'm guessing, its allergy season?" She giggled. Nodding her head. He knew her better than anyone. "Whatever it is, we can talk about it when I get there."
"Okay." She wiped another tear. "So, I need to remind you that, I will have to work once or twice, while you're here, but you just have to drop me off at work. Then you and Dimitri will be able to use my car, and go where ever you want. Except, not too far. I wouldn't want you getting lost."
"Umm, well, you must've forgot I'm an expert at land navigation. I'm sure I can manage the city." He said forcing a laugh out of her.
"Doodle, stop. You crack me up."
"You're too darn cute. Okay. Well, baby girl, I gotta go. I have an early day tomorrow. Dimitri, daddy loves you. I'll call you tomorrow." He looked to Bonnie. "Have a good night, baby girl. I'll be seein' you in a few days."
She looked at him and smiled. "Can't wait. Hugs and kisses. Get some rest."
"Alright, I'll be talkin' to you tomorrow. Nite."
Bonnie hung up the phone. Enjoying the silence. She always felt better after talking to him. Then Mason having been staying with a friend since their fight also kept things quieter around the house. She stopped running in the mornings, due to Mason not being there to watch Dylan and, she dropped a couple clients because of Mason's absence. But it ended up being good, because it freed up time for Dylan, and he only needed to attend day care twice a week now. Financially, it was the best thing for her.
She emailed Mason, but his anger must've kept him from responding much. Because he only replied twice. He was highly offended by her recent behavior, and figured he would prove to her how much he helped her, by pulling himself out of the equation. So, she would realize that she needed him. She was forced to drop clients, because of Mason's leaving, but she was happy because she had more time with Dylan. She had a while to think while she cooked and ate with her son. It wasn't until she was sitting in the bathroom bathing him, getting lost in the silence that Mason surprised her by coming back.
He walked into their bedroom toward the bathroom as she was drying Dylan.
"Mason. What are you doing here?" She asked surprised.
"I just came to get some clothes."
"Really Mason? You've been gone two weeks. We've spoken a couple times, and those were fucking emails. This is how you want to behave considering?"
"Bon. I'm not going to allow you to just throw away all our hard work. I left so you could see what a team we are together."
"So, you left me hanging for two weeks. I ended up having to drop clients."
"Exactly. You need me. You need my help."
"No Mason, I don't. I dropped those clients, but freed up time for my son. Now he sees me more."
"You think you can afford to live here, dropping clients? You think you can afford Gladstone Pre-School on your own?"
"No, Mase. I can't afford those things, and be able to live comfortably."
"Good, and you realize you need me, if you want a better life, right? Good, because missed you." He said walking to her for a hug. She stood up from the floor and stopped him.
"No, Mase. Stop right there. I realize I'm fine without you. You left me hangin' not knowing how much I may have needed you. You threw a tantrum and that's not okay with me. I have a son to think about. So, this... us. I've had time to really think about this. Because being left alone, is exactly what I'm not okay with if I am committed to someone. If that's the case, Mason I can do this by myself, just like I was doing before I met you."
"What are you saying, Bonnie?"
"I'm saying I'm done Mason. You left me hanging more than once. You affected my livelihood, and my business. You're the one who offered to help with Dylan so I could work this crazier more hectic schedule. I didn't ask for this. All of these clients you got me, you said you'd help me with Dylan. Then you disappear for two weeks? I'm not leaving space for you to do it again. It's not all about you and me in this equation. My son is a big part of it. I told you from day one, nothing matters more than him. I was very clear about that. Dylan counted on you. You wanted to be a step dad? But you left him hanging, because you were angry with me. He looks forward to his mornings with you and you didn't even call him. Because you were angry with me. Your relationship with me shouldn't affect promises you make to him. I can't let you do that to us. We deserve better. No, he deserves better. And you deserve a woman, that can be who you need."
"Really? Wow. You know I'm going to give you some time to think. Europe is around the corner. I'm not leaving without you two. You're just angry right now. Sleep it off, I'll give you space."
"No Mason. I've thought about this."
He walked away speaking loudly. "Stop before you say something you'll regret." He stormed out of the room, and she heard him stomp through the condo until he was slamming the door shut again. The slammed door made her jump. Her frustrations were besting her, because he wasn't listening to her. Everything she said went into one ear and out the other. Mason was proving her mother and Ginny right.
.x.
Bonnie sat nervously at the airport. She knew she could've opted to just pick him up at the terminal, but she wanted to give him a full greeting and welcome to LA with their son. Dylan was dressed in a pair of plaid shorts with some black Chuck Taylors and black tank top. He had on sunglasses, as per, he was going to throw a fit if she took them off him. She had on some small jean cut offs with a black tank top which was giving peep to her belly button, along with some rhinestones flip flops and freshly manicured fingers and pedicured toes. Her hair was down in beach waves, and sat on slightly below her shoulders almost in a bob favored to the right, her skin was darker, as the sun shined every day in LA. She had on lip gloss and a nervous lip-gnawing look of worry.
In an overzealous attempt, she showed up an hour early, in case his flight was early. She ran around the airport, after her son, who was becoming restless. It was eleven am and the sun was almost at its highest point in the sky. LAX was adequately air conditioned, but the nerves were making her sweat. She waited by his baggage claim, and after a solid hour and twenty-seven minutes she turned to look at one unforgettable sight.
"Sweet baby Jesus." She whispered to herself, seeing him ride the escalator down to the level she was on.
His beard was gone, and out popped a baby smooth face. His sapphire eyes sparkled as the sun hit them from the windows, and he had his hair cut. Even through his cowboy hat, she could tell. His features always rang prominent in her ears and eyes, because those are the things that made her want him all the years they'd known one another. He hadn't spotted her yet, he was adjusting his assault pack on his shoulders. He had on jeans, boots, and white t-shirt. He's was so damn country, it was a shame. The kind of shame that made trendy LA men look like a joke. He had no concern for how out of place he may have been, because one thing about Damon, he was Damon no matter where he was. She felt that extra thump in her heart, her daddy warned her of. The one you get from the man that deserves you. Her breath stopped when he looked at her.
Then, he grinned that boyish grin. The one she got lost in when she was a teenager.
Every bit of sound around her turned into an echo. It was static and white noise, and she picked her son up, watching his father descend the escalator. She didn't even smile at first. She just, stopped thinking, and held back her emotions. He was getting closer and closer, and after a few seconds, his foot stepped off the escalator. He walked towards her.
Knock me out of this day dream.
It wasn't until Dylan screamed in excitement she was re-awakened. "Da da. Da da." Damon's face lit up and Bonnie put her son down, allowing him to run to his father. The second his hands made contact with Damon's, she couldn't hold back the emotion. She cried. Tears fell down her cheeks like a faucet and she let out the breath she was holding when he took it from her. Damon grabbed his son with his crazy black hair and pushed it out of his face. He kissed him all over his cheeks, for what looked like minutes upon minutes. He smiled and got a little watery eyed.
She walked towards them and when Damon saw her, he was taken aback. She was different. Already. She had changed in three weeks. He was speechless. He just looked at her. She became nervous and didn't know what to say but, "Welcome to LA." She held her arms open and he put his son down and picked her up, squeezing her. He held her tight, and smelled her hair. The coconut smell he loved. He gripped her body, embracing her like she was his.
"I fuckin' missed you guys." He whispered in her ear. Bonnie teared up again, squeezing her eyes shut into the crook of his neck. He always felt like home. He always felt right.
When he finally put her down, it was a slow, gentle glide down his body. When her feet met the floor, he stared at the top of her head and kissed it. "Shorty." She smiled. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and pecked her on the lips. "I guess they don't make flavored gloss no more."
She giggled. "I stopped wearing flavored chapstick, because Dylan tries to eat them off my mouth," she laughed. And he laughed. "I don't blame him. If I was the man lucky enough to kiss you every day, I'd probably do the same thing." She blushed and grabbed their son who was busy trying to pull the tabs on Damon's assault pack. They grabbed his big green duffle bag and one small suit case from the baggage claim and Damon followed her out of one of the world's busiest airports and to her car, which was parked on the third tier of some garage.
As she pulled out of the garage she paid a hefty fee. "Gah-lee. Twenty dollars to park for more than an hour?"
"That's LA for you." They hit up the highway. "I still can't believe you're here. This makes me so happy."
"Whelp, I'm here. So, I suppose we gone eat some Kale and Avocado?" He laughed.
"Doodle, stop. LA just so happens to have some amazing signature style foods. Both healthy and not so healthy."
"Alright, like what?"
"For starters, LA dogs. Now, wait until you try an LA dog, you'll never eat another hot dog again."
"So now, that you got me here, what's on the agenda?"
"The Beach. Duh. I told you to bring some swim shorts." He looked at her and smiled.
"They're all the way in my duffle bag."
"Dylan loves water. I brought his sand toys. I got a towel for you already, and-"
"Okay, one question?"
"What Doodle?"
"You gone get your hair wet?"
"No."
"Then I'm not goin'?"
"Doodle, do you know how long it took me to do my hair nice for you today? Well my stylist, took a lot of time very early this mornin' so I could be presentable, and pretty. Just for you."
"I'll pay her to do your hair again. But I'm not goin' without the full experience."
"Fine doodle." The car was pulled into a sudden stop as she was catching traffic changing freeways. She hit her breaks not hard, but sudden. He clenched her leg and closed his eyes. "Oh, gosh Doodle. I'm sorry. I should warn you, that LA traffic is terrible. This may happen often."
"Fuck. I'm sorry. I just-"
"No need to explain Doodle. I'll get off the next exit and take the streets okay?"
"Naw, I'm good, Baby girl."
"No, Doodle. Stop telling me that. I have a friend here. She's a therapist. Maybe you can-"
"No. This few days I have is about you, me and our son. Nothin' else. You hear me? I'm not floodin' our time with bullshit."
"Okay, Doodle." She knew she had no choice over his decisions. "So how is the Army, given you this time off?"
"I ain't got a choice. I had too many leave days saved, so I need to take most of them, or I lose them. They gettin' real strict with the leave days. I can't have more than sixty when I get out. They won't pay me for more than sixty."
"Long as you're here. That's what matters." She smiled getting off the freeway. Damon looked around. So many people and businesses. Cars from every economical necessity, to status. He pulled his hat off and his sweaty head needed to feel her air conditioning. He blasted it. "It'll be a good twenty or thirty minutes. Why don't you take a nap? I'm sure you're tired."
"Naw. I'm too excited to be here."
"Alright. I'll stop and grab some hot dogs for the drive."
"Sounds good to me."
...
After almost an hour, of talking in the car and listening to music, they finally arrived and found a parking spot. When they got everything out to the beach, Bonnie carefully applied sunscreen on both Damon and Dylan.
She contained her thoughts as she spread the lotion all over his body. Looking at him in this way was making it hard to keep her thoughts clean, her hands were gliding down his abdomen, and she felt him watching her hands. He wasn't stopping her. So she stopped herself, when the hair of his happy trail tickled her finger tips she spoke. "I should let you finish-"
"I won't tell your fiancé, if you won't." He whispered. She didn't dare tell him about her and Mason. It didn't feel right. She kept it to herself, because she didn't want to tell him how Mason left her hanging, or how'd he been acting. He recognized her nerves and he grabbed the sunscreen. "Come'ere."
He pulled her body to his and squeezed the cold substance into his hand. He rubbed the lotion around both hands and applied his strong hands to her small frame. He massaged the sunscreen onto her skin with a firm strength that made her relax into his touch. "Uhhh that feels amazing." He had his legs on each side of her and he scooted closer. His hands gripped her more and he continued rubbing it into her skin. Dylan stood behind Damon and put a bucket on his head, while Damon rubbed lotion on Bonnie. "Just so you know, I don't usually put sunblock on. I really like to tan in the summer." She said.
"Your skin is beautiful. I noticed you got darker. I love it. I just wanted an excuse to touch you."
She turned towards him and smiled. "In that case, don't forget my front side." He grinned and pulled the bucket off his head. Pulled Dylan to the front of him, sat him down and let him play beside him. He then laid her on the towel and finished her front side, so he could watch Dylan play while he and Bonnie chatted, as he covered her body with sunscreen.
...
They spent hours at the beach that day. Damon and Bonnie played in the water with Dylan. He it was around three pm when Dylan was becoming exhausted from all the sun and water play. Damon took him out to the water one more time naked to get all the sand out of his diaper. Then they wrapped him in a blanket and they all laid out on the sand a while Dylan napped.
He was covered by an umbrella protected from the sun, Bonnie lay on her stomach and Damon rested his head on her plump behind as he lay on his back. "How often do you bring him to the beach?"
"Oh, maybe once every couple of months. As you can see the traffic is terrible."
"Yeah. It's nerve-wreckin' I felt claustrophobic on the highway. Wasn't so bad when you took the streets, but still, this traffic is crazy."
"Doodle, if you want, some support, I don't mind going with you to speak to somebody."
"Baby girl. I'm good."
"Damon Salvatore, you've always been this way. Remember your back and the factory? It's not okay to just put your health on the back burner. Trust me. I'm a physical therapist, and I see long term affects. Physical and psychological. When a person is broken by something, it affects them in more ways than one. We need to get you an evaluation done."
"Baby girl, please don't make me feel helpless. I've taken care of myself my whole life. I don't need somebody tellin' I'm not right in the head."
"Is that what you're afraid of Doodle? No one will tell you that, but you need help." He wanted to avoid her allegations. He wiggled his head onto her butt.
"Damn, your ass is really, pretty firm."
"Ugh. Stop it. I thought I loss some firmness."
"I mean, it ain't too tight. It's perfect. Little squishy little tight. Perfect." He sat up and turned her body so that she was on her back. Then he crawled over her. And just stared into her eyes. They stared at each other for a while. It's almost as if they could read each other's minds. Her stomach was inhaling deeper, and he felt it. The moment was feeling intense, and intimate. He put his lips near hers and she closed her eyes waiting for their lips to touch. His hands, which were holding hers, let go. And he sat up after a few minutes. He didn't want to over step his boundaries with her, because he feared it would backfire and push her away. "Maybe we should head back. I hear rush hour traffic is a doozy in LA."
He knocked her out of her thoughts, about grabbing his face and kissing him. "Oh yeah. We should go." She smiled he helped her up and they got everything together and got ready to head back to her place.
.x.
When they got back to her place, he was more than impressed. He'd never saw this life for her, but he imagined she worked hard for it. When they walked into the condo. It was quiet. There wasn't much to it. A lot of expensive technology. But a very modern, touch. Bonnie, had decorated, he could tell. But there weren't many pictures up. Just a couple of her and Dylan. He saw one picture of Mason. It looked like Mason at an event or Gala. Mason was shaking hands with someone, accepting an award. No pictures of the three of them. Damon thought it was weird.
"Okay, here is Dylan's room." She walked him to the room. It had sports decals. Typical, Mason influence. Damon saw a twin bed. "It's for when he decides to stop sleeping in his crib."
"This room looks like it ain't never been used."
"It's not, sadly."
"You want him sleepin' in here alone?"
"No, but I could have used this room for my clientele. Then I wouldn't have to worry about childcare for Dylan."
"That makes perfect sense, so why not do that?"
"Mason said, physical therapists who work out of their homes are third rate and get third rate clients. Anyways, it was a long argument between the two of us. With my condo, I allowed my patients to come to my home. The patients who didn't meet me at a facility. But my broke college students, I let them pay me on the side to work with them at my old place."
"How long have y'all lived together?"
"I don't know. Less than a year." He looked and noticed she wasn't wearing her engagement ring. She hadn't had it on all day.
"I see." He looked at her body language, which was kind of letting him know she felt ashamed in some way. Because she began fiddling her hands and her toes, and looking around avoiding eye contact. He learned enough about these things to realize she was not telling him everything.
"Compromising with Mason is like pulling teeth. So anyways. Now, it remains an unused room." She looked at him desperately hoping he wouldn't ask anything about Mason. She didn't have the heart to lie to him again, but she would rather just not be asked.
"Well, me and my son will get use out of it." He sat down and touched the pillow. "I got some things for him back in Virginia that I can't bring here. But they'll be there for when he visits. Also. I have a few things in my big duffle bag, for both of y'all."
"Okay." She smiled. "So, what do you want for dinner?"
"I don't know. I was down to eat whatever it is ya'll eat. I just wanna see how you live and all."
"Okay. Um there's a bathroom next to the closet. There's only a shower, no tub. He takes baths in my bathroom. Help yourself to anything. I bought you some toiletries." There was some awkwardness between them since the almost kiss at the beach. She smiled timidly. "I'm gonna take a very quick shower and then I'll make something simple, chicken and rice, and some vegetables. It won't take long. Soon as I'm done showering, I'll grab Dylan and you can take your time, doing whatever okay?"
"Okay, Bird." But he was growing very curious. "When is your fiancé gone be home?" He called out to her as she walked towards her room.
Fuck.
She remained in the hallway when she answered him, so he couldn't analyze her face. She knew he was trying to. "He's not coming home."
"What? He workin' late to somethin?"
"No."
"What's wrong?" He asked, standing up and walking to the doorway, stopping her in the hall.
"We had a disagreement, and then, things just haven't been resolved." She was attempting as much discretion as possible.
"I won't ask why, that's your business, but how long has he been gone?"
"Since the day, I got back. He and I haven't shared a space or a bed at night since before I came to Mystic Falls."
"Seven weeks? Almost two months?"
"Yeah."
"Damn, I'm sorry baby girl. I had no idea. I call you every day and you act like ain't shit wrong."
"I mean nothing is wrong Damon. People fight. They walk out on each other. It happens all the time. I'm fine, Dylan's fine. We are going to be fine." He saw her holding back a lot but he wouldn't pry. He just walked to her, grabbed her by the arm, pulled her in, and hugged her.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry baby girl." He held her tight and just let her gradually grip him back. It took her a minute, but eventually, she just hugged him back. Even if she wouldn't cry, he knew she needed a hug, and a friend, more than anything. In this moment, he had no idea how to feel, but he knew something wasn't right, and he was going to eventually figure it out. How the hell can she afford to live here alone? How the hell is this possible? What brought this on? Why has she been hiding it from him the past three weeks? These were all things he needed to know, but not now. Right now, he just... needed to hold her.
Excerpt Pt: 18
Bonnie had woken up in her bed alone. She was dressed in comfy clothes and her hair was brushed and braided. She sat up and turned towards the edge of her bed, planting her feet onto the floor. She stood up and went to hunt for Damon and Dylan. She knew Damon put her in bed. She walked towards Dylan's room and found Dylan asleep on his bed, tummy side down, and a shirtless Damon, rubbing his son's back. Softly, quietly, peacefully. He was humming to him. Bonnie stood at the door, watching in amazement at one vision that would soon become one of her favorite sites to behold.
I hope you enjoyed this Chapter.