RICKY'S POV:
"Did he get into school okay?" I asked Brax as he walked in the door after dropping Casey off at school
He nodded his head, signalling yes… "I picked these up on the way back"
I took the forms he held out to me and looked at them… "Moving a bit quick, aren't you?"
"No time like the present" he replied "and I've been on the phone to the solicitor, and we need to get moving if we're going to build a strong enough case to win"
"Brax, don't you think we should just slow down?" I suggested, licking my suddenly dry lips
"Are you not up for this anymore?" he inquired
"No, I am" I replied "but we're still pretty much kids ourselves. We need to slow down and think things through"
"I've done all the thinking I need to do" he informed me "I'm applying for legal guardianship of Casey, with or without you"
"Brax…" I sighed as he took the forms from me and made his way to the front door
"I've gotta go to work" he replied, grabbing his keys from the table, not looking back as he shut the door behind him
BRAX'S POV:
I'd been left in charge of the restaurant and had just finished serving a customer when I saw Ricky make her way in and over to the bar…
"I'm busy" I informed her before she had chance to speak
"Fine, then I'll wait" she replied, taking a seat at the end of the bar "do I not get a drink?"
"What would you like?" I questioned
"Orange juice please" she informed me
Setting it down in front of her a couple of minutes later, I made my way into the kitchen…
RICKY'S POV:
An hour later Brax walked over to the table I'd acquired having ordered myself some lunch and picked up a slice of remaining pizza…
"I'm sorry about this morning" I admitted
"Casey needs a family, Ric" he sighed
"I know, and that's why we're going to give him one" I informed him "I'm sorry about my doubts this morning, but I'm just scared. I don't wanna screw this up"
"You're fantastic with him. What makes you think you'll screw it up?" he asked
"I've been playing his Mum, but if we win this case, I'll actually be his Mum, it's a scary concept to get my head around, Brax. I don't get how you're not freaking out" I admitted
"You think I'm not freaking out?" he inquired "Ricky, I'm freaking out big time"
"Then you've got a good way of hiding it" I replied
He smiled at me weakly… "I'm sorry for pushing all of this on you. I know how worried you are about Monday, so how about we wait until after all that's done with to start another legal battle?"
"You sure?" I questioned
He nodded his head, signalling yes…
"Thank you" I sighed "I better be going to work, but I'll see you at home with your favourite waiting on the table, okay?"
"Sounds perfect" he replied
Smiling at him warmly, I stood up and pulled my bag over my shoulder, leaning down to kiss him softly before leaving the restaurant…