Liam

I looked as if I had been stood up.

As I waited at this table myself, I became aware of the looks I was getting for last few minutes especially.

This is what happens when you have someone in your life who is way too much of a stickler for being on time.

Rena practically pushed my ass out the door this morning to make sure that I wasn't late to my lunch with Chris.

In all honesty, I didn't care that she made me leave earlier. If it meant that I got to see her first.

"Hey, man," I felt someone hold my shoulders, shaking a little.

I instantly recognised Chris' voice and then he walked around to sit across from me, a grin on his face. He'd bought new glasses, a circular frame and somehow it made him look more intellectual.

"Hey, you alright?" I asked.

"I'm well. All good with you?" Chris asked.

"Yeah. Although, I've been kicked out of my place for the day," I chuckled.

He looked at me confused and amused.

"What?" He questioned.

"Bea wanted a girl's day with Rena, so she came over to my place earlier. But for some reason, I couldn't stick around and had to leave," I told him.

Chris laughed. "And so I'm a substitute?"

"Of course," I joked and Chris shook his head.

One of the things I loved about making the move to New York, was finding out the Chris was also here. I had lost touch with quite a few people from high school. I kept in touch with my boys initially, but after Julie, that stopped.

They reached out when they heard the news, but I closed myself off after. I shut myself off from the rest of the world.

However, in the last year, I began to reach out again.

It felt good to meet up with Chris every now and then, one of my boys. Or as our old math teacher called us, the rat pack. He was not a fan of us.

"Truth is, Bea had a bad day yesterday and I asked Rena to come over to cheer her up. Bea always loves seeing her," I said.

"What happened?" Chris asked.

"Someone from Bea's class told her turtles can't be pets, which made her think she was hurting her pet turtle, Leo," I informed him.

It was an entire ordeal. It worried me when I picked her up from school and she was crying. After I explained that for some turtles, it wasn't okay to have them as pets, but we had done our research for Leo.

She seemed to have understood what I said, but she crestfallen look on her face upset me and I just wanted it to go away.

I called Rena, who happily agreed to have a girls day. When I suggested it to Bea, her mood instantly lifted.

"Kids are cruel," Chris commented.

I let out a sigh. "You have no idea."

"How is it going with Serena?" Chris asked.

I smiled. I learned that it was now an instant reaction when her name was mentioned.

Good thing we aren't teenagers, or I would be mocked for that.

"You are so whipped," Chris commented, before I could reply to his question.

I guess the dopey expression on my didn't go unnoticed by him.

"I am, but I don't care," I told him. "We're good. Really good," I told him.

"And she still hasn't...?" He trailed off.

I shook my head, knowing what he was going to ask. Chris was aware of our current relationship. Not only was he one of Rena's closest friends, but also mine. I knew that she had told him.

"She hasn't said the three words ever since the day I confessed my feelings," I told him.

He frowned. "Doesn't that bother you?"

"No. She's worth waiting for," I said.

That was the real truth. It was why I didn't mind. Of course, it would be nice to hear her say those three words, especially after I said them. But I wasn't going to force her.

"I'm glad you followed my advice," Chris replied, a smug smile on his face.

I looked as if I had no clue what he was saying.

"Ah, come off it. I knew exactly who you were talking about that day. The one your 'friend' was seeing," he said, putting air quotes around the word friend.

I laughed. "Yeah, okay. I didn't exactly disguise it well," I said, knowing how transparent I was probably being.

"You might as well have said her name, Liam," he laughed.

"How is it going with Miguel?" I asked Chris.

Their relationship was one that I admired. The comfort and balance between them. I've known Chris a while, which is how I could tell that Miguel was the complete opposite of him, but they made it worked so seamlessly.

"It's good, man. Really good," he smiled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

He looked genuinely happy as he said the words. I don't think I've ever seen him like this.

"I've actually been thinking of something. I wanted your opinion," Chris said.

"Of course," I replied.

"I'm thinking of asking him to marry me," he revealed.

Immediately, I sat up in my seat. "That's really awesome, Chris."

"Miguel's family is quite traditional, but they've accepted us. He dropped this hint of maybe adopting at some point in the future too," he replied.

I looked at him a little surprised. "Wow, that's great. What do you think about it?"

"I think it's because of Sara's little one and after seeing Bea, too. He loves kids, has a lot of nieces and nephews. But I think he wants a little one that'll call him Dad," Chris told me.

"It's a great feeling," I said, knowing that every time Bea called me Dad, it made my day.

Being a Dad, it was one of the best feelings ever. To see her make her way through the world, first time she smiled, laughed, walked and talked. Every moment was amazing.

"I know we're not the most traditional couple for his family, but I still want to try and make it so for him. You know, get married and then see if we're able to adopt or even foster," Chris smiled.

"Honestly, I think it's great. I see how you guys are with each other and I know whether you choose to adopt or foster, that kid is going to get so much love," I told him.

"I'm going to come to you for any parenting tips," Chris said.

I laughed. "Yeah, sure. Happy to help."

"Have you thought about it?" Chris questioned and I raised my brow at him. "Getting married, to Serena?"

When I looked surprised, he carried on talking.

"I know you're still not even official yet, but have you thought about it?" He asked.

"If I'm completely honest, not really. That doesn't mean never, it's just...I want to enjoy the present. To live in the now. I don't want to worry about the rest. I do know I want her in my life forever," I replied.

Chris nodded. "I understand. I'm happy to see you guys together. You make a great couple," he said.

I smiled at that. "Thank you. We're all just living in yours and Miguels' shadow," to which he then laughed.

After lunch with Chris, I headed home. I wanted to be with my girls, even if it meant crashing in on their girls day.

Unlocking the front door, I walked in, but to my surprise I only heard silence.

"Hello? I'm home. Rena? Bea?" I called out.

Then I heard some giggles. A few seconds later, a little figure came running towards me.

Bea ran towards me. She looked adorable, dressed in dungarees and her hair in pigtails. When I left this morning, she was in pyjamas, so no doubt this was Rena's doing.

"Hi, daddy," Bea looked up at me, a grin on her face.

I picked her up in my arms, kissing her cheek and rubbing her little nose which had some flour on it.

She looked so much more happier today than yesterday.

"What have you been up to today?" I asked her.

"Rena and I played tea party, we fed Leo, and now we're making some cupcakes," she told me.

That caught my attention. For as much as I loved Rena, she didn't bake. Not from what I knew.

She could cook, some things, but baking was not one of the strongest suits. It was quite amusing to me, since a young age Mrs Hastings would always bake for us.

Every week there was always something new and Rena would bring them over in that wicker basket. I was so used to that routine, the week it didn't happen, my Mum would make me go over and check.

I think my parents loved Mrs Hastings' cooking and baking more than anyone else.

"Let's go see what's being baked in the kitchen then. Shall we?" I asked Bea.

She nodded eagerly.

We both walked into the kitchen and then I saw her.

She looked a mess, but still beautiful as ever.

Rena stood in the kitchen, icing one of the cupcakes. She had on my apron, her curls up in the bun, with strands sticking out from it everywhere.

"Don't talk about her hair," Bea whispered in my hair.

"Why?" I asked.

"Serena said bad hair day," she told me in a low whisper and I held back a laugh.

Okay, so it wasn't that good of an attempt at hiding my laugh and Rena turned her head towards me, narrowing her eyes.

"Hi, darling," I smiled.

"Don't. Mention. The. Hair." She said, very slowly, emphasising each word.

"I wasn't going to say anything," I replied.

She glared at me and shook her head.

I walked closer and looked at the cupcakes they had made together.

Rena was currently icing one of the cupcakes, but the rest of them looked quite adorable. The white icing almost looked like a rose and little added edible sprinkles made it look all the better.

"Is this for..." I looked at Rena.

"The spring fete? Yes," she replied.

Bea's school was preparing for what was an annual spring fete. There would be little stalls set up for some parents or teachers who made thing and wanted to contribute to the day.

All the proceedings were going to go to a children's charity, so it was something that made everyone get involved. Whether they contributed with something homemade or just made a donation.

Usually I made a donation every year, since I didn't have much of a talent to actually set up a stall.

However, it seemed this time I was being replaced by cupcakes.

"Are you setting up a stall?" I asked her, curiously. She hadn't mentioned anything and I don't even think she would have the time.

"Oh, no. I can't do that but Bea said there's going to be a stall for baked goods, that multiple people could add to. I thought why not make something then," Rena smiled at me and Bea.

I frowned at her. "I thought you didn't bake. I mean...not often," I quickly tried to correcting myself, noticing the glare she threw my way.

"I can bake," Rena said, looking down at a new cupcake she began to ice. "This is the only thing," she then mumbled.

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing at how cute she was in this moment.

"Carrot cake?" I questioned, seeing the remnants of the carrots.

"Carrot cupcakes," Bea corrected me.

Rena smiled at her and then looked at me. "It's my mother's recipe," she said.

"Oh nice," I said, glad that it was one of Mrs Hastings' recipes, since she made the best kind. Other ones just didn't compare.

"Don't look so relieved," Rena pointed the icing pipe at me.

I shook my head. "I wasn't," I said, only for Bea to giggle at my obviousness.

Rena ignored me and faced Bea. "Bea, tell your father he's stepping on thin ice."

I wanted to laugh at this. The way she pinched her thumb and index finger together and held up the icing pipe again. Was she trying to make a pun at the same time?

"Where is the ice?" Bea asked, looking around us.

Rena sighed, but a playful smile remained on her face.

"Bea, tell your..." I paused and I could see the way Rena froze as well. I knew what I was going to say, what I wanted to, but that wasn't something to talk about right now. "Tell Rena she looks very pretty."

"You're very pretty," Bea told her.

Rena smiled and leaning forward to kiss her cheek. "Thank you, baby," she gently tapped Bea's nose, causing her to giggle.

"You were supposed to be out of here for the day," Rena looked at me.

I grinned. "I couldn't stay away from you," I told her.

She opened her mouth to reply, before holding back from one of her endearing smiled and then shook her head.

"Dork," she replied.

"Did you have lunch?" I asked.

"We ate pasta," Bea replied for the both of them. She then held onto my face with both her hands, making me look at her. "Can we make a fort again?" She asked.

I nodded, with her still squishing my cheeks in her hands. "Of course. Why don't you go wash up and we'll start on the fort?"

"Okay!" Bea nodded eagerly.

She wiggled around in my arms and as soon as I put her down, she ran out the kitchen. I guess she really loved the fort that was made last time.

"You're nervous," I commented, looking at the concentration on Rena's face and she decorated yet another cupcake. I've not seen her worried over something like this and this was a simple school fete.

She looked at me and then sighed. "Can you try one?"

"Sure," I nodded.

As I tried to reach for one, Rena smacked my hand away. "Not that one," she said and instead held out another one towards me. "This one."

"Why?" I asked her.

"I messed the icing on this one," she said.

"I get the messy one?" I asked her, raising a brow.

"Yes," she replied, without missing a beat.

The cupcake in front of me was less...graceful as the other ones. Whilst the other ones looked like roses, the icing on this one looked more like a blob...not that I'd tell Rena that.

I took a bite and honestly, it tasted almost like the ones Mrs Hastings' would make. She did a great job, but as I looked at Rena's face, the nervousness and anticipation written across, I couldn't help but mess with her a little.

"Well? How is it?" Rena asked, when I did give any sort of reaction.

"It's good but..." I trailed off.

She frowned. "But?"

"It's missing something," I told her.

"Missing what?" She said, looking down at all the other cupcakes. "No. I followed the recipe exactly. I did everything that..."

Before she rambled on, I reached out, gently holding her chin and turning her to face me. Then, I kissed her.

Whilst I wanted to kiss her deeply, I was quite aware that Bea could run into the room at any moment, so I tried to keep it innocent.

Keyword: tried.

She tasted so sweet and I was immediately addicted. I wanted more. With my other hand, I delved into her hair, gripping it slightly. It was only when she let out a moan did I lean away, knowing we had to stop.

"I should go check on Bea," I said.

I had to get away before my addiction got the better of me.

Then I felt a tug on my arm. "Wait, what was missing?" Rena asked and I frowned. "From the cupcake?"

I smirked, placing a quick kiss on her lips.

"Just needed some sugar," I told her, before walking away, knowing she was probably glaring at me.