I sit and open my laptop after texting my mom. Telling her I’m ready, I start the FaceTime app and Ava’s face appears on the screen. “Mommy,” she squeals excitedly. “I’ve missed you.”
“I miss you too. Are you being a good girl?”
The sass is strong in this one. “Of course I am.” Three going on sixteen for sure. “Where is Chas?”
“Right here, sweetheart.” He sits next to me and waves at the camera. “How are you, my Avalou?”
“I’m good. Whewe’s Picky?” We’re working with Ava on pronouncing Pixy, and she’s almost got it.
“He’s with my mom and dad. You’ll get to see him soon.”
She tells us about her day, and about five minutes later Ava’s covering her mouth and yawning. “Baby, why don’t you get in bed, and I’ll read you a story.”
Ava shakes her head. “No stowy. Will you sing fow me?”
I look at Chance and then back at Ava. I’ve never really sang in front of him before. He’s usually working on his laptop with his earbuds in or in the shower when I tuck her in.
Ava climbs into her bed and I sing Rainbow Connection to her. By the time I’m into the second verse she’s asleep. I stop singing and turn to find Chance staring at me. “What?”
He grabs my hand and pulls me close. “You’re fucking amazing.” Our lips meet in a sweet glide that ends all too soon. When I turn back to the laptop, my mom is on the screen smiling like a lunatic.
“Are you kids doing anything fun tonight?”
“We’re going to go hang out at his fraternity.” We disconnect, and I close my laptop. “Let’s go party,” I tell him, and he pulls me up.
***
Hannah hands me a hula hoop as “Loud Enough” by The Movement plays through the speakers, and I show her how to do some tricks while dancing. Of course we both have drank quite a bit, so I’m having trouble. We burst into a fit of giggles, and I turn to find Chance standing with a few of his brothers, watching me.
I hold his eyes as I rock my hips from side to side, putting my arm above my head and swaying to the beat of the music. He comes toward me, pulls me into his arms, and then we start moving together.
Chance grabs my face, kissing me as our bodies grind together in a hypnotic dance.
“Get a room,” someone in the distance shouts. Chance pulls back as we both laugh. Of course we’re not the only ones making out, but they love giving him shit.
A blonde walks up to us, and I don’t miss the way Chance’s body stiffens. Great, this must be one of his old groupies.
“Hey, sexy. I’ve missed you.” She tries to throw her arms around him, but I get in between them. “Who the fuck are you?” the blonde sneers at me.
“Margot, I’ve told you about a million times that Laken is my girlfriend.” Chance grabs my hand and pulls me away.
“Chance is terrible in bed and has a tiny dick,” Margot shouts, and by now I’ve had it. I pull away from him and stomp over to her. “Oh what are you going to do, short stuff?”
“Ha ha, real original. You know if he was so terrible in bed, which is fucking hilarious because he is the complete opposite of terrible, and obviously you felt the same way; otherwise, you wouldn’t be coming up to him right in front of me, obviously wanting him.”
Chance wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me back. “It’s not worth it babe. Just let her be miserable on her own.”
We’re halfway across the dance floor when I shout, “By the way, his penis is huge.”
Everyone laughs and starts applauding. For a second I think Chance is mad because he doesn’t laugh. I turn to look up at him. “I’m so sorry.”
“I fucking love you.” He wraps his arms around me and kisses me. “Don’t be sorry for having my back. Maybe now she’ll take the hint.”
After we say goodbye to everyone, we head back to his place and he shows his appreciation for having his back, over and over.
***
Chance
The past few months have gone by fast. Two months ago Laken moved in with me, and a friend of hers and Nicole took Laken’s old room. It just made sense since she was here every day.
We’re both preparing for our final assignments and exams. Not only am I on my way to graduating Summa Cum Laude, but Laken is too. We’ve spent every waking moment studying, or working on our projects, and just being together.
Every day we get up, make love, eat, go to class, eat, do homework, fuck, and then go to bed … repeat. Don’t get me wrong I love it, and I love her—I’ll just be glad when school is all done.
I’ve yet to tell her that Nike offered me a paid internship in their headquarters in Oregon. I’d work with the marketing and social media team for their soccer line. I’m scared to talk to her about it. I want her and Ava to go with me, and that’s a big move for them.
What if she says no? What if she doesn’t think I’d be good father material for her daughter? I know we’re young, and we haven’t been together long, but I know she’s it for me. If down the road she'll let me, I want to be Ava’s father. Nothing would bring me greater joy than having that little girl call me Dad. Hell, I want to be the father to as many kids as she wants to have.
If you would’ve asked me a year ago if I would ever be interested in settling down I would tell you, fuck no, but now I want it, and I’m not afraid to admit it.
The door opens, and Laken, Nicole, and Hannah all come in. My
