Best Mistake

The next day I was cut a break at work, only having to work during lunch. I was pretty relieved, considering I'd been neglecting house work due to being just too tired to bother with it. My dirty laundry and dishes were almost piled up to the ceiling.

Once I got home I quickly showered, putting on some grey leggings and an old Chiodos thermal I got back in eighth grade. I was surprised it still fit.

I piled all of my dirty laundry into my mesh clothes hamper bag and put my box of detergent on top, closing the bag and slinging it over my shoulder. I locked the door behind me and went downstairs to the laundry room.

Once I had all of my clothes in one of the washing machines, I poured some detergent in and set the cycle. As it started spinning, I hopped up, sitting cross legged while my clothes washed.

After looking aimlessly through one of the magazines offered by the complex, my phone rang from beside me, Alex's name displayed across the screen. I eased off of the washer, walking outside.

"Hey," I answered.

"Hey," he replied. "What are you up to?"

"Not much. Laundry, dishes after that, maybe decorating my Christmas tree. You?"

"Eh, not much. But I've been thinking. After last night, I need to know more about you." He paused for a second. "What are you doing within the next hour or so?"

I shrugged as if he could see it. "By that time I'll probably be elbows deep in dish water."

He was quiet before saying, "Could you spare some time to hang out for a little bit?"

I looked back in the laundry room where the washer I was using was still, indicating it was done. "I don't know, if I don't get this stuff done today it won't get done."

"I can come help you," he answered quickly. "I'm a pretty awesome tree decorator if I do say so myself."

I laughed, transferring my clothes to the dryer. "I don't know, my apartment is kind of a wreck right now," I frowned.

"Like I care," he scoffed. "Please? We're having this kid together, I think I deserve to know of some of the traits it might inherit."

"Ditto," I smiled. I took a second to think it over and shrugged. "Sure, okay. That sounds great actually."

"Awesome," I heard him sigh. "How long do you need?"

I turned the dryer on its highest setting. "Give me about an hour."

"Sweet, text me your address," he said before hanging up.

Once the the call was disconnected, I began to panic a little. I suddenly couldn't remember how messy my apartment was, and not knowing sent me on an anxious frenzy. I slid my hamper under the table and bolted back up to my apartment, out of breath once I was inside the door.

I quickly straightened up everything as my dishwater collected in the sink. It wasn't too terribly bad, but I could tell I'd gone a few days without upkeeping. I quickly sent Alex a text with my address before plunging my hands in the dishwater.

About half an hour later, all of the dishes were cleaned and put away. I ran back down the stairs and quickly folded my dry laundry, throwing it back into the hamper. With slow steps I climbed the mountain that was my staircase, bending over to rest my hands on my knees as I caught my breath. Pregnancy really took its toll on a persons stamina.

After throwing my hamper in my room for me to deal with later, I made a few finishing touches to the living room. I turned my Spotify on to the Pop Punk Powerhouses playlist and grabbed a box of matches to light some candles.

I I took a step back, admiring my work and frowned. The candles seemed a bit too much, like I was trying to set a mood or something. As I was about to blow them out, I heard three quick knocks on my door.

"Fuck," I muttered, leaving them lit to go let Alex in.

I opened the door slowly, glancing up at Alex. He smiled shyly at me and I returned the gesture.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey," I smiled. I opened the door wider. "Come in."

He walked through the door and down the little hallway that lead to the rest of the apartment. I closed the door quickly and hurried to catch up with him.

"Nice place you have here," he said as he took his large jacket off and laid it across one of the barstools.

"It's a roof over my head," I shrugged, my lips pressed in a firm line.

Alex looked around, nodding. He looked at me, a small smile gracing his lips. I had to look away once the eye contact got too intense, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"So where do we start?" he asked as he leaned against the counter.

As I shrugged, my stomach let out a loud growl. I clutched it, embarrassed.

Alex rose his eyebrows. "Either you're hungry or that baby is pissed at you."

I laughed. "Actually I'm starving. I can find something to cook if you'd like?"

Alex nodded. "Sounds great, I'm hungry too."

I turned and opened up one of the cabinets, finding three packs of ramen and a box of jambalaya mix. I pulled down the mix and opened the freezer, almost crying tears of joy when I found a pack of turkey sausage. I turned to face Alex.

"I can make jambalaya?" I suggested, earning a confused look from him.

"Jamba-whata?"

I couldn't stop my giggle as I held up the box and the sausage. "Jambalaya," I said.

Alex studied the box and looked up at me. "You mean gumbo?"

I shrugged, "They're kind of the same. Just instead of chicken and shrimp and okra and stuff it's dirty rice and sausage."

Alex looked back at the box then back up at me. "If you say so. Sounds great."

I smiled and turned the faucet on with warm water, setting the sausage in the sink to thaw out.

"We'll have a few minutes before that thaws. Should we tackle the tree?" I asked, pointing to a box in the corner of the living room.

"Let's do it," Alex smiled.

After getting all of the pieces out of the box, I took the instructions and read them to Alex, as he insisted on doing the "man stuff". He looked really cute with his ripped jeans and grey long sleeve shirt, a red beanie adorning his head.

"Ok, this piece goes first," I read, handing him the trunk of the tree. He took it and pushed it into place, along with the middle and top pieces. When it was all connected, he stood next to me, frowning a little.

"It looks.....flat," he said, tilting his head to the side.

I laughed, "We have to fluff it out, genius."

I took one side of the tree while Alex took another, but I still had to instruct him on how to do it properly.

"I thought you said you were an expert," I teased.

"Shut up," Alex mumbled, but I could see the smile on his face through the branches.

Once it was fluffed out, we stood another step back, both of us nodding our approval. Alex picked up a box that had "lights" scribbled on the side and smiled.

"My favorite part," he grinned.

We started at the bottom, intertwining the strands with the branches. As we work our way up, we got quiet. I decided to break the silence.

"So, Sophia seems really nice," I said as I passed the bunch of lights to him.

There was the faintest trait of a smile on his lips. "Yeah, she is," he said quietly.

"I'm in no way complaining," I began, "but why aren't you with her tonight?"

Alex grunted as he shook the lights, trying to detangle them. "She left for Brazil this morning, some kind of fashion show."

"Oh," I nodded.

We finished stringing the rest of the lights in silence. It was almost comforting. Alex literally looked like a kid on Christmas morning when he plugged them in, stepping back behind me.

"Beautiful," I whispered.

"I agree," Alex replied and I looked up to see him smiling at me.

I blushed and quickly looked away. "I'm gonna check the sausage," I mumbled.

"Where are the ornaments?" Alex asked.

"No ornaments," I replied and he looked me funny. "Too many breakables, not enough grace," I explained.

Alex gasped, "What is a Christmas tree without ornaments?"

I giggled. "I'm sorry! The only ones I have a hand me downs from my mom and grandma and I'm far too clumsy to handle them."

"Fine," Alex mumbled. "Is it ready?"

I poked the pack of sausage and nodded, pulling it out of the sink. I cut it open and started slicing.

"So you can cook?" Alex asked, nodding. "That's a plus."

"Unfortunately no," I confessed. "If it doesn't come with instructions I'm all but clueless," I pouted.

He slumped. "I see a lot of instant noodles in junior's future."

I laughed, turning the eye of the stove on to boil some water for the rice. We made a little small talk as I prepped the food, mainly Alex asking me about myself. He walked over to the stove and took a deep breath in.

"Smells great," he smiled. "But looks southern as shit."

"Darn tootin'," I smiled, stirring the rice.

"So I take it you're not from 'round these here parts," he smiled, doing the worst impression of a southern drawl.

I shook my head, mixing the sausage in with the rice, "I'm not. I moved here a little over three years ago from Georgia. Megan just had to come with me," I laughed, making a mental note to call her later.

Alex nodded, leaning against the counter. "Do you miss your family?"

I nodded slowly, stealing no a quick glance at him. "More than anything."

He nodded again, a sympathetic look on his face. I spooned some of the jambalaya onto two plates and pulled out some cups, looking in the fridge.

"Tea, or water," I asked.

"Tea would be great," he replied.

I poured us two glasses and Alex grabbed the plates, taking them to the table. We sat across from each other and he scooped a forkful into his mouth.

"Oh my god," he moaned. "This is amazing,"

I smiled proudly. "Thanks."

Alex took another mouthful and a sip of his tea. "So your birthday is in October. The 8th, right?"

I nodded slowly, swallowing the food in my mouth. "How nice of you to remember," I said sarcastically.

He smiled and raked more food in his mouth.

"And yours is," I trailed off, pulling my mental calendar out, and I gasped. "Today."

He smiled, a mouthful of food.

"Alex, today is your birthday," I said again.

"I know, I'm aware," he laughed. He pointed down at his empty plate. "Can I get some more?"

"Yes," I said slowly, suddenly not hungry anymore. "Why aren't you with Sophia or Jack or your parents for that matter?"

Alex came back, another helping on his plate. He sat down and shrugged. "Sophia is in Brazil, Jack is in New York, and my parents are in England."

I felt a pain in my heart. "Well I'm sorry you have to spend your birthday with me," I frowned.

Alex looked up at me slowly, "Whitney, it's not like that. I'm thrilled to be here. Honest."

Notes