Thrive

It’s Saturday and Alex and I are about to leave to meet up with our friends along with our adorable nephew.

"You have no idea how radiant you look today." he said as I looked in the bedroom mirror one last time.

I blushed and turned around to see the other reflection smiling at me while our beautiful daughter was in her carrier on the floor beside her handsome father. Despite the makeup I’ve used to cover up the dark circles under my eyes, you could still tell I wasn’t sleeping well, but Alex is going to say I'm beautiful no matter what I look like, which melts my heart every single time.

“Thank you.” I said smiling.

“My pleasure. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my toes to kiss him.

“Ready to go?” he asked after we kissed.

“Absolutely. You? The princess?”

“Yes and yes.”

He turned to the sleepy girl who just yawned and smiled at him. I kneeled and kissed her cheek which caused her to giggle.

“You excited to see your Aunt Miranda and Uncle Jack?” I said in a cutesy voice.

I got more giggles out of her.

“She is totally excited.” I said with a huge smile.

“Like her Mama. I’ll take her. You grab her baby bag.”

I nodded and kissed his cheek. We were out the door in less than five minutes and on the road in five. This was only the second time I’ve been out the house since we came home from the hospital with Scarlett and even then, I was only out for a matter of minutes for a short walk with her.

“How nice is it to be out as a family?” Alex asked.

We were getting her out of her car seat and into her stroller when we got to the restaurant.

“Incredibly. How do you feel?"

“The same way. Who knows how much time we’re gonna get till we head back out on tour.”

I nodded.

I didn’t want to think about them going back out on tour because life is different, now that Alex and I have started a family; it’s gonna be more difficult and not having Scarlett’s daddy here to help raise her while he’s out who knows where.

“Are you okay? You spaced out for a second.” he asked.

I hate that question more than anyone will ever know.

“Yeah. I was just thinking is all."

"Anything I should worry about?"

"No. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about."

He laughed and kissed my cheek.

"I'll take your word for it."

"Good."

If I actually told him what I was thinking, he would worry; I have known the man for nearly four years after all. Once she was secure, I faintly heard my name being called. I turned slightly to see my best friend and smiled. She walked toward me and hugged me immediately.

“Miranda. I am so happy to see you.”

“We haven’t seen each other in a week, hun. I’m so glad to see you.”

“It feels so great to be out of the house.”

“I know that feeling all too well. How is my adorable niece?”

“Wonderful, aside from the sleeping thing.”

“I’m sure she’ll get over it.”

“That’s good to hear.”

I looked over to see Alex and Jack talking like my bestie and I were which furthered my smiling. We walked over with our children and I leaned up against my husband after greeting Jack, of course.

"Ready to go in boys?"

“Definitely.” Alex answered.

“I’m starving.”

I pushed Scarlett’s stroller as we all made our way into the restaurant. I situated her beside me when we were seated and sat her baby bag on the floor.

“Let me see that ring.” I said after we ordered drinks.

Miranda was directly across from me. She smiled and put out her hand. The guys were deep in a conversation of their own.

“It is absolutely beautiful.”

“I love it. It’s gorgeous.”

I saw the smile grow on her face and Jack proceeded to pull her in close and kiss her cheek.

“Just like you.”

She blushed.

“You two are seriously adorable.” I said instinctively taking Alex’s hand in mine.

I admired my own engagement ring that I still wore along with my wedding band. Noticing what I was looking at, he squeezed my hand and ran his thumb across the former ring. I rested my head on his shoulder since I already knew what I was going to order.

“You say we’re adorable? Look at you two!” Miranda said.

It was my turn to blush. The moment was short lived because I heard Scarlett cry. One sniff indicated what it was; she needs changed.

“I’ll be back. Order for me please. You know what I want.”

Alex nodded as I excused myself to the restroom with our daughter.

“You picked the right time to stink up the place, sweetie. Didn’t you?” I said, undoing her diaper.

She just giggled which caused me to laugh. I quickly disposed of her diaper and cleaned her butt before putting on a fresh one.

“Now, isn’t that better?”

She continued to squirm and giggle. I placed her back in my baby wrap and kept her close to me; it’s the first time of me using it and I’m elated to be doing so. I love the intimacy between my daughter and I.

“I love you so much, baby girl.” I said kissing the top of her head.

I came walking out with everyone fussing over Luca until Alex finally saw us and smiled; my heart melted seeing how he was looking at Scarlett and I. I truly was the luckiest woman in the world. Wasn’t I?

“How’s our pumpkin? Clean tushy?”

Our pumpkin. I’m never gonna get over that. Am I?

“Very and giggly.”

“That’s my girl.” he said kissing her forehead.

“Did you already order?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded before I turned to put Scarlett back in her stroller. I looked up and out of the corner of my eye, I could've sworn I saw that woman from that hole in the wall Alex and I ate at once before he left for tour last year.

I excused myself to the restroom a few minutes later and came back to see a woman walk past Alex who was eyeing him up; not on my watch. She went into where I was just at and discontinued the glare I was giving her.

"What was that about?"

"That skank was looking at you like you were a piece of meat."

I'm not one to go to assumptions, but in this case, I considered myself justified.

"Stuff like that doesn't bother me."

"Well, it's gotta bother you about men looking at me like that."

"Of course, it does. I'd be a horrible fiancee if it didn't, especially since that night."

I sighed.

"I get what you're saying."

This is when that woman walking toward our booth still looking as hungry as ever. I glared at her again, displaying my ring which turned her gaze away from him.

"That's right. Keep on walking."

"Abby." he scolded.

"What?"

"That was going too far."

"No. It wasn't. I could've gotten in her face, but I restrained myself. Seeing as I can be quite the bitch and confrontational, I find that tame."

"It was uncalled for."

I'm. In. The. Right.

We sat in silence aside from when our food came which was a period of ten minutes, a long and awkward silence.

"Talk to me." Alex said.

I cut a piece of my food and put it in my mouth and began chewing. Occasionally, I can be extra bitchy and this was certainly one of those times. I took a sip of lemonade and placed it back down while I felt his eyes on me.

"Could you quit staring at me? I always know when you're looking at me."

I started to bounce my leg up and down which was an indicator of my anxiety.

"Abigail."

"Alexander."

I felt his hand on my knee, trying to calm me down.

"I know you."

"...too well. Can you just admit that I was right?"

"No. I won't. Because I’m right.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I’m sorry I acted like that, but I couldn’t stand her looking at you like that even when she saw that you were with someone. It was disgusting.”

He shrugged.

“Yeah. She was definitely disgusting, but I don’t let that get to me like the way it did with you.”

“You really wouldn’t act like that around a douchebag?”

“Unless he touched you or said something, I wouldn’t.”

I sighed and shook my head.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked.

"Pardon my language, but that bitch who couldn't keep her eyes off you last year is here." I said rolling my eyes.

"No way. That chick?" Miranda asked.

"The one-and-only."

"How in the world do you remember her?" Alex added.

He seemed to be annoyed and I had no idea why. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him.

“Have you forgotten how great my memory is? I’d rather not think of her, actually.”

I really would’ve wished I hadn’t seen this woman because I didn’t want to have this conversation in public while we were out with our best friends and two newborns.

“I apologize for having an attitude, but I truly didn’t think that would still bother you.”

“Thank you.” I said simply.

Conversation returned to normal and I was ever thankful; what I said didn’t need to happen and now it’s in the past. Another thought resurfaced about them leaving soon and I wished it would just go away.

“There’s something else bothering you. I can see it in your face.” he whispered.

We were nearing the end of lunch and our friends were too busy talking to their son.

“Let’s talk about it when we get home.”

“Or when we get in the car.”

I gave him a look then turned to our daughter who was getting fussy again.

“Abby.” he said with the oh so familiar hand on my shoulder.

I shrugged it off.

“Let’s just pay and go. She needs a nap.”

“Ok.”

A minute later, both checks came as we decided to split the check.

“Well, that was a great lunch. We need to do it more often while we’re still here.” Jack said.

Before going on tour.

“I agree.” I said.

We split ways quickly as us moms oddly enough both needed a nap. After Alex clicked Scarlett and her seat into place, he moved into the driver’s seat and started the car before buckling his seatbelt.

“Will you tell me what else is going on?”

“At home.”

Nothing else was said after that till we got home; all you could hear was the sound of music. I took her out of the car while Alex grabbed her baby bag.

“Abby.” he said once we were in the house.

“Let me put her down for a nap.”

He followed me up the stairs and made a detour to our bedroom while I headed to her nursery.

“Have a good nap, sweetie.” I said once I set her in her crib.

I walked into our bedroom with Alex sitting on the bed waiting for me.

“Can we talk now?” he asked.

I crawled on top of the bed and sat next to him. He wrapped an arm around my waist which I was sure was an attempt to keep me here until I tell him what’s wrong.

“Sure.”

“What is it?”

“It’s stupid.”

“Whatever it is, I'm sure it’s not gonna be stupid.”

“But, it is.”

“Just tell me.”

“I lied earlier. When you saw me space out and I told you it was nothing for you to worry about, it was something I knew you'd worry about so I let it go."

Lying to him isn't exactly on my top ten list of things I love doing, so I instantly felt bad for doing so.

"Does it have anything to do with me leaving you and Scarlett next week?"

"Maybe..." I said looking away from him for some reason.

“Look at me.” he said in a calm but stern voice.

I didn’t want to because I could feel tears brimming in my eyes. I slowly turned my head.

"Please don't-"

"...cry. I know. Things are going to be tougher than ever. It was one thing for you to be gone much of the time I was pregnant, but now our little human is here and..."

He cut me off by kissing me and pulling me onto his lap.

"Don't worry about how you're feeling or what's on your mind because you don't want me to worry. I can take it, you know. I do plan on spending the rest of my life with you or have you forgotten that?”

I smiled and kissed him.

“Not in the least. I love you."

"I love you, too. Touring is going to be harder than ever, but I know we have the strongest bond out there and we'll be fine."

He never ceases to make me feel better even in the toughest of times like what is about to for the next month or so; I honestly feel so blessed to have such a selfless and amazing person in my life.

Notes

Sorry for the huge delay! After writing chapters so fast for both this story and the prequel, I had a major writer's block for the past couple chapters, so bear with me because I don't know how fast or slow ideas are going to happen for me.