✿ Reid's POV

“As it's a common thing for couples to do... yes Lee. We have to kiss.”

Her eyes grow wide. Even I hadn't thought of it. How could we make everyone believe we were together without kissing? She sits up.

“Maybe this isn't a good idea, Armani,” she says. “Let's just forget about this, okay?”

Is she that worried about a kiss?

I hold out my hand to her.

“Give me your hand.”

“W-What... why?” she stammers.

Kisses were nothing. I sigh and gently take her hand. They were incredibly soft. I press a quick kiss to it and smile up at her.

“That wasn't so bad was it?” I ask.

She makes a face and snatches her hand back, wiping it off on her apron.

“Gross.”

I arch a brow.

“Gross?”

“Gross” she repeats.

I let out a playfully pained breath through my mouth and her lips quirk into the tiniest of smiles.

“Just promise you won't kiss me any more than what's necessary, okay?”

I nod.

“Yes ma'am” I promise.

It was odd, but I wouldn't mind having to kiss her more than necessary. She was cute and had this light in her I liked. No one could make me smile this much in a single seating but she seemed to have no problem doing it at all.

“Mainly around my relatives if we happen across them” I clear my throat, dismissing my thoughts.

“You've thought this out very precisely,” she mutters.

“Because I need this work, Lee,” I say. “That Aussie has to go.”

“Mm,” she hums and pushes my phone back at me.

“All done?”

“Yes.”

“Sooo... are we good?” I ask.

“Yes.”

I smile and nod.

“Okay...”

“On another condition though.”

I look at her.

Another one?

She leans toward me.

“When all this is said and done, you tell everyone I broke up with you, not the other way around.”

I scoff.

“Sure. Anika did it. It won't be surprising for the baker to either” I say.

A playful smile crosses her face.

“Excellent.”

I nod.

“But you have to agree to another condition of mine.”

“Seriously, Armani?” she frowns.

I nod. Lee sighs.

“Fine. What is it?”

I lean towards her this time.

“You most definitely can not fall in love with me,” I whisper, holding her gaze.

Her pretty eyes widen slightly at my words but they quickly narrow and she chuckles.

“Trust me, that won't be a problem. You're not my type” she whispers, flipping her hair over her shoulder on the last word.

I suddenly frown.

I'm not her type? I'm everybody's type.

I lean away from her and fold my arms over my chest.

“Well you're not to my standards” I angrily tell her.

She smiles a little.

“You've mentioned.”

“Good,” I say. “There won't be any problems then.”

“There won't” she confidently replies.

She doesn't find me charming at all?

I shake my head. It didn't matter.

“Sign the agreement,” I say, pushing the phone back at her. “Right at the bottom.”

“Is this really necessary?” she asks again but swipes her finger across it anyway.

Satisfied, I take my phone back.

“Only as a precaution.”

“Okayy” she drags.

“Gimme your phone,” I say.

“Why?”

“Just give it.”

She reaches behind her and pulls it out from... probably her back pocket. Then she unlocks it and gives it to me. I smile at the wallpaper.

“Cami?” I question.

“Yes. She had just been born and she was extremely clingy.”

I chuckle, my initial anger gone.

“Babies are clingy,” I say, my goddaughter's childhood coming to mind.

She looks up at me.

“She's six and a half and still clingy” she shakes her head.

I enter my number and save it.

'Aileen Teresa Wilmore' her Apple ID displays.

I look up at her.

Teresa?

“The 'Lee' is short for Aileen?” I ask.

She shrugs.

“Yes... Benjamin.”

I laugh and shake my head. Then I furrow my brows.

“Wilmore?” I ask. “Is Bonnie your... sister-in-law?”

She makes a face.

“Is she your... mother?”

She chuckles at that.

“Something like that.”

I give her a look, urging her to explain. Aileen sighs.

“She's married to my Uncle.”

“So she's your aunt?”

“Not when my uncle has legally adopted me as his daughter” she chuckles lightly.

I give her a confused look and she rolls her eyes.

“My parents died when I was barely three and so my uncle adopted me. Making Bonnie both my aunt and mother... and my best friend because we met in school.”

“She's your age?”

“Seven years older.”

I'm almost her age then.

I scoff.

“Wow.”

“Mm,” she hums.

“So Cami is your sister and cousin?”

“All in one” she smiles proudly.

I nod and dial my number on her phone. It rings and I end the call before handing her her phone back.

“I want you to send me your work schedule so we can work around it,” I say, standing up.

“Okay,” she replies, getting up too.

“Also, I will need your body measurements.”

She watches me with an apprehensive expression and I pause, waiting for her to comment.

“Body measurements?” she asks slowly.

“So I can find the right clothing for you,” I reply.

My eyes automatically begin to scan her body. What is with the breasts? They seemed to be too big for her form. She folds her arms and my eyes snap right back to her face.

“I don't want any clothes that are made for my exact size, Armani,” she says. “Clothing from Target is fine.”

I frown.

Target?!

Maybe that was why her breasts pushed against her shirt so tightly.

“You cannot be seen with me in clothing from Target, Aileen.”

“Just call me Lee, Armani,” she says. “And if I'm up for the trip, I go to Macy's or Goodwill. But I like it, okay?”

I make a face.

“If you got your clothing tailored to your custom measurement, your breasts wouldn't be trying to escape every time you put on clothes. Can't you tell they're too big for your frame?”

Her eyes widen and her jaw drops. She opens and closes her mouth for a moment as if she's at a loss for words.

“Get out,” she finally says.

“Excuse me?”

“Get out, Armani!” she repeats her voice rising a few pitches.

“Why—”

“Out!” she interjects, grabbing a pencil and coming after me.

I chuckle, still in shock, and walk out of her office. She stomps after me. I wave at her girls and stop at the door to look at her.

“I'll call you, Aila” I smirk.

She just glares at me and picks up the child who held her arms open for her.

“Tonight” I add.

Aileen blows out an angry huff of air at me and adjusts Cami on her hip before pointing at the door.

“Just go.”

I nod and open the door. I stop and turn to her again.

“I love—”

Her eyes widen and she takes several threatening steps toward me. I laugh and finally, step out, but not before giving her one last grateful look and getting an eye roll in return and a stink eye from her six-year-old sister-cousin.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

“Lee?! It's your phone again!” Bonnie calls out to me.

I step out of the downstairs bathroom and make my way to the kitchen. I hum along to my ringing tone and open the fridge to get some soda. The call ends and I open the can with a smile. As soon as I bring the drink to my lips, my phone goes off for the umpteenth time. Annoyed, I flip it over on the countertop to see the name Armani flashing on the screen.

Is he some kind of crazy stalker?

I shake my head and put the phone on 'Do not disturb'. Then it wouldn't be driving me crazy.

“Reid again?” Bonnie chuckles.

I nod. She shakes her head.

“Just put the poor man out of his misery and answer the phone.”

“No, I won't” I reply. “And you're on my side, Bon. You hear?”

She wipes the counter.

“What did he do huh?” she asks, pausing to hear my reply.

I pout and glance at my oversized shirt.

“I'll tell you what he did. He made a very inappropriate comment about my... clothes.”

“Your clothes?” she asks. “Or your boobs?”

I look at her.

“Lee...” she chuckles.

“No, Bon” I shake my head. “He had no right to pass that comment about my... issues. That's zero courtesy, Bonnie. I mean how it is my boobs are too big for my form, huh? He has no right to comment about my size.”

Bonita watches me curiously.

“You know, about the boob thing, I'm sure he was just trying to—”

“Don't defend him, Bon” I cut her off.

“I'm not,” she says. “But you know it's true, right?”

I groan and cover my ears. Bonnie laughs and moves to the sink to wash her hand.

“How about we go shopping next weekend huh? After we buy Cami's big girl bed, I'll buy you a dress.”

“I thought Papi was going with me this weekend?”

“Nooo” she sighs. “He's still sulking over the engagement news.”

I sigh. I had to find him and talk to him when he got back from his mechanic shop. Biting my lip, I thread a hand through my hair. Then our home phone starts ringing and it startles me, causing Bonita to snicker.

“I got it,” she says. “It's probably Cami's school.”

I glance at the time on my phone.

I can pick her up from school.

“Hello? Oh yes she's here. One minute.”

I make a face. Bonita puts a hand over the receiver.

“It's the shop. Something about a shelf.”

I frown.

“What? I had them install it just yesterday!” I exclaim and take the phone. “Hello?”

“Why aren't you answering your phone?”

It takes me a second to realize Bonnie had tricked me. It was Armani. Bonnie wiggles her brows at me and I frown.

“Aileen?”

I hung up the phone. Bonnie's mouth drops.

“Why would you do that, Lee?!”

“I don't want to talk to him” I explain.

Three seconds later it starts ringing again. Bonnie grabs a frying pan and points it at me.

“Pick it up!” she warns.

“Bon...” I whine.

“Do not make me pan you, Lee.”

I groan and pick up the phone.

“Hello?”

Bonnie sets the pan down and narrows her eyes at me before walking away to give me privacy.

“Did you hang up on me?”

“Yes,” I answer, picking up my phone to switch it from 'Do not disturb'.

The notifications for his missed calls flood the notification center of my phone and I shake my head.

“Don't hang up” Reid finally speaks up.

“You have two minutes, Armani.”

“Two minutes isn't enough to talk about what I want to talk about.”

“So?”

“So?” he questions. “I've been calling you since I left the bakery yesterday and you haven't answered a single call.”

I shrug.

“I've been busy.”

“Liar” he cut me off, speaking nonchalantly.

“What do you want, Reid? You have one minute remaining.”

“Do you have to be so mean?”

I lean against the kitchen sink.

“Are you going to tell me why you're calling?”

There's a brief moment of silence from his side, then he sighs heavily.

“We have plans for tonight.”

“Plans?”

“Yes”

“What kind of plans?”

“We're going on a date.”

“A date?” I repeat.

Bonnie pops her head through the doorway and wiggles her eyes at me. I throw a napkin at her and she leaves.

“Yes. I'll need you to put on your fanciest Target dress and how good are you with heels?”

“Heels?” I ask, looking down at my flip-flops.

“Are you purposely trying to imitate a parrot?”

I scowl a bit.

“No. Why do I have to wear heels?”

“Because it's a date.”

“Precisely why I'm not supposed to wear heels.”

“Lee” he sighs.

“Relax jeez!” I scoff. “I'll see what I can find.

“You'll see what you can find?” he asks. “Ugh fuck this.”

“Hey don't get all—”

I hear a click.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

Scoffing, I put the phone back.

“Jerk” I mutter.

“So a date huh?” Bonnie grins, stepping back into the kitchen.

I make a face.

Unfortunately.

“Well you best get ready,” she says and grabs her purse.

I beat her to the car keys and smile.

“I'll get her,” I say.

“But you have a date to get ready for.”

“That doesn't mean I can't pick up Cami,” I tell her.

She shakes her head and passes me my purse.

“Drive safe. No detours!”

“Unless necessary, Mom,” I giggle and walk out the door.

I unlock my car. But before I can get in, the engine of a car roars before purring to a stop. His windows go down and he looks at me.

“Get in.”

I make a face.

“Do you think this is a spy movie, Reid?”

“I don't have time for this okay? Just get in the car. I'm getting you a dress.”

“I thought you asked me to—”

“I do not know what I was thinking when I said that, Lee. But I'm thinking straight now, and I need you to get in the car.”

“Can't this wait?”

“No.”

“I need to pick up Cami from sch—”

“I'll take you.”

I sigh.

“Fine. Let me just put my keys back—”

“Toss them over to Bonnie. She's right there.”

I turn and she waves from the porch. I groan slightly and toss the keys to her. She catches with ease and waves as I get in the car. Reid honks in return and rolls up the glass. With his sunglasses still on, he speeds out of our driveway.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

“Lee?” Cami calls out from the backseat.

“Hm?” I hum in response.

“Can we get stationaries?”

“Now?” I ask, furrowing my brows a little.

“Yeah. I have an art project and I'm out of artsy stuff.”

I glance at Reid whose eyes were fixed firmly on the road. He flexes his jaw.

“Lee?” Cami calls out again.

I keep looking at Reid. A small sigh escapes his lips and he nods.

“Yes, we can” I grin at Cami who smiles back.

Reid pulls up in front of a big building and we step out.

“Err where's this place?” I ask with a frown.

“The mall” he replies.

“Yeah no. We're going to the stationary shop close to home” I scoff. “Get back in the car, Cami.”

“She said artsy stuff, Lee. This is where you find the best artsy stuff.”

“She forgot to add the 'in the budget' when she said that.”

Reid sighs.

“Lee we have so much to do before our date tonight. Please just get the stuff here? Okay?”

I fold my arms.

“I'll pay” he offers.

“No” I reply and take Camari's hand before walking into the building.

We follow the directional arrows in the building and find the stationery shop.

“Okay, Cami. What do you need?” I ask, taking out my purse.

She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a list.

You have got to be kidding me!

“All this?” I ask.

She nods.

“It's a big project.”

I groan. Reid takes the list from my hands and takes off his sunglasses before reading them.

“This way,” he says.

“And you know what you're doing?” I ask.

“I have a goddaughter who's been six and a half years old before. Of course, I know what I'm doing” he retorts.

“Lee?” Cami calls out and tugs at my shirt. “Can I go check out the ladybird books?”

I look in the direction she's pointing.

“Um... I dunno... we're in a hurry so...”

“Let her go,” Reid says.

I look at him.

“I thought you said—”

“I know what I said” he cuts me off.

Cami smiles.

“Bye then!”

She hurries off and I shake my head.

“Here,” Reid says, handing me a large pack of colorful markers.

I furrow my brows.

“Get a basket” he instructs.

I scoff and reach out for a shopping cart instead.

“I said basket” he frowns.

“I know what I'm doing,” I say, setting the markers inside.

He scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“Is this really necessary, Armani?” I ask.

“What?”

“The big stuff. Just put in small or medium size. She doesn't need the largest glitter set” I say picking it up and examining it.

“She's six. Let her have fun.”

“Fun? She's going to make a mess.”

“You're afraid she'll draw a mustache on your face when you're asleep?” he scoffs.

“No, I'm afraid of the monologue that's going to be attached to the mess,” I say.

Reid laughs.

“When did she start having opinions?” he asks.

I chuckle.

“About three seconds after she was born,” I say with a wistful smile. “Those Cheerios had better be apple cinnamon or they were going on the floor.”

Reid arches a brow.

“Apple cinnamon?” he questions. “She does have high standards.”

I shrug proudly.

“I thought her too well,” I say with a proud smile.

Reid smiles quietly at me for a while before looking away.

“I like apple cinnamon Cheerios too” I hear him say.

I make a face, then scoff.

“You don't seem like the kind of guy who'd settle for inferior Cheerios” I chuckle.

“I seem like the black, bitter coffee type also, but I'm not,” he tells me. “Trust me, I'm the easy-going one in the family.”

I stop walking.

“You?”

He smiles.

“Me.”

“Unbelievable” I shake my head.

“I was raised by my grandmother,” he says slowly. “That's how come I like cappuccinos and apple cinnamon Cheerios.”

I tilt my head at him.

“Where were your parents?”

“My father was mostly away on business trips.”

“And Portia?”

He chuckles and leans close to my ear.

“She wasn't trusted to raise a rare gem like me” he whispers, winking when he pulls away.

I smile.

“I'm sure.”

Reid smiles back and takes control of the cart.

“But she was growing and I wasn't exactly the easiest kid to raise so she had to let Portia try.”

“And did she do a good job?” I ask, slowly walking beside him.

He looks at me and his smile is soft and warm.

“You tell me. I go back every summer for an examination.”

I laugh and he laughs along. The silence that follows is oddly comfortable. He wasn't all bad. Just some flaws and first impression red flags. But we all have flaws and sometimes red flags... right?

Nobody's perfect, my conscience quips.

I smile warmly at him.

“Are you two done?” Camari cuts in.

We turn and she's standing there with her arms crossed. Reid lets go of the cart and I nod.

“Yes. C'mon,” I say to her.

She narrows her eyes at Reid who chuckles after she takes the lead.

“I don't think she likes me very much.”

“I suggest you go on an apple cinnamon date next Sunday. It might just work” I whisper.

“Copy that” he whispers back.

I smile and wheel the cart to the checkout point.

“Let me,” Reid says and unloads the cart.

I glance around the store and see a magazine with Sam Smith on the cover. I pick it up and there's a news article about him.

“Oh,” I let out when I see the picture of him kissing a man.

“What?” Reid asks.

I point to the picture and he scoffs.

“Get over him” he teases.

I shake my head.

“Hey, I wanna see it too!” Cami pouts.

I lower the magazine so she can see the picture. Camari makes a face.

“Lee?”

“Yes, Cami?”

“Why is Sam Smith kissing a boy?”

“Oh it's because he's gay honey” the cashier chips in.

Camari chews on her lip thoughtfully and I chuckle.

“Lee?” she goes again.

“Yes, Cami?”

“What does gay mean?”

How do I get to this? This should be Bonnie.

“Answer the kid, Lee” Reid whispers to me. “This is a teachable moment... very rare. The next time you realize, she's twenty-one and engaged to a guy who drinks wine for a living.”

I groan inwardly.

How do you explain gay to a six-year-old?

“See how girls like boys? Yeah it's like that. But this time, boys like boys.”

I see the cashier nod in agreement.

“Oh,” Cami lets out quietly. “Lee?” she goes again.

Oh, it doesn't end.

“Why can't girls like girls?” she asks.

“Oh they can, Cami,” I tell her. “They're called lesbians.”

“Lessions?”

Reid chuckles.

“No Cami. Les-Bee-Ens” I break it down for her.

She nods and fiddles with her hair.

Thank God it's over.

“Lee?” she calls again.

Reid shakes his head and nudges me to answer her.

“Cami?” I reply.

“Can I be a lesbian?”

I arch a brow at her. She looks up at me expectantly.

“Camari sweetie, that's not—”

“Only if you feel that way” Reid chips in.

I look at Reid and he gives me a look. I turn back to Camari and nod.

“He's right. That's your... decision, okay?”

She nods.

“Wh-Why though, Cami?” I can't help but ask.

She sighs dramatically.

“There's this new girl in my class,” she says, brushing her hair away from her face. “But I can't talk to her.”

“W-Why not?”

Camari lets out another overdramatic sigh.

“Because she's really, really, really pretty!” she whines. “Like prettier than Elsa.”

What?!

Reid chuckles.

“Prettier than Elsa?!” I gasp dramatically.

“Yes” she nods seriously. “Should I ask her out?”

“A slumber party would be a good start” Reid suggests over my shoulder.

She gives him a little smile.

“But wait” I stop her. “What about the other kid you like? That boy named Charleston something.”

“Oh him?” she asks, then shakes her head. “I don't like Charles anymore.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. “He's cute.”

“I'm sure” she nods. “And I only said I liked him, because I thought I didn't have any options but boys.”

Well damn!

The cashier cracks up and a few people who'd obviously been listening in on the conversation join in the laughter. I smile at her and take her hand as Reid wheels the cart beside us.

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter