Page 15 of Waiting for Acceptance
Well that’s good enough for me and now everyone else’s opinions are irrelevant.
Shane
Rude. But grilling out sounds fab. We’ll bring buns and chips.
Tay
We got drinks.
Leah
Do I need to bring anything??
Ruby
Sounds like we have the basics, so just yourself, gorgeous.
Me
See you guys tonight.
New Year's Eve also looks a little different these days. No more going out dancing, or seeing if we can find someone to kiss before midnight. Now we hang out with the people who have become family, shooting fireworks in the backyard, grilling out, and putting the kids to bed by nine. I refuse to start the new yearnegatively. I’ll be with my girls, laughing until our cheeks hurt andthatis what it always comes back to. I’ve got my girls, what else do I need?
“I wouldreallylike to see you go against Tank in a hot dog eating contest.” Max chuckles from his place across from mine as we all sit around Tank and Ruby’s outdoor dining table with the outdoor heaters keeping us warm. I narrow my eyes and then glance over at Tank who is giving me a challenging look.
“I’d love to, but unfortunatelyI snacked all day and already put awaytwoof these as well as half of Shane’s burger so I’m afraid I must decline. Unless of course you want to see the absurd amount of junk food I stored away like a squirrel for winter during my Netflix binge today.” Tank begins laughing, shaking his head as he sucks some ketchup off his thumb like the Neanderthal he is.
“I think she might actually give me a run for my money.” I roll my eyes and sit back in my chair.
“Better you run than me, I don’t think I’m moving again til’ Valentine’s Day.”
“Will you be my Valentine Aunt Lauren?” Hendrix, my not-so-little love, asks from a few seats down.
“I can’t think of a single person I’d rather have as a Valentine, Hen. Ice cream and Spider-Man marathon?”
“Heck yeah.” He holds his fist out to me and I bump it—blowing it up, of course—earning the sweetest smile from him. Hendrix is by far the coolest seven-year-old I know, and the only kid I’ve ever found myself not feeling completely intimidated by.
“It’s a little early to be choosing a Valentine, isn’t it buddy? What if you find someone else you want to ask at school or something?” Tank asks. I whip my head around as my jaw drops.
“Bite your tongue.” His hands go up defensively as he laughs.
“Fireworks?” Hendrix asks Ruby, bouncing in his seat with anticipation.
“Fireworks!” she agrees and they jump up from the table to get everything ready.
After shooting off thebig guyfireworks, as Tucker called them, the kids get to experience the magic of sparklers. Cece squeals, looking as adorable as ever in her pink knit cap and rosy cheeks. Hendrix is running around the yard acting like the sparkler ninja and Poe looks absolutely hypnotized by the one Ruby is holding in the hand opposite of him. After they’ve emptied two entire boxes of sparklers, it’s time for the littles to go in.
“Alright Munchkins, time for bed!” Tank rounds up the boys, while Max gets Cece from Shane, leaving Tucker to take the dogs in for bed. We all pile onto the outdoor couches, snuggling under the fleece blankets as the firepit comes to life between us.
We’re in a fit of giggles over Leah kissing my cheek and claiming we’ll ride off into the sunset together when her phone goes off and she drops a major informational bomb on us.
“You guys kissed?!” I squeal. Apparently, she and Sawyer kissed on Christmas Eve while we were all at Taylor and Tucker’s house. There’s a less than angelic chorus of screams and squeals coming from all of us, and just as she begins giving us the details about how they both unknowingly liked each other back in high school, and neither of them knew it, the guys come running out.
“What’s wrong?” They all come almost tripping over each other out the back door.
You know, for ex-military, they’re not very stealthy.
“Leah and Sawyer kissed!” Taylor screams.
