Continuing on with our July 4th adventures, we landed at my parents house. Nicole and Cam were parked outside, waiting for Steven and I to arrive. Once we all got ourselves in order, we walked to the front and rang the doorbell, a moment later my mom opening up the door with a bright smile on her face. “My babies are all here!” She exclaimed with her arms thrown up in the air before she hugged all four of us— giving us all kisses on the cheek. “Darling, you look absolutely stunning!” She said to me, touching my hair and noticing there was a certain glow about me.

“Thanks, Mommy.” I smiled, giving her another long hug. I missed her so much. Things have been so hectic lately with the shop, the blog, New York, Steven, the Vogue thing; I feel like I hadn’t seen my dear mother in ages. I used to come to dinner every Sunday, but since the shop opened, I had been there, not here.

Once my mom and I walked into the kitchen, we saw a couple of my aunts there helping out in the kitchen over some iced spirits and i saw my dad in the backyard with Steven and Cam, chatting over the grill and smiling. I went and gave everyone a hug and kisses, before heading outside to my precious dad. “Hey Daddy-O.” I greeted happily, walking over to him and seeing him light up. It’s been hard for him, me not being around much anymore, I tried to ignore the hurt in his eyes, but this time I couldn’t. Wait until he hears about my job offer.

“Hi Princess,” He hugged me tightly, letting go and noticing the bright and flashy diamond on my ring finger. His eyes widened as he looked between Steven and I for an explanation.
“Don’t worry, Boss. That was just her birthday gift— you know I’d ask you first.” Steven said respectfully, instantly easing my father with just that phrase.

He nodded before going back to his grill, not saying much of anything else to me. He was acting weird and distant, that wasn’t like my father. He only seemed to carry on conversation with the guys, so I took that as a cue to go inside. I shut the French doors and walked toward the kitchen, feeling unwanted in the house I grew up in. I sat down beside Nicole on one of the stools, her noticing my mood and pouring a glass of white wine for me. “Mom, is dad okay?” I asked out loud, earning looks from all the ladies in the room except for Nicole.

“He’s— he’s upset that you haven’t been around.” She answered honestly, her eyes meeting mine hoping I would understand. She continued chopping up bell peppers and tomatoes, her attention going back to the knife in her hands.

“I thought I had already explained to him that work has been crazy lately. We just opened up a shop, it’s not going to be settled immediately.” I sipped on my beverage, wishing hard that it was a whiskey-coke or something stronger. I would have preferred that.

“He knows that. But, he’s just having a hard time with it, Bonnie. You know your father, he just misses his daughter and is used to having you around more. It’s nothing to get upset about.” My aunt chimed in, knowing very well that I was getting worked up and frustrated.

I sat there and kept wondering why he was being so distant to me, but to Steven he wasn’t— that was bothering me the most. Sometimes it always felt like he favored Steven more, maybe because he’d always wanted a son, but never got it and only got me instead. Maybe because Steven was bright and following in his footsteps and I went on another path that strayed way further than what he had originally anticipated for me. I wasn’t sure. I know that I could very well be overanalyzing the situation and overreacting like I usually did.

“Alright everyone, food’s ready! Table is set outside, just need the beautiful ladies out there.” Steven charmed everyone with a chuckle before walking over to me and noticing I had been somewhat quiet and not being like my usual self. Everyone got their drinks and whatever was needed for the food before going outside and shutting the door, but Steven stayed with me. “What’s wrong, baby?” He pushed my hair out of my face, placing it behind my ear, and rubbing my cheek with his thumb.

“My dad. He’s just acting weird towards me. My mom said it’s because I haven’t been around much, but he’s being normal with you.” I said, looking up at him with sad eyes.

He shook his head a little, “Not really. He’s acting sort of distant with me, too. Not as bad as he is with you, but he’s still being weird.” He was quiet for a moment, holding my hand and massaging it lightly with his fingers before landing on my left ring finger and smiling. “Everything is going to be okay, baby. I promise you that. We’re going to tell them the great news you got and he’ll be so happy for you! I swear. It’s impossible not to be proud of you.”

I smiled softly, feeling better just by hearing the soothing gravel in his voice. “I love you.”

He kissed my forehead, “I love you too, Bonnie. I swear everything is going to work out perfectly. Just ease up— at least for tonight, okay? Promise me you will?”

I nodded, standing up and kissing his lips. “I promise.”

He kissed me again before taking my hand and walking beside me to the backyard where everyone was sitting at the table. Steven and I sat down, Nicole and Cam on my right, and we just enjoyed the company for a while before anyone brought up the plans for the future. But eventually, somebody did. Nicole decided to bring up what happened when we met Tonne Goodman and the offer that she brought up with Vogue. My mom was tearful but it was happy tears; she knew this was my dream.

“Oh my god, so you girls are going to move to New York?” My aunt asked happily, knowing very well that we had family up there and it was just another reason to visit the Big Apple. Nicole and I nodded, with smiles wide enough to blind the guests here tonight. Nicole asked my parents about her and Cam possible renting out the family apartment and they were all for it since they were looking into selling it anyway. They couldn’t think of a more perfect tenant than Cameron and Nicole.

“And you two?” My dad questioned, pointing at Steven and I. “What’s the plan here?” He had a devastated look in his eyes as he looked at me, like the one thing he had got ripped away.

“Well, Boss, Bonnie is going to be moving in with me at my apartment. The Vogue offices are in the World Trade and that’s not far at all from our offices. And also, Black and Perez keeping a good relationship with Vogue especially since they are clients now is huge. It doesn’t seem to line up better than how it is now.”

“So, do you want to stay in New York, than? Be based out of there?” He asked firmly, not looking at me anymore.

“If you’d allow me, that would be incredible, sir. We’re gearing up to starting up a new life together in New York.” Steven answered just as firm as my dad asked, maybe that was a lawyer tactic. He was fearless and strong, and he didn’t melt under my father’s pressure or weaken under his sight. I admired that about him. He was continuing to prove why he was the right choice on continuing on the practice with. My father can always spot the good ones a mile away. And Steven was indeed a good one.

He nodded, looking on as Steven held onto my hand, squeezing it lightly. He knew this wasn’t just some thing— it was the real thing. That this man could very well be his future son-in-law and that he was the one to carry on the B&P Firm name and take it to new heights; he was the future. My dad’s eyes finally landed on me; his only child, his princess, is growing up. She’s leaving the city that she was born and raised in— the place she swore she’d never leave.
“I would be stupid not to.”

---

Later on in the night, I was helping my mom clean up. My dad was cleaning up outside and Steven was washing the dishes. My dad came in while my mom was in the other room. He stood beside me as we watching Steven singing loudly to himself as he was lost in the blackhole that is washing dishes. We looked at one another and laughed at Steven— he was so cute sometimes. “I’m sorry.” My dad said suddenly.

“For?” I said stupidly, knowing he knew damn well that I knew what it was for.

“For being lousy to you. I don’t know, sweetheart, it’s hard for me to see you moving on with your life, as silly as it sounds. I feel like I’m losing you to this guy over here—“ He paused, gesturing over to a singing Steven. “—but, I feel okay with it. I don’t know. You know how much that kid loves you, Bonnie?” I stayed silent, admiring Steven’s character and how it always shone through. “When you two were broken up, he was a mess. I’d see him at work, hating himself when you’d come around. Oh man, and when you brought that Mike fellow to the dinner that one time— whew. He was devastated. You think you’re gonna marry him one day?”

I chuckled, “I don’t know. Yeah. Everyday is more and more clearer that he’s the one I’m supposed to be with. Dad, you know what a twin flame is?” I asked and he shook he head. “A twin flame is more than a soulmate. It’s someone that you have this recognition with from the moment you meet; like you feel like you’ve met them before. Deja vu if you will. I feel that with Steven. It’s not always perfect; he pisses me off sometimes, but it’s heaven-like.”

My dad didn’t say much after that, he smiled big, though. He looked at Steven, still singing away, and then back at me; shaking his head and laughing before walking away to the living room with my mom. Steven finally finished the dishes and dried off his hands with a towel. He walked over to me and kissed me. “You ready?” I asked, earning a nod from him. We had one day together before he went back to New York, and tomorrow was set to be a lazy day for the both of us. “Your mom’s been texting me asking how you’re feeling by the way.”

“I’m feeling great!” He said genuinely smiling wide. He got things off of his chest to his dad and his brother and that was fine. He never lost sleep over them anyway. He would move on, just like he always did. “I’m ready for bed, honestly.”

“Me too. It’s been such a long day and I’m over these heels already.” I frowned, grabbing my purse and looking at Steven.

“Take off your shoes.” He said simply, earning a weird look from me. “I’ll carry my princess to the car.” He added, smiling big and unable to take his eyes off of me. I did so and he picked me up in his arms, and carried me off into the car. He sat me down and kneeled, his hand resting on my thigh. I kissed his lips gently and touched his cheek, a smile pressed onto my features as if it would never come off. This was love. This is what it felt like.

---

ONE WEEK LATER


“Keep the drinks coming, keep ‘em coming.” I said to the waiter, earning a drunken chuckle out of the tattooed lanky drummer beside me, as we were at the table with his brother and his brother’s girlfriend, Danielle. Mike was the only one that could keep up with me and he was making sure he did. We were in San Diego for the night, hanging out and getting trashed, for no reason other than it was Friday night and he was back from tour and I was bored. Nicole was at the shop tonight in LA and the only other people who were free tonight were the three I was currently with. I had a feeling that Vic and Danielle would be leaving soon.

“I feel like you haven’t gotten this hammered in a long while.” Mike laughed, handing me another shot of tequila and a lime. His eyes were faded and tired, but he was keeping himself going. He had a snapback on his head and was wearing a sleeveless shirt like usual and Vic was dressed the same except he was wearing a t-shirt. Mike and Vic hadn’t changed much in the year that I’d known them. The only difference was their popularity and that Vic wasn’t single anymore. Mike insisted that he wasn’t single, that he had his “angel” Alysha— I hadn’t ever seen her around though. It was none of my business to ask.

“I haven’t. I’ve been so fucking busy lately.” I said, my tongue starting to feel numb and that necessarily wasn’t a good sign for the rest of the night, but who was I to judge the night based on my tongue numbness?

“We gotta do this more since you’re leaving soon. And have a huge blowout going away party!” Mike’s arms stretched out with his words which made me laugh. Mike hasn’t changed one bit— he was still the party guy. His job allowed him to be like that, though.

Soon later, Vic and Danielle went home leaving Mike and I together to continue the trashing. “Finally, the boring ones leave. Drink up, Bon.” He smiled handing me another shot and I wasn’t one to decline.

Notes

OHHHHH BOOOOOOOY

What'd y'all think of this one? Steven and Bonnie seem to be getting more and more serious as the seconds pass. What do you think of how Steven stood up to his dad and brother? What about Bonnie's father's behavior toward her and what he finally said? New York is getting closer. Do you think there is anything at all that could get in between the tight front that Bonnie and Steven have?

Leave your questions, comments, and concerns. :)

XO,

Amber