“So J.C. figured out who you were huh?”My mom

smirked at me as I was putting my make-up on

getting ready for the date that I dreaded even more

after J.C. figured out who I was. “Yes mom, and not

only did he figure out who I was he also knows

Brayden is mine and Justin’s son.”I sighed. “Well

the way I look at it this can only be for the

better.”My mom said as I gave her a disapproving

look through the mirror. “Look if J.C. knows the

truth and is okay with it then what makes you think

that Justin won’t be?”My mom asked as Brayden

 came bouncing in the room. “Shh.”I said looking at

my mom “Hey sweetheart. What’s up?”I asked as

he came over and hugged me. “Momma do you

have to go?”Brayden asked looking up at me.

“Baby I’ll only be gone for a little bit. Grandma will

be here with you.”I said smiling down at him. “Well

what if I came with you?”Brayden asked with hopeful

eyes. I smiled and said “How bout you and

Grandma watch a movie and when I get back I’ll

read you a story and tuck you in okay?”I said.

“Okay.”Brayden sighed as I smiled and hugged him

closer to me. I kissed the top of his head and said

“I love you.” He just grinned at me and kissed me

on the cheek than ran out of the room saying

something about picking a movie. “See what you

did. He doesn’t want me to leave and you’re

making me go on a date.”I pouted. “Sweetheart he

needs to learn that you will not always be around

especially since he starts school next year. It will be

okay.”My mom smiled as she walked out of the

room to go find Brayden.            There was a knock

on the door and I sighed as I walked to get it.

Justin stood there grinning at me holding out a

yellow rose. “Abigail.”He said. “You remembered I

don’t like red roses.”I said giving him a slight

smile. He just smiled back as I set the rose of the

table and followed him out the door. “So why were

you being so conspicuous?”Justin asked as he held

the car door open for me. I sighed “I don’t know

Justin a lot has changed and I wasn’t even sure

you’d want to talk to me.” “That’s crazy. I mean I

want to know why you up and left with no warning,

and where you were and what you were doing, and

why you’re now back in Orlando, but of course I

would want to talk to you.”Justin said as he drove

down the road. I just sighed as I tried to think of

anything I could say to him to make him

understand. “Listen obviously there is a lot that

needs to be discussed but can we forget about it all

for a little while and just enjoy our dinner tonight?”I

asked hopeful. “Sure but you still owe me some

answers.”Justin said teasingly but it made me very

uncomfortable because I knew I did and I knew that

the answers he wanted were not ones he would like.

            Surprisingly the night went really well once

Justin stopped asking me questions about why I left

and we got caught up on some of the stuff we

missed, minus the stuff about Brayden. Now we

were standing outside my door and I felt like I was

thirteen again. Justin was the first boy I’d ever

kissed and as sad as it sounds he is the only one

I’ve ever kissed. It kinda depresses me

sometimes, but when I think about why I haven’t

been on a date in the past five years it doesn’t

 bother me as much. But, now here I stand in front

of Justin again with him grinning down at me and

my stomach is instantly filled with butterflies. I look

down and blush and hope that he doesn’t realize

how nervous I am. “I had a good time

tonight.”Justin said “It was good to catch up.”He

said putting his finger under my chin and forcing me

to look at him. I smiled up at him and said “I know

what you mean. I had fun too.” Justin just smiled

as he leaned down and lightly pressed his lips to

mine. His lips were soft and sweet and I couldn’t get

enough. I reached up and wrapped my arms around

his neck pulling him closer. Justin pulled away

grinning and said “Goodnight Abby I’ll call you

tomorrow okay?” “Yeah.”I smiled at him forgetting

everything as I watched him walk across the yard

back to his house. I walked into the house smiling

and my mom just stood there smiling at me. “So

you had fun?”My mom asked bringing me back to

reality. “Yeah.” I sighed “But it doesn’t matter I

can’t lie to him forever.”I said. “No, but that doesn’t

mean everything can’t still be good between

you.”My mom said. “Mom I don’t want to talk about

this now. Where’s Brayden?”I asked looking around

the living room. “He went to bed and so am I, so I’ll

see you in the morning.”My mom said brushing by

me to go up the stairs.             The next day my

mom was out and I was making Brayden his lunch

when there was a knock on the door. I sighed as I

moved from the kitchen to get the door. I opened

and there stood J.C. “Hey.”I said wondering what he

wanted. “Can I come in?”J.C. asked looking around.

“Uh yeah…Let me just get Brayden his lunch and we

can sit down and I talk.”I said as I walked back in

the kitchen. I brought Brayden his lunch so he could

continue to watch his show and asked J.C. to follow

me into the kitchen. “Do you want some lunch?”I

asked motioning to the food on the stove. “No

thanks.”J.C. said as he sat down at the table “So

Justin has been raving about your date ever since

he got back last night.”J.C. said. “Well that’s a

good sign.”I said nervously. “Yeah he likes you

Abby, but that also means that you didn’t tell him

anything about Brayden either.”J.C. sighed. “I just

need some time.”I said sitting down. “That’s fine,

but don’t lead him on if you aren’t going to be

honest with him.”J.C. said. “You’re right.”I sighed

“Okay I’ll talk to him tonight.” J.C. smiled “Good. I

think it will go better than you give yourself credit

for too.” “I hope.”I sighed as Brayden came into

the kitchen with his empty plate ending our

conversation.