Save Me

Six

“You got an awesome crib, dude,” Edwin said, sinking on my sofa and sipping his beer.

I’ve just gotten out of the hospital and Edwin offered me a ride home since I can barely walk and since his family basically invited me to have dinner with them tonight, along with Robbie and Angel of course. Meekah trotted over to me and I smiled, patting him and giving him a tickle on the stomach before I allowed him to inspect Edwin.

“Thanks Esh.”

Edwin cringed from Meekah and placed his legs on the sofa and I laughed. He just glared at me, “Hurry up already. Dad hates waiting.”

I rolled my eyes, “I’m the guest, man. And Gerry and I really did click.”

He just rolled his eyes and grumbled. Apparently, it was a surprise to him and Danielle that Gerry and I got along instantly, as well as Rachel too, his wife and their Mom. They just never thought that someone as playful and cocky as me would get along with their strict Dad. I just said ‘I told you so’ at them because I’ve been telling them before Gerry arrived that I could just charm him off. I was right.

“Let’s just go,” he said. I just chuckled at him. Edwin and I really hit it off. He was the type of guy who was loud and had confidence oozing out of him, much like me.

I climbed in the car and we drove to their place. A few minutes later, we turned to a gravel rode and it made me watch in awe. Their house was huge. It was like three houses put together. Seriously, were they that many? And the lot was too big too. They had a barn, and they were near a lake too. I bet Gerry and Rachel invested big on this place.

“Awesome crib dude,” I said, still in awe of their place.

“Thanks,” he said laughing. It seemed to me like he’s used to reactions like mine, “But it’s my parents’ place.”

We got inside and I was right. It did seem like three houses put together. It was a two-story house. I bet the upstairs were filled with their rooms. And I was right as Edwin basically explained the whole house to me. The right side of the house was where the music room, game room, library, extra bathroom, Gerry’ office, was located. The left side was where the living room, dining room, guest room and kitchen. The center was just basically the hallway that led to upstairs.

We went to the living room and it was all scattered with toys. A little boy was playing in the middle, and the TV was blaring with the opening song of a cartoon. The little boy shirtless, about four, I guess, looked up at us and squealed, getting up and running straight to the guy beside me. Edwin chuckled and wrapped his arms around the little boy, kissing his forehead.

The little boy then looked up at me, and for a moment, my heart dropped. He looked hauntingly familiar. His blue eyes were so pale and light that it was almost the same shade as mine, gray. The angle of his jaw, even when he was young, was just as strong as mine. His hair was almost black, but it was just a dark shade of brown.

“Hi,” he said shyly, hiding behind Edwin.

I looked at Edwin. Maybe he was his younger brother. I mean, he did have blue eyes. All the Rivers had blue eyes even if his was almost gray. But he was so young, and Gerry and Rachel were at their fifty’s already. He can’t be their child. Maybe he was adopted. But he actually bore some resemblance to the family. A cousin, I guess.

“Hey,” I said, “I’m Falen.”

But before I could get his name, I heard a shriek coming from the hallway, “Daniel James Rivers!”

The little boys eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around me so I picked him up. Hey, even if I’m injured doesn’t mean I can’t pick up a little boy. He burrowed his head on my shoulders and then giggled and burrowed his head further on the crook of my neck. Edwin laughed beside us and I looked at who entered.

A fuming Danielle came in. My eyes widened, not because she looked scary but because she was actually really cute when she was mad. The little boy kept on giggling but he never looked up at her. Danielle moved towards us but froze when our eyes made contact.

“Hi,” I mumbled.

She looked flushed all of a sudden, “Hello.”

“Hi Mommy!” the little boy said.

“Daniel James,” Danielle said her voice and motherly, “If you won’t get ready, I will never bring you back at the café.”

Daniel pouted but went down from my arms and hesitantly went over to her, “But it’s so hot to put on clothes, Mommy.”

Danielle looked at me and Edwin. She turned at me, “It’s nice seeing you again, Falen.”

She and Daniel then scurried out of the room. I just stared at where they stood earlier. I blinked. Can somebody please tell me that he wasn’t his son? And that he just called her Mommy because he’s very close to her? Edwin patted my back and chuckled.

“He’s hers, bro,” he said softly, answering the question I haven’t voiced out, “Believe it.”

“She adopted him right?” I asked, my voice a whisper.

Edwin chuckled, “Own flesh and blood, man.”

I felt myself flush. I mean, sure Danielle was attractive and I admit that I am attracted to her but it’s not like I like her in that way. But well, I was Seth Andrews. If I was attracted to someone and wanted them, I’d do everything I can to get them, even when they were attached, even when I knew they had kids. I always get what I want.

But well, why did it seem like Danielle Rivers was a different story?

It was like I didn’t want to take her away from the lucky bastard that had gotten her. And to top it all off, it wasn’t like Danielle had the best personality to like. Sure, her beauty was truly something, one that could get every guy in the room to look twice at her and any guy would be truly lucky to have her, but then again, her personality is just so strong and I bet you one hundred bucks that the guy, who could pursue her, would be the one.

“Chill dude,” Edwin said laughing beside me, “You can still get her.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Did I really come off as a cocky player to them? “Falen?”

At the sound of my name, I turned around and saw Patrick carrying a baby, “Hey Patrick.”

He looked at Edwin and then at my injury, “He’s the guy Cam ran over?”

Edwin nodded, “Yep, that’s him.”

Edwin took the baby from Patrick and cooed at the child. Patrick looked at me, a grin on his face and he patted my back, “Small world, then?”

I nodded grinning back, it seemed nice to actually know someone in this household, “I guess so.”

“Babe, where’s Paige?” We all turned to the woman who entered the room. She blushed when she saw me because she still had a towel on her head, “Umm, sorry.”

Patrick chuckled when she tried to getaway from her us to further embarrass herself since she wasn’t fully prepared to meet the guest, “Babe, come back here. I’d like to introduce you to the guy Cam ran over.”

She rolled her eyes, “Patrick, I have to get ready.”

“You’re still beautiful, babe,” Patrick whispered to her though Edwin and I heard him. Edwin muttered ‘whipped’ and his brother shot him a look, “Remember the guy I told you I met at the beach? Turns out that he’s the same guy Cam ran over.”

“Small world,” she muttered to him and turned to look at me, “So you’re the guy living with Uncle Rob?”

I nodded, “And you’re Denise?”

She nodded and smiled, “I could’ve introduced and meet you without my hair wrapped in a towel but what the heck. Denise Rivers.”

I chuckled and shook her hand, “Falen Rose.”

Then another two girls entered the room with Danielle and Daniel and Denise and Patrick’s son, Landon. Daniel and Landon started playing with Edwin and Paige, completely ignoring the rest in the room. Danielle whispered something to the two girls who giggled and then moved forward to me, introducing them.

The first girl was tall, about three inches taller than Danielle. She had the same black hair though hers were really straight and her blue eyes were darker, “Hi I’m Shaira Rivers.”

The next girl was short. I bet she just stood at 5’2. She had wavy hair too, but it wasn’t as wavy as Danielle’s. Her eyes were a striking pair of pale blue. She smiled at me, showing me her pearly whites, “Monica Rivers.”

“Falen Rose,” I replied, flashing them both a smile, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Charmer,” Danielle murmured, rolling her eyes.

I chuckled and turned my attention to her, “Got a problem with that, Rivers? Or do you want to be the only girl I charm?”

The rest laughed as Danielle glared at me and tutted, “Such a player.”

She went over to Daniel and I watched as she played with her son. It still couldn’t get in my head that she had a son. Once we were all seated, the Rivers engaged me in a conversation and I was actually enjoying the night. And the only problem I seemed to have been trying to stop myself from staring at Danielle while she played with her son.

“See something you like?” Shaira said with a grin.

I furrowed my eyebrows at her and ran a hand through my blonde hair, “What?”

“Or rather someone,” Monica chimed in.

“You know girls, she’s smitten with her,” Edwin told her two sisters who giggled and squealed, seemingly happy that I liked their sister. But really, what’s not to like about Danielle? If it wasn’t for the fact that she had a son, I wouldn’t restrain myself from pursuing her right now.

“He’s just lying,” I said nonchalantly.

“Is there something not like with my little sister?” Patrick asked, joining our conversation as he wrapped his arms around Denise.

I flushed but before I could answer, Danielle beat me to it, “It’s rude to make our guest squirm, guys.”

They all rolled her eyes at her. Monica spoke, “Puh-lease, Cam, you’re just squirming as much as he is.”

“Shut it, Nica,” Danielle said, glaring at her sister.

The others ignored the bickering sisters and Patrick looked at me, “Well?”

I just rolled my eyes and settled for a shrug. Denise spoke, “Just a shrug? After all that happened?”

“All that happened?” Danielle and I asked simultaneously.

The girls’ eyes shined with mischief, Shaira spoke, “C’mon guys. Don’t you think fate has something to do with this? I mean, Falen’s new in town. He’s living with the Jacoby’s who happens to be a very close family to us. Patrick and he already knew each other. And you ran over him!”

“If fate had something to do with my near death,” I said rolling my eyes, amused at Shaira for even thinking that, “Then screw it.”

“And Shai? You’ve read one too many romance novels. I’m seriously not gonna buy you another one for Christmas,” Danielle said, shaking her head at her sister, “I wonder what Sam would think.”

“Oh you two are so gonna eat your words someday,” Shaira mumbled, grumbling.