Babysitting the Player

Chapter 18

My eyes open and a pair of lips connect to my forehead.

Bryce.

"Hi," I whisper.

"Hi, babe."

"What time is it?"

"Eight."

"Gross."

"Do you want to go upstairs for a bit? We're the first ones up."

"Sure." I let out a yawn and pick my head up from his shoulder.

I look around and see Alyssa, Nick, and Jacob all still sleeping in their dark blue sleeping bags.

We carefully get up, trying to be as quiet as possible so we don't wake anyone. I grab Bryce's hand and follow him up the stairs. We sit down on the couch and I curl up next to him.

"Did you have fun last night?" I ask.

"Yeah. You?"

"Yeah. Alyssa seems great."

"She is."

"I kinda wish she lived up here."

"She's definitely considering a few colleges up here."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Her cousins live somewhere around here. She's actually visiting them for a few days after this."

"That's nice."

"Yeah. I think I'm gonna make some coffee."

"That's a good idea." I follow him into the kitchen and watch him put a coffee filter in and scoop some coffee grounds into it. He adds water to the coffee maker and presses the start button.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks.

"Did you mean it when you said you were falling in love with me last night?"

"Yeah." He smiles and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. "I did."

"Good." I stand on my toes and kiss him.

"Now what are you really thinking about, babe?"

"That obvious?"

"Yeah." He nods with a laugh.

"I think I want to meet my dad."

"Really?" He raises his eyebrows.

"This was your idea." I laugh. "Don't make me second guess it."

"I'm not, I'm just surprised. You seemed really against it yesterday."

"I was."

"Then what changed?"

"I just realized I've been angry at him my entire life and I don't even know who I'm angry at. It's kind of exhausting."

"I bet."

"I obviously have to talk to my mom about it before I can even try to go but if she lets me, can you go with me?"

"Of course. Wherever you need me to be is where I'll be."

I hear footsteps on the stairs and turn around and see Alyssa.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey."

"The boys up yet?" Bryce asks.

"No. It's only eight, they won't be up for another four hours."

"They'll be up as soon as the coffee is ready because I'll wake them."

"Good morning." Maggie smiles as she enters the kitchen.

"Morning," we say.

"Did you guys sleep okay?"