Page 19 of Matched By the Dragon

“They look like they fell into the dryer and got tumbled,” Brad said still laughing. “It was smart but man.”

“Drink your coffee. I’ll get them cleaned up again.”

“Thank you,” Brad said and squeezed my arm as I walked by.

Once we were ready to leave, I realized I had loaded up my car and not Brad’s. That wouldn’t have been a problem except the car seats were in Brad’s car. I made a mental note to figure out which kind they were and to buy a set for my car too. The kids should be able to ride safely in either car if we needed to take them somewhere. In the end, I moved the stuff I had packed from my car and into Brad’s because it was quicker than trying to rush double car seat installation.

“Sorry, I didn’t think of that ahead of time,” I said, closing the trunk while Brad got the kids strapped into their car seats.

“It’s okay. There is a definite learning curve to traveling with kids,” he said, closing the door and joining me behind the car. The kids were watching the little show they liked that had a big green bear in it. Brad glanced at them and then at me. He did that a few times before stepping forward so fast that I took a step back. He laughed and followed me, rising up on his tiptoes and grabbing my face. His lips brushed against mine, soft at first, but then his tongue was in my mouth. It twirled around mine three times before he pulled away and asked if I wanted to drive.

“I… I don’t mind. It’s your car. So your choice,” I said, wondering where in the name of Frost that came from. I wasn’t complaining but I didn’t expect to be kissed while running late and repacking the travel supplies.

“I’ll let you drive then,” he said and walked to the passenger’s side and got in.

I stood behind the car for a few minutes getting myself together. I was too old for a single kiss to undo me. Too old for ten seconds of pleasure and intimacy to make me useless. My thoughts paraded by to the background music of a big green cartoon bear singing his heart out about sharing with his friends. Then I got into the car and we drove off.

The ride to town felt shorter than when I had made it with Bennie. The kids watched their show, babbling along to the words of the songs. Brad drank the thermos of coffee I made for the road and for the first time in a long time, walking off the cliff was the last thing on my mind. The memory was there, but it was distant. It was as if someone had stuffed cotton wool between my conscious mind and the memory of the day it happened.

In between drinks of coffee, Brad rested his hand on my leg. I was a lucky bear. Hell, in that moment, I was a happy bear and that’s something I never thought I’d be again after Liza died.

At Foam’s Pi, the staff greeted us outside in the parking lot. For a moment, I thought we were running super late, but my phone said it was nine fifty-three. Brad got Baby Resin out of his car seat and I freed Baby Oaklan. The staff had a double-stroller for the long walk to the private pit. Apparently, I booked the most expensive and inclusive package they had and that was a rare occasion.

The kids shifted to their bear forms in the stroller, but still stayed strapped in. Their little noses went wild at smelling all the food being cooked and prepared. Baby Resin growled, grumbling. It was his ‘I’m hungry and will hunt’ sound. Lucky for us all, we arrived at the private pit before he decided to hunt any of us.

The room was large and spacious and boasted a table that could’ve seated a dozen people. There was a kid’s table too which Brad headed straight for with the kids. He sat on the floor as the kids dug into cheese stuffed breadsticks while the staffer, Jem, went over the menu I asked for. Once I was sure they had the details right, I joined Brad on the floor.

It wasn’t long before Jem and the others brought the first breakfast pizza in. Brad insisted on cutting it into bite-sized pieces for them. I’d seen the kids eat pears almost whole, but I wasn’t about to argue with him. Jem was great and brought in some bowls for their orange juice once they realized the kids weren’t shifting back for breakfast.

After we ate, Baby Oaklan was the first to realize that beyond the food the room included a large pit of foam pieces. He looked back and forth between it and Brad before ambling off his chair and running over. A few seconds later, Baby Resin followed on his heels. Then they both dived in, tumbling head over butt.

We followed soon after, sitting on the edge with our bare feet dangling in while the kids explored. They burrowed under and ‘swam’ through the foam and came up with different pieces in their mouths.

“I hope I didn’t catch you too off guard with that kiss outside this morning. I don’t know what came over me, but you… You just kicked the morning’s ass and that was hot. Seriously. Never thought I’d say that but you literally had everything and the kids ready. The kids were happy and mostly clean by that point. I got to sleep until I woke up on my own and I got to shower alone and… Thank you,” he grinned. “I’m rambling again.”

“I’ve told you a million times that I don’t mind. You have a lot to say, and I want to hear it,” I said, wrapping a tentative arm around his shoulders. Once he leaned into me, I relaxed. “And you could’ve had a solitary shower at any point you wanted. You still can. I know they’re Jac’s cubs. Even if he never met them, I’ll never replace him, but I love those cubs, Brad. It’s not putting me out or ‘making me babysit.’ Babysitting is something you do for someone else’s kids and if we’re going to be together, I’m a part of their life. They’ll grow up with both of us and them needing the attention that babies need isn’t asking too much of me. I don’t ever want you to feel like it is. I know feelings are what they are, but you know what I mean.”

“I know. I just… I had a whole system and plan for how to handle them on my own for the next hundred years,” Brad said, resting his head on my shoulder. “But I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad if something happens to me they have you now too. S-h-i-t! That was too morbid, wasn’t it?”

“No,” I shook my head. “Look, Liza is gone and Jac is gone too. As much as I don’t want anything bad to happen to our family, it’d be stupid to act like it couldn’t when it absolutely could. So, I’m glad they have both of us too. And I know Alby and Bennie would help them if something happened to both of us, but it they needed something, Liza’s family would help too. That’s weird to say, isn’t it?”

“Only if they don’t want to help,” Brad said, choosing his words carefully.

“I’m still on a family link with them. Liza’s death didn’t change that. They know about the cubs. They know about you. They’re happy for me. Nothing will bring Liza back. Not even me being single forever and working off survivor’s guilt at the temple.”

“You know they can come visit eventually if you want.”

“Thanks.”

“I still text Jac’s brother. He lives in Moonscale London now, but we text a lot. His parents moved on a few years ago. I thought Rike would hate me and he’d have every right to, but he doesn’t. He misses Jac but… So do I.”

“That’s okay. I think we’d do the dead and ourselves a disservice by trying not to miss them,” I squeezed him close to me.

Eventually, we climbed into the pit and played with the kids. Diving under the foam pieces was like sinking into another world that was brightly colored and smelled slightly like fruity-scented kid’s clay. True to their nature, both of the cubs tried a bite but neither of them liked it. Resin scrunched up his nose so much that I thought he might sneeze.

By the time we left, the kids had already begun their nap time and slept all the way to the temple. It was a quieter car ride, but it was a comfortable silence. Maybe it was his ‘easy’ morning. Maybe it was the kiss or talking about Jac and Liza. Perhaps it was just that enough time had gone by that we settled into each other, but I hoped we had millions of days like this ahead of us.

“Do you want more kids?” I asked as we neared downtown. “Like ever? Not just right now,” I clarified.