I met a boy online who I fell in love with and right now I am picking him up from the airport To meet him for the first time

~~

I was in the middle of a make out session with Frank but my mind just kept drifting off. I pulled away and Frank looked down at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Is there something going on between you and Jamia?" I asked and he frowned in confusion. "Like, you know, did something happen between you two or—"

"Wait," Frank interrupted. "Are you asking if we had a sexual interaction? Gerard, she's fucking sixteen years old, I—"

"No," I said, quickly stopping him. "I didn't mean it like that, I know you wouldn't date anyone that young. I meant did you two have some sort of tension? You were acting so weird at dinner tonight and then you two started fighting."

"I don't know what it is," he sighed, laying back on the bed. "I just got really upset when I heard she dropped out of high school. I just want better for her. I just...She's like a little sister to me or like a daughter."

"And you're upset that she's not going to go as far now that she's a dropout?" I asked and he nodded.

"I want her to be successful, I want the best for her," he said. "It's the same way I feel with Bandit."

"What was the argument about?" I asked.

"Just about her dropping out and how she shouldn't have done that," he said. "And then she got upset and said I couldn't tell her what to do with her life. It was just a mess, honestly."

I kissed his cheek. "It's nice that you worry about her."

It was quiet before I started giggling.

"I can't believe you thought I would think you were having an affair with her," I laughed.

"Oh come on, you were heavily implying it," he said. "That's so gross and definitely illegal, she's just a kid."

"I think she does still have a little bit of a crush on you," I said. "It's cute, though. It's a little schoolgirl crush."

Frank looked down at me, smiling softly.

"I got a little crush on you," he said.

I giggled and leaned up to press my lips against his. He pushed me back against the mattress and I whimpered, tangling my hands into his hair.

"Wait, wait, remember the rule?" I asked.

Frank sighed and pulled away, kissing my cheek.

"But I don't want you to put a divide between you and Jamia," I said. "I'm glad we had her over and I got to talk to her more, she really is a great girl. And she really does need you, all her friends ditched her when she got pregnant and her parents argue all the time and her sister is always busy. She really does need you."

"I know, I'm not trying to push her away," Frank said. "I didn't mean to get upset with her. I promise, I made it up and we're okay."

"And, well, maybe she can come over when Bandit isn't asleep," I said.

"Are you serious?" Frank asked, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me.

"Yeah, I mean, Bandit's already almost four months old, she probably won't be able to recognize Jamia as her mother," I said. "If she does I may cry and take Bandit to run away but--"

"Even if she does recognize Jamia, it doesn't mean that she's just going to push you away," Frank interrupted. "Yeah, Bandit may know that Jamia is her mom but she also knows that you're her dad. She loves you so much and she isn't going to push you away just because she recognizes Jamia as her mom."

I nodded, gently cupping his cheek. He leaned down, giving me a soft kiss.

"Maybe I should go back to my room now," Frank said. "I don't wanna keep you up too late."

"Thank you," I said quietly. "About, you know, being patient with me wanting to take things slow and not have sex and not sleep in the same room."

"No, it's okay, I get it," he said. "I haven't been the best, always. I know that I've had hookups and late night stands and shit. I do need to prove myself to you that I have changed. But...I'm ready now. I am actually ready for a serious relationship. And I want that serious relationship to be with you. I know I may not be completely trustworthy and I understand why. But I like that we're taking things slow, it's different and nice."

"Thank you," I said.

Frank gave me a kiss before he left. I snuggled up in the bed, just about to fall asleep when Bandit started crying. Frank and I opened our doors at the same time and we both stared each other down like two cowboys about to duel.

"Dibs," I said.

"Oh, that's not fair," Frank mumbled.

He went back into his room and I smiled successfully, going to pick up my daughter. I gave her a bottle down in the kitchen, smiling happily. Frank was doing a lot better now, he was like a real dad. He even helped do the dishes and cleaned up the living room without me having to ask him to do it. Frank even volunteered to take out the trash. He hates taking out the trash.

"Isn't your daddy just the best?" I asked Bandit in my little baby voice.

When she finished, she began to fuss and turn her head away. I burped her before carrying her back upstairs to bed. I stopped outside Frank's door, wanting to go in and cuddle before I shook my head, going back into my own room.

The next morning I woke up to Frank crawling into my bed, holding Bandit in his arms. I smiled, rubbing my eyes.

"Mm, my two babies," I muttered.

Frank smiled and kissed my cheek.

"We wanted to say good morning to you," he said and picked up Bandit's little arm and waved it, saying in his baby voice, "Good morning, Daddy, I wove you!"

I sat up, giving him a kiss. I kissed Bandit's forehead next and sighed.

"How could I ever have become so lucky?" I asked. "A beautiful boyfriend and a beautiful daughter."

"This is really amazing," Frank agreed. "I never thought I would be here but I am really glad that I am."

"How about I make us some breakfast?" I suggested. "Some waffles."

"Oh god, that sounds so good," he muttered. "I was just about to get Little B dressed and then I was hoping that maybe the three of us could go out for breakfast. I was thinking we could get some IHOP or something."

"That does sound pretty nice," I said. "You know what, let's do that. We haven't gone out to eat in forever."

"Great, I already fed B so she'll be good to go, I'll meet you downstairs," he said.

I got up after he left, going to the bathroom to use the toilet and brush my teeth. I got dressed into a simple sweater with some jeans and found Frank dressed in something similar. Bandit was wearing a little white sweater with some pink leggings and white socks.

"She is very excited," he said. "Isn't that right, Bandit?"

She chewed on her fist, staring at the wall.

"I'm excited, it's been so busy with Bandit and work I feel like I really need this break," I said. "Some apple juice, pancakes and coffee sounds so freaking good right now."

"Good because it's on me," Frank said.

"Frank, you're a stay at home dad, what money are you gonna use to pay for it?" I asked. "Let me handle this and then later we can maybe...you know."

Frank grinned. "Really?"

"Well, not all the way but maybe we can do something," I said.

"Maybe I can get down on my knees for you," Frank suggested.

I blushed, picking up Bandit and putting her into her seat. I put on her little hat and tucked her blanket over her. We got her into the car before driving down to IHOP.

"Can we get a booth?" Frank asked. "For three? Well, two plus baby."

"Oh, she is just the sweetest thing," the hostess cooed to Bandit. "Follow me right this way."

We followed her to a booth and I set Bandit's car seat down.

"Can I start you two off with something to drink?" The waitress asked.

"Apple juice and coffee, please," I said.

"Just an orange juice," Frank said.

She smiled and walked off, leaving us alone.

"I think it's really nice to be hanging out together like a real family," Frank said. "Not just some pretend shit—crap—like what we did with Bert. This is real, we're an actual real family."

I smiled, holding his hand across the table.

"And how come Bandit gets to sit on your side?" Frank asked.

"You're dramatic," I said. "It'll be fine if she sits next to me for one meal. You'll have her all to yourself when i go to work tomorrow."

"Fine but we are gonna have the best game of peek-a-boo ever and you're gonna miss out on it," Frank said.

I smiled. "You know, I really like the dad version of you. You're a lot kinder, less vulgar."

Frank smiled, as the waiter set our drinks down and we ordered our meal. As soon as she left, frank shot his straw wrapper at me.

"Oh my god, I swear you're a child," I muttered. "Look at the examples you're setting for Bandit."

But she just waved her arms, interested at the mysterious flying object that hit her dad in the face.

"Okay, truce," Frank said.

"You call truce after I get my revenge," I said.

"Are you gonna get revenge?" Frank asked.

"No, truce," I stated.

"You're ridiculous," he said, rolling his eyes.

I smiled, squeezing his hand.

"Frank, I love you," I said softly.

"I love you too," he replied. "Now, if we're done with the sappy stuff, I got a way to call the winner."

He grabbed a kid's mat and crayon off a nearby table, challenging me to a battle of tic-tac-toe.