by Laiza Millan
Why she even gave him another chance, he'll never know. But, he's still prepared to do whatever it takes to earn all of her trust. If he's going to keep this woman as his forever, he definitely has to step up and be the man she and Aidan deserve.
He's going to find his redemption.
.
.
.
"What's he doing here?" Jenna asked sourly, once she opened the door.
"What's it to you?" Drake glared back, "I want to spend the day with my son and my girlfriend, is that a problem?"
"Calm down." She rolled her eyes, letting them in. "Jeez, I am still kind of weird out about seeing you here at our place. No offense."
"Girlfriend?" Emma scoffed at Drake, rushing forward to pick up Aidan from the high chair. "So we been on a couple dates and already I'm considered your girlfriend?"
Drake turned to look at her and crossed his arms, "What the fuck?"
She shot him an icy look, "Watch your mouth around Aidan."
He had the grace to look guilty before clearing his throat. "But seriously, Emma! I was under the impression that you and I -"
He stopped talking in mid-sentence.
Oh man, there was nothing more attractive to him than seeing her saunter her way towards him with his own signature smirk on her face, carrying their child.
"I'm kidding." She whispered, taking one of her arm and wrapping it around his neck. He brought his head down, letting their lips collide.
"Okay!" Jenna sighed loudly, "I need to go to work now. By the way, Jason should be back any minute after -"
"Actually, I'm here now and - Whoa there!"
Drake and Emma separated, their heads whipping around towards the entrance. Jason was staring at them with a confused and - was that a panic look?
"Jason!" Emma greeted him, rushing towards him to hug. "Where did you go?"
Jason let out a nervous laugh, playfully squeezing Aidan's hand. "I've actually went to pick up someone from the airport -"
"What the hell is he doing here?" Drake harshly interrupted, noticing Tom getting out of the car with some luggage. As if on instinct, he wrapped an arm around Emma.
Emma gasped, suddenly feeling as if the temperature dropped around them.
Oh shit! She knew somewhere in her brain that Tom had to leave for business purposes, but felt like an idiot for even forgetting about him! Does that make her a bad friend? Definitely so, she feels.
"Tom!" She let out an excited yelp, as he strode towards them. "Long time no see!"
"Didn't forget about me, I hope?" Tom laughed, returning her hug as he entered the house. "Man, I missed you. I mean... I missed you all!"
Emma giggled, blushing. The whole time Aidan randomly grabbed a fistful of his mother's hair, probably intrigued again by the color blonde. He let out a shout, accidentally pulling on her hair as he waved his hands. Emma winced, but still kept her eyes on Tom.
Drake noticed her behavior and couldn't help but scowl. Why is she acting like a damn school girl with a mad crush? He doesn't like that, it's bothering him.
Tom stopped, as if he was just noticing the arm that was tightly wrapped around Emma. He looked at the owner and felt his eyes widen with surprise. "Drake? Wait a minute, what the hell is he doing here?"
Drake glowered back, "I asked them the same question about you."
"These people are my friends." Tom scoffed, waving towards Jason, Emma, and Jenna.
"Yeah well, she," Drake gently pulled Emma towards his side. "Is my girlfriend and the little boy you see she's carrying? Yeah, in case you forgot, he's my son."
"Drake." Emma hissed under her breath, nudging his side with her elbow.
The whole concept of her and Drake suddenly being together is still new to Tom. She was hoping to tell her friend herself, not by Drake!
Silence.
The silence stretched for so long, that Emma could literally feel the heaviness weighing down around them.
Tom stared between her and Drake, back and forth for a few more seconds before returning his look back at Emma.
"Are you serious?" He asked quietly to her, his face void of any expression.
Emma bit her bottom lip and nodded.
Tom continued to stare at her for what felt like forever, until his eyes dropped to the floor. He shook his head, muttering to himself as he pulled his luggage with him. "Wow. I was gone for only a few weeks and just... wow."
"Thomas." Emma quietly said, feeling guilty for some reason.
"What's your problem, Tom-Tom?" Drake snapped, not liking this guy's attitude.
He knew that this guy used to date Emma after he fucked up himself, but Emma is his now! He has fought - and is still fighting - very hard to get Emma to trust him, so this idiot is not going to take away the woman that matters to him!
Tom ignored him, turning around and striding up the stairs until he was gone from their visual.
"What was that?" Jenna asked, looking around them. "What just happened?"
Jason grimaced, shoving his hand inside his pockets as he suddenly found the floor more interesting.
"What is it?" Jenna asked, placing a comforting hand on his arm.
Jason heavily sighed, looking up to give Emma and Tom an apologetic look. "While we were on the way here, Tom told me that he was going to try and patch his relationship with Emma."
"What do you mean 'patch his relationship with Emma'?" Drake growled, this feeling of anger raging through his body at the thought of her and Tom together again. "He is not going -"
Emma quickly placed a hand on his cheek. "Drake."
The change was instantaneous.
Immediately, he relaxed the moment she spoke his name and the touch of her hand against his skin. He glanced down at her quickly, the angered frown on his face softened as he stared back at her. She gave him a reassuring smile, and replaced her hand with her lips.
"It's okay." She whispered against his skin, literally driving him insane. Once she felt his body relax, she leaned back and sighed, giving her attention back to friend. "Thank you, Jason."
Jason nodded back, watching them the whole time. Wow, it's still weird for him to see Drake act like a puppy now whenever Emma is around. Then again, he can totally understand the man's situation, because he feels the exact same way with Jenna.
"Why is Tom staying here?" Emma asked, her hand searching for Drake's and clutching it.
Jason shook his head, "He's not. He borrowed my luggage, so he's returning it back to my room."
"Good." Drake snapped, lifting Emma's hand and kissing her fingers. "Because there is no bloody way I'm going to let you stay in this house with that prick."
Emma beamed at him, "Then it's a good thing I finally got my own apartment!"
Jason, Jenna, and Drake's face changed to a look of shock, surprise, and excitement.
"What!"
"Since when?"
"Oh that's so exciting!"
"I'm happy for you!"
"Finally!"
Emma couldn't help but laugh, "I almost forgot to mention that, so thanks for reminding me Drake."
"But since when?" He asked, smiling at her.
She turned to Jenna, "Remember how I told you I was already looking for my own place? Well I already found one while I was strolling in the park with Aidan. I saw a 'For Rent' sign on one of the apartments near there and called the land owners."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Jenna asked, "We could have helped you look -"
However, Emma shook her head. "I didn't want to tell anyone until I finalized everything. The manager is a super nice elderly lady, and she knows that it's just me and Aidan."
"You could have lived with me, though." Drake frowned, "Both of you."
She gave him a lazy smile, "I like to take things slow, Drake. I want to have my own place for now, can you support my decision?"
Drake looked like he had this inward battle going on in his head. Emma sighed, her grin slowly dropping when he didn't answer right away.
/> "Yes." He heavily sighed with reluctant defeat, "I support it."
Emma beamed, squeezing his hand. She looked at Aidan, who was watching them the whole time, and squealed excitingly. "Guess what, Aidan? We're moving! Yes, we got our own place!"
Drake continued to watch her, his own grumpiness slowly ebbing away by her excitement. Let her have her own apartment for now. But pretty soon, all three of them are going to have a place of their own.
.
.
.
It took only a few days to settle into her new apartment. She's already in her early twenties yet Emma felt free and independent!
She couldn't wait to call her mother; it's been a while since she heard from her either. Now that she thought about it, ever since she kept her focus on Drake and Aidan, she totally forgot about other people. Well, not like forget, but she probably only thought about them like once a week.
She also had an awkward talk with Tom. The conversation only lasted for about half an hour, consisting of Tom's confusion and anger, and Emma's irritation and guilt. It wasn't until finally, Tom had no choice but to accept her decision.
"If he hurts you again," Tom had warned her, "I'm going to kick his ass, Emma."
"Don't worry," Emma had answered back, "I would be the one to castrate him."
Now here she is, weeks later, sitting comfortably on her coach. Drake is on the floor, playfully taking Aidan's teddy bear from him. Aidan was clearly not amused and screamed every time his father did that.
"Okay okay." Drake laughed, placing the teddy bear on Aidan's lap. "Jeez kid, who knew you would be attached to a teddy bear."
"I was attached to this small quilt when I was a child." Emma told him, reminiscing. "I remembered I couldn't sleep unless I had it."
"Weirdo." Drake teased, winking at her. "You passed down your weirdness to our son."
Emma rolled her eyes, the corner of her lips lifted up. Yeah, she's definitely happy at the moment.
"We still on for our date tonight?" Drake asked her, looking hopeful.
Emma nodded, "Of course, Jenna said she has no problem watching Aidan again."
"Will your precious ex be there?" Drake couldn't help but ask, his eyes glued to Aidan.
He heard Emma let out a heavy sigh.
Damn it, he knows there is nothing going on between her and Tom, but still! It's just the thought of them, and the knowledge that they used to date is causing all this emotions inside him to increase in a negative way.
"I don't know." Emma answered back, her annoyance showing through her voice. "Maybe... Even if he is, who cares? Tom did promise me that he would help take care of Aidan, if I needed him too."
Drake blanched, but didn't comment back. Right... It was during that time when he was acting like such an arrogant douche bag, was when Tom decided to step up and help.
Gathering Aidan in his arms, he stood up and sat next to her on the couch. Aidan squirmed, as if wanting to be let down.
Groaning, Drake bent down to place Aidan back on the blanket covered part of the carpet, and watched as Aidan squatted himself down along with his teddy bear; mindless to the world.
Emma laughed, scooting closer and placing her head on his chest. Right away, she felt his arm wrapping securely around her. She let out a deep sigh, blissful and content.
She listened to the sound of Drake's breathing, as she felt her eyes drooping slowly to a close; feeling his kiss on top of her head.
The next thing she knows, she was woken up by Jenna. "I thought you were going on a date?"
Emma blinked, momentarily forgetting what is going on around her. A date... Oh crap! What time is it? She just noticed that Jenna had a sleeping Aidan on the portable car seat, and she was covered in a soft blanket. But where's Drake?
"He said he didn't want to wake you up." Jenna explained, as if reading her thoughts. "He only told me to wake you up at six."
Oh crap, she slept for four hours straight? Wow, she must have been so tired...
"Hurry!" Jenna snapped, getting impatient. "It's already six fifteen; Drake can come here to pick you up any minute!"
Emma shot up, not needing to be told a third time.
.
.
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Meanwhile...
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
The driver couldn't help but let out an annoyed gruff. "Yes, now shut the hell up, will you?"
"What if we get caught?" The other man continued on, "I could get fired and -"
The driver whirled around, his gun aiming at the other man's chin. "Shut the hell up, and stick to the plan. Do you understand?"
The other guy swallowed hard, fear etching on his face as he tried to remain cool and collected. "Yes, I understand."
The third person on the backseat rolled their eyes, "Idiots."
.
.
.
"The view is so beautiful." Emma breathed in, staring at the city lights.
After they had dinner in the city, Drake had taken her up the hills where many other cars parked. From there, viewers can see the sparkles of their city's lights from the building. Everything in town was illuminated with bright colors of yellow, red, and white, making it such breathtaking scenery.
Who knew this city would be so beautiful during the night from a higher view?
Emma turned to Drake and playfully bumped his shoulder. "Thank you for taking me here, Drake."
He shrugged, trying to appear blasé. "It's nothing. I remembered you told me when we were seventeen that you always wanted to drive up the hills to see the whole town."
How sweet.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Wow, didn't even know you remembered I said that!"
Drake rolled his eyes, though he chuckled. "I do have good memories, you know. I remember nearly everything."
She grinned cheekily, "Do you remember dating Stacey Mills?"
Drake immediately dropped his smile, and replaced it with a disgusted look. "Damn it, how dare you remind me of that?"
"You did it to make me jealous." Emma said cheekily, "Don't deny it."
Drake scoffed, "Am I a fucking teenage girl? Trying to make their ex jealous by dating other women? Please, just because you dated Tom-Tom just to make me jealous, doesn't mean I would."
Emma glared, reaching forward to pinch his arm. "Jerk. Don't be rude, I did not use Tom to make you jealous -"
"Well it worked anyway." Drake shrugged, kissing her shoulder. "You are forbidden to date Tom ever again."
"You are an idiot." Emma laughed, turning her gaze back to the city lights.
"Oh and do you remember when we talked... wait actually when you kept babbling about happy endings and that whole fairy tale shit?" Drake let out a laugh, "You and your damn pixie dusts."
Emma blushed, slapping his arm. "Hey! I was seventeen years old! Every girl wants to have that dream."
Drake merely rolled his eyes, "Ridiculous."
She scoffed, "You're a jerk."
"You're a nerd." He teased, kissing her cheek.
She looked up at him and felt her face heat up at his expression. Oh goodness, he's looking at her with such tenderness and content, it was making her feel all weird inside.
She couldn't help but notice that Drake would always literally keep touching her. Every where they went, the movies, restaurants, or even driving, Drake would either hold her hand, or have his hand around her waist, or back. The only time his hand isn't holding hers, is when he has to walk to the other side of the car.
She doesn't fully understand what this means, yet she isn't questioning it. So this is what those damn characters felt like in the books and movies?
"Stop staring at me." Drake smugly retorted. "I know I won 'Best Looking' in our Senior year, but c'mon now."
Emma laughed and rolled her eyes again, turning back to the views.
She loves it when they're both like this.
Five months ago, the two of them would bicker and fight. N
one of them were able to sit next to each other without lashing out. Either Emma would be highly guarded, or Drake would open his mouth and blurt out foul insulting words that would cut her deeply. Was it really only months ago when Drake told her to leave him alone, and that he wanted nothing to do with them? Was it really over a year ago when they had that fateful - and drunken - night?
Wow, time flies.
Now?
Now they're... lovers?
Boyfriend and girlfriend?
Oh well, who needs labels. All she cares right now is being happy and content.
She remembered not trusting Drake at all around her and Aidan. In all honestly, she trusts him now. She may not have told him yet, but she does. How can she not when he has proven to her that he's trying? So far, he hasn't done anything to wane her trust.
Emma heavily sighed, letting her head drop to Drake's shoulder as she felt the cool wind of the night blow through her hair and caressing her skin.
"Marry me."
Emma stiffened, shock radiating her body.
"What?" She asked, after a full minute of silence.
Drake smirked, his hand rubbing her back slowly. "You heard me, Emma. Marry me."
Emma stared at him, her mind occupied with many thoughts. "Drake..."
Drake shook his head, sighing as he leaned his forehead against her shoulder. He took both of her hands with his and gave them a gentle squeeze. He then lifted his head up and placed a kiss on the corner of her neck, causing her mind to go blank.
Emma lifted one of her hand and stroke his hair. "Drake -"
"Marry me." Drake repeated, as he continued to press his lips gently on her neck and cheek."I know the first time I proposed, I did it for the wrong reason."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Drake, you don't have -"
"Let me finish." He pleaded, using his left arm to wrap around her waist and his right arm to caress her cheek. "I can be good to you and to Aidan. He needs his father, and I need him. But I want this not just because of Aidan, but because I love you too, Emma. I want us to have that stupid cheesy fairy tale you kept dreaming about."
Emma let out a laugh, feeling the hairs on her arms go up as she listened to him.
"I know I sometimes don't show it," Drake continued on, "and I know I have a lot of shit to do in order to even be worthy, but marry me. I need you both. You're pretty much the only person who challenges me, is just as stubborn as I am, and just fucking brilliant."