Darren sat on the bed with August by his side. He read an old kids story that he found childish and improper, though he didn't have a choice.
"Mommy says the witch is bad.." August nods with a serious look.
"This is why kids are messed up these days" Darren sighs heavily and drops the book by his side. "Come on let's sleep"
"Don't you believe in true love popsicle man?" August sat on his body and rocked his leg.
"I don't true love, I believe in love. There no such thing as live being true or fake. Love is love" Darren answered bluntly
"But Mommy believes in true love" Darren felt hot, he's eyes glimmered as he stared at the little boy on his lap.
"(Clears throat) of course she does" he smiled and laid down with him. Rubbing August back gently, he's mine drifted off to Gwen wondering what she might be up to.
THE NEXT MORNING
Darren prepares August for school, he wasn't an expert at it but he still did his best. He even waxed August hair to look exactly like his.
"Look, I look like you" August squealed while running around the room.
After that he got dressed and went downstairs to make breakfast. He still hadn't taken his mind off Gwen, he kept wondering what she was doing and who she was with. "Here you go"
He placed a plate of pancakes and honey butter for August. August glimmered with excitement as gobble everything up. "Thank you" he smiled and stretched the empty plate towards Darren.
"You sure eat a lot" Darren commented as he served another round of pancakes. He heard his phone ring. Darren pulled it out and checked the message he just got.
"Just got to the island, wish me luck (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧"
Darren smiled brightly and texted back. "<(￣︶￣)↗"
"Why you smiling popsicle man " he turned to find August standing on the slab with his breakfast in his hand. "Show me!!" He squealed as he tried to peek at his phone.
"No way, privacy son" Darren spilled out as he flexed his phone through his fingers into his pocket. August smiled brightly, he had never had a man call him 'son', except for his uncle and his Mom.
"Done" he dropped the plate on the slab and stretched his hand for Darren to carry him.
"Let's go" Darren picked August up from the table and picked their bags before leaving the house. "It's going to be a long week" Darren puffed out as August cuddled his neck.
GWEN'S POV
I couldn't hold back my giddy cheeks and leaping heart. He replied, not just that he used an emoji.
"Mrs Gwendolyn" an attendant called out to me.
"Yes" I looked up and pulled off my jacket. I was presently somewhere in the Himalayas. This is a very prestigious island that's known by a few people.
I could still remember my first time here, I kept talking to my phone and constantly calling George to check on my two year old August. "Shall we?" I turned to Grey and nodded.
"Yep, let's go" this was really going to be a long week.
DARREN'S POV
I had my phone right in front of me on my desk. I couldn't hold back the urge in my body to fly all the way to her. Damnit, this was way worse than when I left without seeing to her.
"Sir it's almost time" Mikel's voice was nothing but a faint sound in my heard. All I could hear was Gwen's voice and her... "Sir???!!"
"What is it this time Mikel? I'm busy" I growled. Why can't I just think about her in peace.
"Sir it's time to pick your son" he pointed at the clock at the end of my office. My eyes widened.
"Damnit I'm late" i stood up hurriedly and picked my jacket. "The keys" Mikel handed me the keys to my car. I ran out of my office as quickly as I could. I can't be late on the first day of picking my son.
I drove out of my office and straight to August's school. I lost count of the number of times I blared my horn at the traffic. "I knew the helicopter was the right choice"
"Goodday Sir" I parked by his school entrance and hurried inside. A female teacher stood by the gate waving towards me. I didn't really get to look at her face, I have a tendency of deeming any woman who isn't Gwen as irrelevant.
"I'm here to pick August" My eyes scanned through the faces of the kids who ran out of the school premises.
"August Magna, August Tyler..." Why are there so much August? I searched round to find my boy.
"August Gwendolyn" I snapped at her and nodded.
For some reason she looked like she had a cold or something I don't care. "he's over there at the..." I didn't quite wait for her to finish, I just followed the direction she was pointing at.
I had walked down for a while when I noticed a brunette boy sitting on a bench with a brownie. I think the kid beside him is a girl, she was sitting on a wheelchair and both were laughing at a paper in August hand.
I stopped a few feets away and pulled out my phone, I really don't know why I did it, but it felt right. I took a neat picture of my boy and his supposed friend.
"Popsicle man" August looked up and gasped when he saw me. He ran towards me with open arms and hugged my legs. Yeah he's still growing but damn why do small.
"Hey, how was school today?" I rubbed his head and turned to the little girl making her way towards us with her wheelchair. She had big doey brown eyes and freckles stained over her nose to both cheeks.
"Good afternoon sir" her voice was more of a squeal.
"She's my best friend" August left my hand and ran to her. He helped the girl stand. "Her name's Lulu"
At that point some crazy point crawled into my head. August being all grown up and introducing the girl to me as he's girlfriend.
"Lucky" I turned to the voice behind me, it was a dark skinned man, he had a full beard and was dressed in an engineering suit.
"Daddy " the little girl squealed as she pulled away from August to hug her father. I, being a gentleman stood aside and let both hug each other.
"Good afternoon mate" the man smiled warmly as he picked his daughter up and stretched his hand. I wasn't good at greeting but I did know a handshake. "Parker"
"Darren" I nodded and turned to August. He stood still for a while watching Lucky and her daddy.
"Look lucky, it seems your friend wants to play some more" Parker walked up to the wheelchair and pulled it. "Bye mate" I nodded slightly as they left.
"Bye Augie" that was a shocker. I turned to August and squatted to match his height.
"Bye" he waved slowly, why was he dull all of a sudden.
"Come on kiddo let's go home, we could take popsicle on the way home. How's that?" I was a little bit hungry for some popsicles myself. He nodded slowly and raised his arms up.
We both left his school and drove off to the mall.
THIRD PERSON POV
Darren and August bought a few popsicles from the plaza and headed back to his office.
Most of his workers were surprised to see Darren with a child. Mikel on the other hand was all moons and stars. He loved his new boss, the warm, cozy, sharing popsicle boss.
The day went by really quickly and it was time to go home.
Both had fun, with homework, dinner and dishes. August laid on Darren, resting his head gently on his chest while sucking his thumb.
"He sucks his thumb" a jaunty smile broke on Darren's face. He was presently working on some files. He checked the time and frowned. "She hasn't called, neither texted"
He dialed her number but she didn't pick. His face stiffened and his eyes turned sharp. He didn't like this. Walking upstairs he laid August on his bed and changed into his night wear.
"It's ringing" Darren was drying his hair with a towel when he heard his phone ringing in the bedroom. He rushed out of the bathroom and jumped on the bed. "Hello"
"Hi, sorry I missed your call. I was filling in some forms" Gwen stepped into her room and locked the door. She wore a golden Aline gown that had a slit on her right lap. She flung her shoes aside and pulled out her zipper. "Hello"
"I'm here, I just was worried. How did it go?" Darren sat on the bed trying his best to compose himself.
"It was nice, a lot of new fashion geeks coming up and the interior design was magnificent " Gwen pulled off the the pin in her hair and untangled her hair. "How was yours?"
"Nice, he eats a lot" Darren started slowly. "Also picked him up a little bit later"
"Hope he isn't being cheeky" she wrapped herself up with a white robe.
"No, he's a good kid. Just like his mother" He laid on the bed waiting to hear her voice.
"No, just like his father" Gwen laid on the bed as well. Her golden hair spread across the bed.
"We both know that's not true" he countered.
"It is" Gwen had a red swollen face. They both talked for a while.
"Hey Gwen" Darren hummed, something he found himself doing fir a while now.
"Yes Darren" Gwen rolled on the bed like a kid.
"A video call, you and I. Are you in?"
"Yeah" Gwen had already replied before she realized she was wearing nothing but a robe. Her body flushed and ninja Gwen wrapped herself in the blanket.
She nervously picked his call and calmed her inner. "You look messy" he stated bluntly.
"You look neat" Gwen smiled, her eyes feasted on Darren as much as they could for a good night sleep. "Have to go to bed now"
"Yeah, school, work, events" Darren replied sullen. Sighing heavily he smiled warmly "Goodnight Gwendolyn"
Gwen smiled as well "Goodnight Darren, Goodnight August"
They both cut at the same time. Gwen hugged her phone while cuddling the blanket a little bit tighter. Her lips parted.
Darren sighed and placed his phone on his chest. He's hand reached out to the air and his lips parted.
"I love you"
"I love you"