Eleven

a year since the lake house

"You're such an idiot." I laughed as I watched Lucas attempt to cook something through the facetime call on my MacBook.

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm not a chef. I live with two other guys and we usually order take out." he said.

"Mm. At least I don't have to worry about you hooking up with other girls." I teased him.

"Ha ha, very funny." he fake laughed. "You know you and Mia are the only girls I think about."

"Aw, thanks." I smiled cheekily and he shook his head with a smile of his own.

It's been a while since the lake house trip and well, things have been different. Mia has definitely grown a lot. Not size wise because she's still pretty tiny but she's super smart and she just recently started preschool. She loves it and she practices her ABC's all the time.

She's still doing ballet with Becky and they're always doing spins and tricks around the house.

Yes, I'm still living with my family but it's not the same. I feel like an outsider in my own home that I can barely call a home. My dad hasn't apologized for anything and neither has Roxanne. I know I said I was gonna move out, but I needed to save more money. Apartments and shit are expensive out here.

Whenever I don't have work or school, Lucas and I facetime all the time. We just have to match up our schedules which has been pretty hard since he started college. He's playing college football which I'm excited for him because I know he loves the sport.

Now, you'd think he'd be playing basketball but in reality that's just a side sport for him. He got a full ride scholarship as a quarterback for a college close to home. He moved into an apartment close to it with a few of the other guys on the team but he still goes to his family's house every now and then.

You may be wondering, are we dating. Well, not technically. I mean we're definitely something but we just haven't made it official. I know sometimes he talks to me like I'm his girlfriend and I talk to him like he's my boyfriend but I think we're both waiting until we see each other in person again to make it official.

Mia's missed him a lot since we left New England and he left after he visited. I have a tablet that she uses to facetime all the time on. She figured out how to do it on her own and now it's like I can never get her off of it. Sometimes I'll walk into her room and she'll have it propped up and she'll be showing him her toys and doing a fashion show with her Barbie's.

"So, how's school going?" he asked me as he opened something for the food he's oh so terribly making.

"Good, I guess." I shrugged. "It's been easier now that Mia's going to preschool but sometimes it gets difficult to do my assignments and stuff."

I'm still in community college or junior college in other words. I finished my first year early which is surprising because I had a one year old to take care of but thankfully we had Rita to help me out.

"What about you? How's football?" I asked.

"Pretty good. Our first game is next week." he said kind of half-heatedly.

"Hey, aren't you excited?" I asked. "I mean you've been working for this for a long time."

"Yeah but I just wish you and Mia could be there you know?" he told me and my heart warmed. "Or at least you."

I smiled at him sadly. "I know. I wish we could be there too but with my busy schedule I just don't think I can make it."

"I know." he sighed. "Okay, enough with the sadness, you're gonna make me cry." I laughed when he pretended to wipe his tears away.

"You're a drama queen." I said with a smile.

"Nope, I think Mia takes that crown."

"Yeah, because she's always talking to you."

- - -

"Whatcha doin'?" Kenzie asked as we sat around a table downtown. It was a nice day outside for it being December. It was a little chilly but I like the cold weather.

Since Mia's at ballet class I decided to hang out with my friends which I don't get to do often.

I looked up from my phone and sighed when I noticed all my friends looking at me.

"Yeah, what are you hiding?" Theo smirked and draped his arm over my shoulder. I rolled my eyes and shrugged him off me. So Theo? Yeah, he just so happens to be Mia's biological father. We're still close friends and nothing's really changed between us.

"I'm not hiding anything. I'm trying to find flights out to New England for Mia and I." I told them as I closed my phone and rested my head on my fist that was propped up on the table.

"Ooh. To go see Mr. Lake House Lover?" my friend Nina asked. I rolled my eyes.

"His name is Lucas." I said.

"His name is Lucas." they all mocked me in a high pitch voice. Okay, I don't talk about him that much.

"Shut up." I slapped Theo and Kenzie who were closest to me. "His first football game is coming up and I know he wants us there. I wanted to fly out and surprise him but flights are so expensive this time of year."

"Why don't you just ask your dad? Isn't he rich?" Mikey asked. I sent him an annoyed look.

"My dad and I aren't on the best of terms. Plus I want to do things on my own now." I said.

"About that..." Kenzie trailed off and reached into her pockets. She pulled out an envelope and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Just open it." Mikey told me. I did so and my mouth dropped open when I saw what was in it.

"You bought us tickets to fly out?" I asked as my eyes welled up. They smiled at me. "How'd you know?"

"You may have told me a couple days ago how much you wanted to surprise him for his game so we all came together and payed for you and Mia to fly out there. So you guys get to go together." Nina said with a smile.

"Oh my god." I laughed with tears in my eyes and pulled her into a hug. I hugged all of them and wiped at my eyes. "God I'm so sensitive."

"Yeah you are."

I slapped Theo's shoulder and wipe my nose.

"Thank you guys so much." I smiled at them.

"You're welcome Abby."

- - -

"Mama?" Mia asked from the backseat as I drove to the Lamonsoff's house before Lucas's game. We had been staying at a nearby hotel for the night since we flew in and now I'm gonna surprise Donna and Bean.

Sally and Eric know we're coming and they're excited to see us.

"Yes baby?" I looked at her through the rear-view mirror.

"Where we going?" she asked.

"We're gonna surprise Lucas today." I said with a smile.

"Lukey!?" she kicked her legs excitedly.

"Mhm." I hummed and she squealed. The rest of the car ride she was practically bouncing in excitement as she talked my ear off about how much she couldn't wait to see him and give him a big hug.

"We're here." I told her and got out of the car. I unbuckled her seat and set her on the ground. She ran up to the porch and went on her tippy toes to ring the doorbell a million times.

"Mia!" I scolded and grabbed her hand. The door opened to reveal Sally making Mia frown. "Come on, let's go inside." I laughed.

I held her hand and led her inside.

"It's so good to see you guys!" Sally pulled me into a hug. She kneeled down to Mia who crossed her arms and glared.

"Where Lukey?" she asked in a very demanding tone. Sally looked up at me with an amused look.

"Mia baby, he's not here. We're gonna go meet him later, okay?" I told her.

"What?!" she looked at me with wide eyes. "But you said we supise him!"

I sighed and Sally laughed. "We are Mia but not until later. For now, you can surprise Bean and Donna."

"Fine." she huffed and dropped her arms. I looked at Sally who hid a laugh.

"Come on, they're in the kitchen." she waved us on. We followed her into the kitchen where we saw Donna and Bean sitting at the table. "Hey guys, I've got a little present."

They looked up and they're eyes widened when they saw me.

"Abby!" they both ran over and hugged me making me laugh. Mia squeezed herself into the hug which made me laugh more. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, Mia and I decided to fly out to see Lucas's game." I smiled at them.

"Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?" Bean asked.

"Bean!" Sally scolded.

"What?"

"It's okay." I laughed. "Um, not yet."

"Ugh. Lucas is such a chicken." Donna groaned.

I laughed again. "Yes he is."

"Are you coming to his game later?" Donna asked.

"Yep. He better do good so I didn't waste my time coming out here." I joked. They grinned and hugged me.

- - -

"I so excited!" Mia squealed as we stood in the stadium for Lucas's game. Sally gave me one of his extra jersey's and I was wearing it while Mia had a shirt with his number on it and a giant foam hand.

I laughed at my daughter and looked out at the field.

"Oh look there he is!" Eric pointed at one of the players. I followed his gaze and saw Lucas in his football get up and might I just say, yum.

The game started and it was neck and neck pretty much the whole time. Lucas scored a couple touchdowns and every time we'd cheer for him. Mia didn't really know what was going on but when I would tell her it was Lucas she'd start clapping and yelling for him.

When the game was coming close to the end, both teams were tied. It was our ball and we were all on the edge of our seats. The Quarterback got the ball and he looked around if anyone was open. Before I could even think he threw the ball all the way across the field towards Lucas.

I bit the inside of my cheek thinking it wasn't gonna make it to him. It did, but a bunch of guys were right on his tail. The ball went down but nobody could tell if he caught it because several guys from the other team tackled him.

Suddenly, the ref blew his whistle and signaled a touchdown. We all cheered as Lucas stood up holding the ball in the air.

"Whoo!" I cupped my hands over my mouth as we all jumped up.

"He did it!" Sally cheered and hugged me. Down on the field all of the guys crowded around Lucas and lifted him up into the air. I laughed at the sight and he threw his arms up.

After the game officially ended we all went down to the field. We looked around for Lucas and saw him with a few other guys from the team. I was gonna let his family go see him first but the minute Mia spotted him she screamed,

"LUKEY!" Sally and Eric laughed when she started sprinting towards him. His head shot in our direction and when he saw Mia his mouth dropped open. His helmet slipped from his hand and he kneeled down so she could run into his arms.

She practically leapt through the air into his arms and threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped her in a hug and stood up.

"Oh my god, what are you doing here?" he asked her as I approached them.

"Surprise." I made jazz hands and he laughed. He used one arm to hold Mia up and wrapped the other around me.

What I was not expecting was for him to pull me into a kiss. My eyes widened and I heard his friends whooping from behind us. When I felt him smile into the kiss I put my hands on his cheeks totally forgetting we were surrounded by people and fans.

"Hellooooo!" Mia tugged on my hand that was on his face. He laughed into the kiss and pulled back a little.

"Why'd you do that?" I asked him as I rubbed my thumb against his cheek.

"Because I've been wanting to do it again for almost a year now." he chuckled. I smiled and leaned into his side.

His parents and siblings came over and congratulated him while I stepped back to give them their family moment. Mia on the other hand, she didn't let go of him for one second. Her arms tight around his shoulders with her head resting on his. A few people complimented him saying how cute his daughter was which for some reason made my heart flutter.

"So you're the girl he's been talking about all the time at practice." I turned around and saw two guys approaching me in their football uniform.

"I'm Andrew, this is Thomas." the guy named Andrew said. "We're Luke's bestfriends."

"I'm Abby." I smiled at them.

"So are you guys dating?" Thomas asked.

"Um, no-- yeah-- it's complicated." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"Oh because that kiss looked so complicated." Andrew commented making me roll my eyes.

"Oh god, please leave her alone." I smiled as arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I looked up at Lucas as he gave his friends an annoyed look.

"Hey, I'm just glad you found someone to get the stick out of your ass." Thomas winked at him and I laughed a little.

"Mama! Mama!" Mia came running up to me. She grabbed onto my hand and started pulling on it. "Miss Sally said we get ice cream after this!"

"Mm. That's fun." I smiled and lifted her into my arms.

"You have a kid?" Andrew asked.

"Mhm. This is--"

"Hi! I'm Mia." she introduced herself. "But Lukey calls me Princess."

Both guys laughed and smiled at her.

"Well hi Mia. I'm Andrew."

"I'm gonna call you Andy." she said with her brows creased together making Lucas and I laugh. "And what's your name?" she asked Thomas.

"I'm Thomas." he smiled at her.

"Tommy." she held her head high and I couldn't help but smile at my little girl.

"These are Luke's bestfriends." I told her.

"Oh like Thee and Auntie Kenzie?" she looked at me with raised brows.

"Yep, those are mommy's bestfriends." I laughed and brushed her hair out of her face before turning to Lucas.

"Well, I will see you after you do whatever you do after these games," I said making him laugh. I leaned up to kiss his cheek but he turned his head so I kissed his lips. "You sneaky bitch." I mumbled against his lips making Mia giggle.

Lucas smirked and patted my butt before letting me go.

"I'll see you for ice cream." I told him and held my head high. Andrew and Thomas laughed as I walked away with Mia giggling in my arms.

- - -