Page 68 of Say I'm Yours, Firecracker

“You just wait until y’all have one, fucker.” I told him. It wouldn’t be long. Not with their wedding in a few short weeks. I’d noticed Bellamy’s eyes linger longer on Atlas, eyes looking far away, as if she could see her own future.

“The costume fits you so well!” He said, doubling over once I had put the head on. I looked like an absolute fucking nightmare. What rabbit was over six foot tall and smiling all the time? Not a sane one. This was creepy as hell, I didn’t know what Ronnie was thinking.

But what made my Firecracker happy, made me happy. Even the cheesy invitations, “Some Bunny is Turning Two!” were extravagant. Her and Bellamy had decorated the backyard all day yesterday in preparation for today.

“And here he comes! Peter Cottontail hopping through the grass!” Ronnie sang to our baby boy. Atlas was getting big, his curly brown hair had lightened up since birth, and I loved it. It was as if his shade of brown was the perfect mix of mine and his mothers.

His eyes were a deep green that neither of us could figure out, his little grin and bubbling laughter made this whole bunny costume worth it. My boy loved bunnies.

Chunky arms flew through the air as he cackled. I hopped and wiggled my ass over to where Ronnie stood with Atlas. His little hands opened and reached for me. Gathering him in my arms he pulled on the dropping ears of the costume, trying to put them in his slobbery mouth.

He was cutting more teeth, which had been hell for us. But we took it all in stride, who needed a full, uninterrupted eight hour sleep anyways. Honestly my Firecracker and I couldn’t have been more perfect for each other. Soulmates, or whatever Ronnie liked to call it.

After a few parades around the yard, Ronnie hollered that Peter Cottontail needed to go home. Thank fuck, this thing was hot, and I was sweating under the hot furry brown cloth.

Aaron took Atlas who had become his new best friend, much to Bellamy’s dismay. She placed her hands on her hips and said, “Boy! That’s my man!”

I could hear Atlas cackling as Aaron and Bellamy tickled and loved on him. My dad met me in the garage to help me get out of this costume.

When I had finally shed all the layers dad clapped me on the back and said, “You done good, son.”

“Thank you, dad.” I told him.

My parents had been instrumental in helping Ronnie and I navigate parenthood. When we had a question, either mom or dad was there with an answer. They knew all the right things to say, and had the best advice for damn near everything.

We walked back to the backyard where Xavier was chasing Atlas around in the grass. He had his favorite stuffed bunny in the crook of one arm, legs teetering as he ran and screeched when Xavier pretended he couldn’t catch him.

It had been the best two years of my life.

Easily.

I had never been happier than I was when Ronnie came home from work, or when Atlas tried to string words together. Watching him grow had been the best honor I’d ever received, and as for Ronnie and I? We were in sync, it was rare that we would ever fight, and when we did I always made it up to her in the ways it counted.

Ronnie slipped her arms around my middle, resting her head on my stomach. “We did that.”

“We did.” I agreed, running my hand down her hair. She had gotten it cut not long ago, during her monthly mommy time. It looked like it did when we met, after she cut so much of it off.

She leaned back to look up at me, smiling that beautiful smile before kissing the underside of my jaw and turning away. She scooped Atlas up and planted kisses all over his face.

“Okay!” She shouted, gathering everyone’s attention. “Time for cake!”

My mother carried it out of the house, two little candles were lit in the center with bunnies decorating the top. She started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ and we all joined in as Atlas looked around.

Ronnie and I helped him blow out the candles and Atlas picked now to shout his new favorite word, “Shit!”

We cut our eyes at Aaron who was trying to hold in a laugh. “I’m sorry!” He finally got out after his bout of laughter. “I didn’t know he was in the room!”

Mine and Ronnie’s phone pinged with a notification. It was one of our front cameras letting us know someone had pulled in our driveway. Since everyone was already here I frowned and looked at Ronnie, who looked back at me equally baffled. I set my drink down and ruffled Atlas’s hair before heading around the house only to spot Landon running up to the front door and pounding on it.

“Landon!” I said, “It’s good to see you, man.”

Landon rushed over to me, looking a little worse for wear.

His eyes looked red, as if he’d been crying and I wanted to ask what was wrong, but before I could, he spoke.

“I’m sorry to show up like this. I didn’t plan on it but I need to speak to Xavier.” He rushed out. “Right now.”

Xavier didn’t come back to the party after Landon’s surprise arrival. Bell and I had given him hugs and promised to call and check on him tomorrow. I would have offered Penelope the guest room in my house, but Finn’s parents were staying another night. So she would be crashing on Bell’s couch tonight.

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