AJ lit a cigarette as he walked down the street, glancing upwards now and then to see the numbers on the houses he was passing. He had just gotten out of the studio and was about to go home when his bodyguard (and one of his best friends), Marcus, caught him and gave him a slip of paper. He looked down at his watch; 4:30. Madalyn would be getting off work soon and going to pick Colin up from his mom's. Denise McLean had offered to keep Colin on the days that AJ couldn't..she was a God-send sometimes.
He stopped once his saw the number on the next mailbox he came to and flipped the cigarette out into the street. He looked at the paper and nodded to himself before walking up the front walkway and knocking on the door.
AJ had asked if Marcus would find out where Trevor was living, he was going to have to speak to him sooner or later and AJ wasn't about to let Trevor back into Madalyn's and Colin's lives anytime soon.
The door swung open, Trevor stood on the other side wearing jeans a t-shirt, looking as if he just woke up. "AJ? What are you doing here?"
"Came to talk. Can I come in?"
"I figured you were too busy with your 'boys' and screwing my girlfriend to be my friend anymore...to what do I owe the pleasure?," Trevor replied snidely.
AJ brushed past him, then turned to look him square in the eye, "First of all, don't mess with my friends. Second of all, me and your FORMER girlfriend are nothing but friends. You left her and your son so you have no room to talk."
Trevor sighed, "We talked about this when I came to Colin's birthday..what do you want?"
"I want to know what you want Trevor. You don't just leave your girlfriend and son, who you used to say were your world, and then expect to come back into their lives as if nothings changed."
"Man, I don't want nothin' to do with her. I came back for Colin."
"Where have you been for the past 6 months?!"
"Around."
AJ sighed, he could feel a massive headache coming on, "Don't be vague, damnit. Tell me. Because I have been the one Madalyn came to, I have been the one to sit up with Colin while he had nightmares about losing his mom as well in the middle of the night. I have been there for them more than you ever were."
"What? Do you want the job as the father/husband figure now? Damn AJ..I never knew you were so soft!"
"Shut up Trevor. You have no idea what Madalyn has been put through. The only reason she is living with me is because she couldn't afford anywhere else, she's finally got a job and I told her she could live there as long as she needs to because you and I both know I'm barely there enough to call it home. All I came here for was to find out whether or not you're going to keep your promise to Colin."
"What was that?," Trevor asked looking bored.
AJ groaned inwardly, sometimes Trevor was such a dim bulb, "You promised him you would be around more. Don't get his hopes up Trev."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, don't say you're going to do something and then don't. Don't leave him like you did before. Madalyn's over you."
"Bullshit. She still wants me!"
AJ rolled his eyes, "Whatever, believe what you want man but you are so full of shit. I can't even begin to fathom what she saw in you."
Trevor shoved AJ back into a wall, "She got to you."
"What do you mean, 'she got to me'??!"
"Me and you've been friends forever AJ! How the hell are you going to stick up for her when you don't even know her?! Damnit!"
AJ pushed Trevor until he was far enough from him, "I know her Trevor...apparently alot better than you did."
"She got to you, I don't believe it!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"She is such a manupulative little bitch! I can not believe she got to you...man..."
AJ straightened his clothing out and walked towards the front door, "I don't know what you're talkin' about Trevor...but this new person you've become sucks bigger than shit. The guy I knew wouldn't of left the woman he supposedly loved and his son out in the cold...Just don't hurt Colin and if I find out that you hurt either one of them I won't be held responsible for my actions."
And with that, AJ walked back down the street to his car, got in and drove home.
Madalyn drove to Denise's house, got out and walked to the front door. It was nearing 5 and she wanted to beat all the rush-hour traffic; she didn't exactly see sitting on the interstate in a traffic jam as fun.
She had gotten a job at a small clothing store across town, it wasn't much but she enjoyed it and least she had a job now. The door opened and Denise smiled at her, "Hi Madalyn..come to take him away?"
"If you don't mind."
"Not at all, come on in, do you want something to drink, eat?"
"No thanks, I'm fine, really. I hope Colin wasn't too much trouble."
"Too much? Madalyn, he was fine, trust me. I think he's out back right now if you want to go get him while I got get something out of the oven."
"Ok.."
Madalyn opened the backdoor and stepped back out into the warm sunshine. Colin was sitting in the middle of the backyard playing with his Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars. She walked forward until she was beside him and knelt down, "Hey kiddo, whatcha playin'?"
He grinned and turned to hug her, "Hi mommy! Playin' trucks...and cars.."
"Cool...did you have fun today?"
"Yep! I like her mommy.."
"Well that's good honey, you ready to head home in a few minutes?"
He nodded, "Yeah!"
"Okay, well, get your stuff and come on inside and we'll get your stuff together..k?"
He stood up and walked with her into the house, "Mommy, is uncle AJ going to be home tonight?"
"Should be, why?"
He shrugged, "Don't know.."
"ok."
Denise came into the living room as Madalyn and Colin finished packing up his things carrying a tupperware container full of the cookies she had just made. "Take these to that son of mine and tell him I'm mad he didn't come see me today and also tell him he is not to eat ALL of these because you two need some too, ok?"
Madalyn smiled, "I will, thank you Denise, for everything."
"You're welcome sweetie...anytime..and you, young man, remember what I told you, ok?"
"I will!"
Colin ran out to the car to put his things up while Madalyn finished saying goodbye to Denise.
Then, they were off to the house.
"AAAAAJJJJJJJ!!!"
"Colin! Don't yell like that! He might be sleeping.," She scolded.
"Sorry mommy. SORRY AJ!"
"Colin James!!"
"Sorry!"
AJ came down the stairs and laughed as Colin was happily jumping on the couch cushions while his mother wasn't in the room. "Colin!! Get off there right now!"
"But mommy!"
"No buts, get off!"
Colin huffed and puffed but sat down on the couch, mumbling something. Then he saw AJ and grinned. AJ put a finger up to his lips, indicating him to be quiet, and Colin nodded. He went into the kitchen where Madalyn was putting things in the pantry and fridge, she never sat him coming. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and she let out a surprised yelp and elbowed him in the ribs. "OW! Madalyn!!"
"Oh AJ! I'm so sorry!"
"Damn, you got an elbow on you woman!"
She laughed and reached out to touch the spot where she elbowed him, "I'm sorry J, but you scared the hell out of me."
"I'm sorry, I was just tryin' to be funny.," He said stepping closer.
She took a step back in retaliation, then he took another step forward. The way he was looking at her was unnerving.
He bent down, "How about you and me go out to dinner, without the kid?"
"I can't just leave him here AJ..."
"My mom can watch him..please."
Madalyn didn't know why she did it but she knew she did. And she didn't know whether she was making a mistake or not but she did it anyways.
She said yes.
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