Chapter 46: Dates

Blossom's POV

"Jason! Don't run so quickly!" I called after my child.

"He's so energetic," Jasmine said.

"A definite Hollen," Evan added with a proud smile before he brought a drink to his mouth.

Jevan chuckled and I joined in. The four of us were at the park, enjoying the day today with Jason.

Jevan had invited his parents along so they hardly see much of their grandchild.

"You hardly bring him around. Why is that?" his father asked us.

"There's no excuse for that, dad. We do need to bring him around more often and have outings like this," Jevan responded.

"I would love that. Jason reminds me of you when you were that age. The resemblance and characteristics are so similar," Jasmine finished.

As they continued gushing and reminiscing on the good old days, Jason tripped and fell.

I quickly got up from where I was sitting and ran towards him.

Another gentleman reached him before I did. He picked Jason up and dusted him off.

"Are you alright, little man?" I heard him asking.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Jason. Sweetie, are you hurt?" I asked upon reaching. I was panting already.

"Mommy. I'm fine."

"I told you to stop running so quickly. You could have hurt yourself!" I snapped with was unnecessary.

"Hey. He's just a kid being a kid," the guy intervened.

"I'm sorry. And you are?" I asked.

"Ben. Benjamin but everyone calls me Ben."

"It's nice to meet you Ben. And thank you for helping him up. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome.. Uhhh..."

"Blossom," I informed and held out my hand for a shake. Ben shook my head and smiled sweetly at me.

*
"Is Jason okay?" Jevan asked as he walked between Ben and me.

"I'm fine, daddy," Jason answered and went over to his father. "Ben picked me up and shook mommy's hand," he added.

"Ben?" Jevan questioned.

"Jevan?" Ben said, looking at him.

"You two know each other?" I asked, looking between them.

"Not really. I used to go out with Adobi," Ben clarified.

Jevan's jaw tightened. He turned on his heel with Jason and walked back to his parents.

"That was awkward," I shifted to Ben who laughed softly and turned his attention back to me.

He appeared to be so charming and kind with a cute smile. We exchanged numbers before parting.

_____________________

"So hold on. Ben is Adobi's ex-boyfriend from highschool?" Sophia gushed as I filled them in on what occurred at the park over the weekend.

"Talk about karma," Nina inputted.

"You guys, stop it."

"Nah. She's with your ex and you're with hers. It can't get any better than that," Nina said with a laugh.

We gossiped and chatted until the day came to an end and I left the office to go home.

On the way, my phone rang.

"Hi Ben."

"Hey. How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"A little down."

"How so?"

"Because we haven't been out on a date as yet."

I smiled. I haven't been out on a date in a while. Hunter would have only taken me out after he beat the crap out of me as a form of apology.

"Well I'm free tonight. My kid is at his dad's."

"Great. I'll pick you up at seven. Though I would need an address."

I was particular about giving out my address to people but Ben didn't seem like the type of guy who'll blackmail me like my ex did.

I texted him the address and got myself ready for our date.

He arrived on time. I loved it when a guy is exactly on time.

I got into his car and he drove us to a unique restaurant which served only seafood.

I wasn't a huge fan of seafood but I didn't complain.

Ben and I found our table he had reserved earlier that evening. I sat across from him.

"Do you like it here?" he asked.

"Sure," I said, looking around.

"Good. The food is to die for. I love seafood, especially lobsters. They order the lobsters all the way from Maine," Ben went on.

"That's nice," I said in between his conversations with me.

Finally, Ben's meal arrived first and Ben started eating without waiting for mine.

I wanted to tell him how rude that was but I held my tongue.

I looked around the restaurant and my eyes caught him. He was looking directly at me with his piecing grey eyes. She was there as well and it appeared that she was auguring with him about something.

I watched as he snapped at her and she shut her mouth immediately.

My meal arrived. I ate slowly. My mind kept drifting back to Jevan.

"Excuse me Ben. I'm going to the washroom," I said and stood up and left.

*

I sighed at my reflection in the mirror. I washed my hands and dried them and reapplied my lipstick as the washroom door opened.

"I knew I saw a rat," Adobi said.

"What do you want?"

"So you're with Ben now? You know he's my ex, right?"

"What's your damn point?"

"My point is you're so basic and now you're settling for my remainders. Desperate much?"

"I ought to punch you in the throat then flush your face in the toilet. Don't you ever talk to me like that. Who do you think you are?" I made threatening steps towards her.

"So you want to rumble in a stall? Of course you do. That's the type of class you got. Do you know why I'll always win? Because Jevan can see right through you and he knows you don't fit into his lifestyle."

"Oh. And you do?"

"Of course I do. That's why he's with me. That's why he's going to get married to me and that's why I'm going to have his next baby. Not you."

I shook my head. Adobi smirked and went walked back out of the washroom.

I couldn't catch a break with her. Anger boiled over and went back out to Ben and told him we should leave.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes. Everything is wrong!" I snapped.

Ben stopped eating, paid the bill and we headed out to the parking lot.

Jevan and Adobi were out there once again. He was standing next to his car and she was standing directly in front of him, yelling at the top of her lungs.

"There's a limit to how much I can take!" I heard Jevan yell back.

Adobi's hand left her side and she stuck him across his face.

"Holy shit!" Ben said with a laugh.

"That's not funny!" I snapped at him.

"Hell yeah it is. She just slapped the pretty off his face. He's gonna wake up ugly tomorrow. Just wait," Ben went on.

I looked on. Jevan got into his car without another word. Adobi followed and they drove away quickly.

*
*
*
"She slapped him like.. Pppaahh," Ben repeated over and over while walking me to my door when we got to my house.

"SHUT UP! For the love of God! Shut up! You're driving me crazy here! You're not a kid!"

"Damn. You don't gotta snap like that!"

"I was trying not to but I can't help it anymore. You're annoying. You're rude and you don't know when to shut the hell up!"

"Fine. Then I guess we won't be doing this any time soon."

"I'd rather put a bullet through my skull. And I'm not a fan of seafood either. Goodbye Ben."

"Your loss Blossom."

He got back into his car and drove away.

I got inside and locked the doors.

As I walked through the kitchen, my purse and my jaw dropped.

Jason and Jevan were sitting in my kitchen having a bowl of cereal.