“Dinner was great,” Adrienne commented, helping Kevin clear the table. “Thanks for cooking.”

Kevin shrugged. “I don’t mind. You’ve been working really hard lately.”

“I know,” Adrienne put the last of the dishes in the sink and stumbled into the den, collapsing on to the couch. “I’m wiped and I so do not want to drive back to Tampa right now. I don’t think I’ll make it.”

“Why don’t you just stay here?” Kevin suggested. He sat down on the couch, pulling Adrienne over and laying her head down in his lap. “I mean, it’s an hour and a half away. I don’t think you should be driving by yourself if you’re this tired.”

Adrienne sighed, half asleep. She couldn’t keep doing this. And neither could Kevin. They lived too far away from each other. And every time they wanted to see each other, one of them would have to jump in their car and drive almost two hours to get to the other’s house. It was getting ridiculous. Adrienne worked in Tampa but it wasn’t always fair to make Kevin come to her. So she had to suck it up and drive to Orlando after work every once in a while. And ninety-nine percent of the time, she didn’t feel like driving back that night so she would end up spending the night at Kevin’s house in Orlando and getting up at the crack of dawn to drive back to Tampa for work. Something was going to have to change.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

“Hello?” Kevin called, entering Adrienne’s waterfront townhouse in Tampa. “Anyone home?”

“Hi Uncle Kevin!” Aidan came tearing down the stairs and ran right past Kevin. A haggard looking Adrienne followed him down the stairs but stopped so she could give Kevin a kiss. “Hey.”

“Long day?” He asked, trying to hide his smile at her appearance. She looked absolutely adorable, all haggard from chasing Aidan around.

Adrienne rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t believe.” She peeked in the living room and saw that Aidan had finally settled down in front of the television. She motioned for Kevin to follow her into the room, before she collapsed on the couch. “Kate called this morning, as she was walking out the door, mind you. Anyway, she couldn’t find Nick anywhere and she got an audition, and asked if I would mind watching Aidan. Of course, I don’t mind. But Jesus, what the hell do they feed him for breakfast over there?”

Kevin laughed, reaching out and rubbing her shoulders. “Knowing Nick I’m sure it’s filled with healthy things like sugar, sugar, and more sugar.”

“Keep doing that,” she breathed, her eyes fluttering closed. “God. The kid’s got me worn out and he’s not even mine.” Kevin leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I love him and all but they have got to hire a nanny.”

“When are they picking him up?” Kevin questioned. No sooner were the words out of his mouth when the doorbell rang.

“Speak of the devil,” Adrienne rolled her eyes as she got up off of the couch. “Which proud parent is behind door number one?” She walked to the foyer and opened up the front door. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Carter.”

“Hi,” Nick greeted, a confused look on his face as he entered the house. “Is my son here?”

“In the living room watching tv,” Adrienne replied, following him into the room where Kevin and Aidan were.

“Hey bud,” Nick said to his son as he entered the room.

Aidan jumped up from the ground and ran towards his father. “Daddy! Are we going home now?”

Nick scooped Aidan up into his arms. “Yup. We’re getting out of Aunt Adrienne’s hair now. Say goodbye to everyone!”

Aidan waved to Adrienne and Kevin as Nick carried him out the door. “Bye Aunt Adrienne! Uncle Kevin!” The house was silent for a second, neither Kevin nor Adrienne saying a word. Finally, Adrienne hesitantly turned towards her boyfriend. “Is he really gone?” she whispered.

Kevin laughed. “Yeah. It’s just you and me.” He stood up, reaching his hands out to her and pulling her up with him. “Come on.”

“Where?” Adrienne whined. “Kev, I’m so tired.”

“Come on,” he chuckled. “I swear, it’ll be worth it. I need you to come somewhere with me.” He waited while she put her shoes on and gathered her purse and then he led her outside to the car. They got inside and Kevin started the engine, before pulling out of the driveway and driving down the road.

Fifteen minutes later, Adrienne was confused. She could have sworn that they were driving towards Apollo Beach, the area near Tampa that Nick lived. “Is there a reason you’re taking me back to the little terror?” she questioned, playfully glaring at him.

Kevin laughed. “Did I say we were going to they’re house?”

Adrienne shrugged. “I don’t know. It just looked like we were going towards their house.”

“Just wait,” he admonished, laughing at her impatience. A few minutes later, they pulled down a short street, a circle at the end. Kevin pulled into the driveway of the large, waterfront home and stopped the car. He smiled to himself as Adrienne stared at the house confused. Opening the door, he motioned for her to follow him. “Come on.”

“What is this place?” She asked, looking around the neighborhood. She watched as he took out a set of keys and opened the front door of the house. “Kev? Do you know these people? Or is there another reason you’re just waltzing into this house?”

They stood in the foyer of the empty house. He watched as she looked around in awe. He loved how her eyes drank in every site. Every detail of the house. She looked like a kid on Christmas, completely in awe of the huge house. He giggled to himself, quietly. She had lived in one of the most ostentatious of homes he had ever seen when she was living in the Taylor penthouse on Park Avenue in New York City. Married to one of the most notorious businessmen on the planet. And this little (well, okay, not little) house in Florida with a singer was what was making her have this glow in her eyes.

“Remember a couple of weeks ago when you came over after work for dinner?” Kevin questioned. She nodded. “You were so exhuasted afterwards you could barely stand up and you definitely couldn’t drive all the way back here.”

Adrienne rolled her eyes. “I remember. I had gotten up so early the next morning to drive back to Tampa for work and could barely make it through the day.”

“Well,” Kevin began, a thoughtful look on his face as he led her through the house. They ended up in the kitchen, overlooking the Gulf. “What do you think of the view?”

Her eyes lit up once again. “Oh my God. It’s so beautiful.”

Pulling on her arm, Kevin led Adrienne out on to the back deck. Right down below, the Gulf was lapping against the shore. He pointed to the left. “See that house waaaaay down there on the Point?”

Adrienne nodded. “Yeah? What about it?”

“That is your step-daughter, her crazy boyfriend, and their adorable son’s house,” Kevin smiled. “Very close but far enough away that they have to be invited over. We don’t have to give them a key. But you’ll be able to see them whenever you want to.” He wanted to laugh at the confused look on Adrienne’s face. “Do you have any idea where I’m going with this?”

She shrugged. “I think I do but I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

Kevin laughed. “Well get them up. How would you feel about this being your new home? Our new home?”

“You’re asking me to move in with you?” Adrienne glanced over at him with tear-filled eyes.

Kevin grabbed her hands, forcing her to face him. “I know how much you loved Mike, Adrienne and how a part of you, I’m sure, still loves him. I would never, ever try and replace him. We both have sordid pasts, I guess you could say. But I’ve really loved what this has turned into. You know that I love you, right?” She nodded, the tears in her eyes spilling over on to her cheeks. “I want us to have a life together. And I figured that the best way to start one could be here. In this house. Together.” When she didn’t say anything, he had to chuckle. “So, what do you say?”

She threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, Kevin! I’ll definitely move in with you!” She tilted her head up and her lips connected with his. “And by the way, I sorta like you too.”

“Just like?” he pouted.

“Love,” she corrected. “Love you too.”

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