After Tammy had watched the whole dvd of Pingu, much to Brian’s protests, Mandy told her it was time for bed, much to Brian’s relief. Tammy looked at her and shook her head.
“No, no. I don’t want bed!” she defiantly folded her arms.
“Tammy, come on. It’s late!” smiled Mandy, checking the time, “Look, even the birdies are asleep!”
Brian folded his arms and looked at her as he grinned.
Tammy still shook her head and sat on the floor. Brian continued looking at Mandy and laughed, wondering how she was going to deal with this situation.
“Ok, Tammy. I am counting to 3 and I want you up in your bedroom and in your bed tucked up!” she warned, holding one finger up, “1…2…”
Tammy just stared at her and Mandy widened her eyes, “2 and a half…2 and 3 quarters…” she continued counting. Tammy still just stared at her. Mandy knew she was not going to budge.
“3…” sighed Mandy. She finally reached her target, even though she tried to prolong it as far as possible. Brian laughed when he saw Tammy had not budged. She sat on the floor grinning. Mandy rolled her eyes and looked at Brian, “Don’t laugh. She’ll only think she’s funny and she’ll get worse!”
Brian shook his head and got up, “You need to use a little bit of psychology with kids, Mandz. Observe!”
He got on all fours on the floor and looked at Tammy. Mandy looked at him curiously.
“Hey Tammy. Wanna ride on the horsey?” he grinned.
Tammy grinned and ran towards him. She straddled him on his back and kicked her legs about. Brian started crawling around the living room with Mandy watching and giggling. Especially when he made his horse sounds. A few seconds later, he picked Tammy in his arms, lifting her on his shoulders, “Uh oh. This horsey can walk on 2 legs. You’re in trouble now missy!” he galloped up the steps as Tammy screeched with laughter. Mandy followed him up and he turned to look at her.
“It’s ok love. You stay down here. I’ll take over!” he winked, as he turned around and continued walking up.
“I’ll get dinner served then!” she smiled.
When Tammy saw she was in bed, she looked at Brian and was about to move. Brian figured it was to get out, so he quickly moaned, “Oooh horsey’s very tired now after all that galloping.” He panted.
Tammy smiled, “I want horsey again!”
“no, no, no. Horsey needs to rest and sleep for a bit, so he can do it again tomorrow. Want to help horsey sleep?” he asked with a pout, “Horsey is scared of sleeping alone!”
Tammy grinned and nodded.
“Can horsey sleep in your bed?” he pouted again.
Tammy nodded and Brian grinned. He pulled the covers back and Tammy got inside. Brian tucked her in and he lay down beside her. Tammy cuddled up next to him, playing with his hair as she closed her eyes. Soon enough, she had fallen into a slumber. He lifted his head and smiled when he saw her. Quietly and carefully, he got up from the bed and made his way back downstairs. The table was already set. He walked into the kitchen and smiled.
“You know, Mark for being such a laid back guy, he sure has one hyper kid!” he laughed.
Mandy looked back and giggled, “Well, if it isn’t black beauty himself. Finally asleep, is she?”
Brian laughed and nodded, “And horsey’s hungry now after all that!”
Mandy smiled and picked up both dishes, “Well gee up then. Dinner is served!”
They both chatted about work and their school years as they ate.
“No way!” argued Brian, “Danny Cooper? He was the biggest nerd in our school!” he laughed.
“He was not!” laughed Mandy, “Just coz he was clever does not make him a nerd. And we only went out on two dates anyway!”
Brian laughed, “He was a computer nerd, Mandz.”
“Well, I had already tried the popular lads and realised they were not all that and that they only wanted one thing, so I went for a different approach!” she shrugged, looking at him through her lashes. She tried to suppress her laughter after seeing his face.
Brian put his knife and fork down on the plate and pushed it back on the table, “I seriously hope you are not talking about me!”
Mandy giggled, “Oooh do you have a guilty conscience then?”
Brian smiled and then shrugged, “Probably!”
Mandy laughed and shook her head. They stayed silent for a while before she looked at Brian again, “What about you. Had any steady girlfriends since leaving school?”
Brian bowed his head down and shook his head, “I don’t want to talk about it, Mandz!” he sighed.
“OH Bri. Come on. I told you about my guys. Now its your turn!” she laughed.
Brian shook his head, “Sorry babe. I…I really do not want to discuss this!”
Mandy sighed and shrugged, “Fair enough!”
“It’s just complicated ok?” he mumbled.
Mandy nodded and looked around in silence. She then looked at Brian and decided to change the subject, “You were great with Tammy tonight!”
Brian smiled and thanked her.
“I never had you as the kids kind of guy!” she smiled.
Brian shrugged, “I have 2 nieces, whom I see occasionally, like once a month. I know how to deal with them!”
Mandy smiled, “You’ll make a great dad one day Brian. You’ll make some lucky woman very happy!”
Brian looked away uncomfortably and just shrugged. Mandy smiled and got up to put the dirty plates in the washer. Brian remained in his seat, thinking about what she had just said. He desperately wanted that lucky woman to be her. He would just about give anything to father her future kids. He sighed and then got up to help her. He knew she was not ready for another relationship just yet and friendship was all she could offer for the time being. He walked into the kitchen and handed her his dirty plates.
“Mandz, I was thinking…” he sighed, placing the drinks back in the fridge.
“Oooh steady on, Bri!” teased Mandy, loading the washer up.
Brian smirked, “Don’t be cheeky. Anyway, Kian’s room us still empty and you must feel really awkward staying here!”
“I’m alright!” she shrugged, “But I guess it ain’t fair on Mark and Fina. They probably want their privacy!”
Brian nodded, “Well, how about you come back to mine and move into Kian’s room? Like you had originally planned?”
Mandy sighed and stared at him, “I dunno Bri. What if…Well…it wasn’t too long ago you said you had feelings for me, what if…”
Brian shook his head and interrupted her as he walked closer towards her, “Mandz. Those feelings are there, I admit, but I am fine with the friendship thing. I understand you don’t want to be involved with anyone for a while and I respect that, And quite honestly, I cannot say I blame you. But I do promise you one thing babe. I will not make any passes at you. I know you don’t want me in that way and I am fine with that. Honestly, babe, I am. I have accepted it and you’d really be doing me a huge favour if you moved in. I can hardly afford that place on my own. I really don’t want some weirdo moving in with me. Pleeeeeeeease!” he begged.
Mandy gave him unsure looks, “No passes, huh?”
Brian put his hand on his chest, “I promise. Not unless you want me to!” he grinned.
Mandy smiled and nodded, ”OK then. We’ll be friends, right?”
“Good friends!” smiled Brian.
“Very well. What I’ll do now is pack my bags…again…and I’ll move in tonight.” She smiled, putting the dishwasher on. Brian smiled and walked into the living room. An hour later, Mandy came back down with her bag. Brian looked at her.
“You sorted then?” he asked.
Mandy smiled and nodded.
“OK then. Come and sit down. I have found a dvd we could watch.” He smiled, patting the seat next to him. Mandy smiled and sat beside him, “What are we watching?”
“I have found American Pie Band camp stacked away in there!” he smiled, pressing play on the remote.
Mandy yawned as she relaxed back on the sofa.
“Tired?” he asked, raising a brow.
“Yeah, a bit!” she stifled another yawn.
Brian smiled and pulled her against him. Mandy lifted her head and looked at him, making him laugh, “Just relax babe. I just thought you needed o rest. Don’t worry. I am not making any moves on you ok? This is all purely platonic!”
Mandy smiled and relaxed her head against his chest as she watched the film. Brian smiled and kissed the top of her head.
Mark and Fina finally returned from their night out. They walked into the living room and stopped when they saw Brian and Mandy fast asleep on he sofa. Brian was half sitting, half laying down with his head back, and his mouth open. He had his arms around Mandy, who had one hand on his chest, just next to her head and the other hand on his leg.
Fina smiled and looked at Mark, “makes you heart break, doesn’t it?”
Mark laughed and kissed his wife, “Think we should leave them here like this tonight?”
Fina laughed and shook her head, “No. He’ll only wake up with a very sore neck and her with a bad back. You wake them up. I’ll go and see the kids!”
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