Chapter 15

Sierra had soon taken her place in Mr. Arizona’s lap and kept playing with his hair. Sky on the other hand was distracted. His lips pursed together in his usual irritation. He was awfully quite amongst the beats of the music and the talkative company he was with. Sierra would whisper things in Sky’s ear to try and make a conversation with him but sky would brush it off. Although, he did not stop Sierra from playing with his hair every once in a while, mostly because he was busy staring at Chris’s hand constantly holding onto Aiyana’s thigh. Anger boiled inside his very soul as he watched the two of them flirt with each other. He despised how he saw Aiyana look at Chris with awe as if she could not believe Chris was real, how she laughed at all the silly things Chris said. Neither did he like Aiyana’s own fingers laced in the hand Chris had laid on her thigh nor occasionally riding it up ever so slightly. She would bite her lip right before she would do that and watch Chris’ lips as he would respond to her seduction.

They were behaving like teenagers, aroused by such trivial things, this sort of a behavior could be excused on Aiyana’s behalf but Chris was 27. He was a man now, his behavior and reaction to Aiyana was completely out of proportion. It seemed Sky’s mood was dropping by the hour by the time they had parked the car and gotten out, Sky was seeding with anger. Not that anyone had noticed.

Aiyana felt Chris’ hand brush against her own, his fingers dancing between theirs as if unsure whether to hold Aiyana’s hand or not. His unsure behavior made Aiyana smile as she stretched out her fingers to reach Chris’ and lace their fingers together.

Chris’ eyes met hers when they met. Something about the way he looked at her made her want to melt right there. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of green that made her, own blue eyes look pale in comparison. The specs of golden at the rim were almost glittering with a sort of sweetness that would soon be reserved for her. Chris liked dinner with her the last night and it was going to be just a steep slope from here on. The more time he would spend with this seductive vixen the more prone he would soon be to fall in love but unlike his friend he wanted to fall in love.

Chris pulled Aiyana by her shoulder so they were close to one another. Just touching. Like they were already a couple.

“There once was a man, a funny little man….

He wore his pink hat and gave away his van…” Scarlett suddenly started singing loudly.

“He then a son, just a funny little son…

Who would walk around the road and hug everyone...” Liam continued

“His wife called his name, a funny little name...” Aiyana followed

“I would not say, for this funny little...

Had a secret cave….” The three sang together

“The funny little man, locked the princess in his cave,” Scarlett sang

“Till I her knight came barging at the gate.” Liam followed

“I him with my sword and then I said…” Aiyana continued.

“Oh funny little man, I am taking my Princess away” all three of them finished.

Then, Liam took Scarlett in his arms, dipped her and kissed her saying, “I will always take my princess away”

Rolling her eyes Aiyana said, “You realize she was always my princess to take away”

The three of them laughed.

“What is that about?” Chris asked

“It’s a song we girls sang to each other every night when we were young and then every year when we trekked. I was the knight, she was the princess. We made it up as children so it doesn’t really make sense. But, then this asshole came in our lives and he wanted in on it. So, now it’s our song but he does this at the end of the song every time. And I keep reminding him she is my princess. It’s our thing.”

“Well, I want in on it too” Chris replied.

“Well buddy I was left out two years after they agreed. It only happens if Aiyana decides to keep you around. Although, you being here itself is…” Liam was interrupted by little stone hitting his head.

He turned to see Aiyana throwing another. He smiled and ducked just in time, “Aiyana you missed… our little girl missed.”

With that he broke out into a run along the path with Aiyana rushing after him, trying to catch him.

Scarlett sighed and smiled.

“Every time”

Chris cocked his head towards her in confusion.

“These two can’t stop doing this every year. It’s usually after she calls me her Princess that one of them immediately does something like this. They’re adorable that way fighting over me.”

“Come on kid lets go find those two nut heads” Chris laughed.

Scarlett saw what Aiyana meant when she said Chris had an infectious smiled. His eyes lit up as his throat rumbled the deep sound of mirth. It was really cute.

Sky and sierra soon came into view as Chris dragged everybody to move faster to catch up with those two. Despite, Scarlett reassuring him that they would just ahead at the turn waiting for her or Aiyana and Liam would be on the floor with either Aiyana beating Liam and him resisting or Liam tickling her. But, they would always wait.

“Still” was all Chris said.

Sure enough they were with Liam’s hand curled around Aiyana’s waist holding her hostage while he tickled her and Aiyana tried to run away.

Upon seeing Chris she screamed between laughter, “Save me my knight in shining armor”

Scarlet just chuckled through their foolishness as Chris made a show of gallantly running towards them in slow motion, pretending to be hit my people in regular intervals as fighting them off to reach her before snatching her from Liam, curling his own arm around her waist pushing her back and raising an invisible sword at Liam, “Well, I have to save my princess”

This made all four of them burst out laughing.

That’s how they all started liking Chris. For he right into the little trio with ease and matched their idiocy.