Mina Fournier.

“That’s fair. But only if she insists on getting a drink with you.” Caleb quickly repeated the girls words. He knew that this bet really could go either way, given the people they both placed the bet on. The man’s lips turned up into a quick smirk at the feeling of the soft, gentle peck on his lips. “No, but I’ll try to make the most of it.” He stated as he grabbed his keys from the small table, all before walking over to the front door and opening it. “After you, m’lady.” 

“I thought that ruled also applied to the guests…” He trailed off, tilting his head in slight confusion. The man laughed along with her as the two continued to joke around. “You’ve always been more mature than me, anyone can attest to that. Maybe it’ll happen for me one day…maybe.” He continued to joke around, his amused grin shining through to prove he hadn’t been completely serious. “Done. And I better not see you doing any shots with Sadie or giving her any drinks.” He laughed once more.

“You just might. You look good today.” He smirked. The man couldn’t help but to laugh at her bargain. “That’s fair. Date night on Thursday before I leave? I can call Maria and see if she’s free to watch Ellie for the night.” He stated, referring to Ellie’s previous nanny who had also taken care of him for a few years. “Exactly.” He quickly agreed, sighing before continuing. “I just - I never cared about these things before. I mean, I would’ve always thought it was fucked up, but I don’t think I would ever get involved.” He began. “Now I think about how many influential women are in my life, and I just want to protect them. Maria, Ellie…you.” He sighed once more. “I don’t have much of a voice there, but I hope you know I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, in any way.”

“Thanks. I have to say since you started your job, I really have been a sucker for you being in suits a lot more.” Mina complimented in return. “Thursday should be good. I have class until four so I should be back around five.” She confirmed. Obviously she’d need time to get ready but he’d know that enough she figured. As he spoke about his views on the matter, she pushed off the counter and moved to stand in front of him. “I appreciate that a lot and I know you’re doing your best.” The brunette pulled his head in to her slightly and started to play with his hair. “You’re being a real role model for Ellie, you know.” 

“We’re going, we’re going. This is just a minor pit stop. Besides, there’s always that one pair that has dirty wedding sex.” He chuckled. “Oh, so you are taking me home tonight? This wasn’t just a one time thing?” He continued to joke, his smile peering through. “I know, I just can’t believe it happened so soon. Looks like it’s time to grow up, after all.” His eyes went wide in mock horror. This had been the first wedding he’s been to since his mother married his stepfather, and it was just a bit odd to him. He reached for his wallet before walking over to Mina. “I’ll put $50 on your $20 to say that Jake will be the one to get shit faced and try to hookup with Emily’s mom. The man was never able to handle his liquor.” He placed the money on the bedside table before leaning against the wall behind him. 

“Yeah, usually the bride and groom.” Mina joked. She laughed at him joking with her. “I don’t know, let’s call it a trial run.” The brunette teased him, playing along with him. “We all gotta grow up sometime. It’s just odd how out of the two of us, I’m the student and way more grown up than you.” Mina joked with him again and even sticking her tongue out at him like a child after. At Caleb’s bet, the brunette groaned. “Oh God, that’s actually a good one. If I see you talking to Jake about how hot Emily’s mum looks though, I am dragging you away as fast as possible.”

“I think I might be in the mood for something else.” He laughed, winking at the brunette. “Does that mean you won’t totally hate me if I told you I might have to leave town this weekend for work?” Caleb asked once more, a sheepish yet careful expression on his face. Grabbing a chair from the table, he spun it around before taking a seat. “It was…work. There might be a lot of proceedings and changes coming now that old white men are trying to get rid Roe v. Wade. I think I lost many brain cells listening to some of these guys justify the ban.

“Should I start prepping some icing again?” Mina joked about that one time. “Hate you? No. I could never hate you.” She answered first as she folded her arms. “It does mean you now owe me two date nights though... oh and a box of chocolates.” The brunette bargained. Her eyes rolled at the mention of the ban. “Why is it always old white men that have to be like this?” She questioned as she moved to lean against the counter. “If people want to abort a baby for just reasons, it shouldn’t be so hard for them to do that.”

“I know but with me looking like this…do you really think you’ll be able to keep your hands to yourself?” He jokingly asked. The man easily kissed the brunette back as she turned around to face him, smiling into the small gesture. Placing his hands on her arms, he gently rubbed them for a moment before dropping them to grab hers. “You’re right. I get to show off my girl before fucking her nice all night. I guess I can spare a few hours.” He smiled, kissing her lips once more. “I can’t believe two of us got married already…shit’s crazy.”

“If I could keep my hands off of you, we would be at the reception right now.” Mina retorted with a chuckle in her voice. “And I get to show off my very handsome man and everyone can stay jealous that I get to take you home with me tonight.” She complimented after kissing him back, straightening out his shirt. “Tell me about it but out of everyone, it was always going to be Nick and Emily first. There was never any doubt about that with them being high school sweethearts.” Mina considered as she walked back over to the nightstand to grab her purse and check she had everything ready for them to leave and looking in to her purse. “Alright, bets on the table. Who do you think is gonna cause the biggest scene after a few drinks? I’m putting $20 on Sadie getting drunk and doing something stupid then getting in to a fight about it.” The brunette pulled $20 out of the purse and put it on the bedside table as her official bet money.

With a grateful look in his eyes, Caleb pulled Mina in for a tight and welcoming hug. “She’s lucky to have you…I’m lucky to have you.” He whispered in a brief moment of vulnerability; it really had been a long, tiring day for him. “Yeah, she’s probably waiting for me to say goodnight before falling asleep. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be all yours?” With a smile, he returned the smell peck on her lips, giving her a few of them before walking away. Caleb took a few minutes to say hi to Ellie, asking about her day at school as he tucked her into bed. As much as he hated to admit this, as it would make him seem the domesticated person he was never known for, he loved coming home to this; to both his sister and Mina. Once she fell asleep he proceeded to make his way downstairs. “The girl tried conning me into letting her stay up so you two can bake some cookies. You’ve created a monster.”

“I’m lucky to have you both.” Mina happily replied back to him, appreciating the moment in his arms. “Take all the time you need! I’m cleaning up anyway.” She assured him so he didn’t need to rush. Once he left to go to Ellie’s room, the brunette made her way back in to the kitchen to finish tidying up and loading the dish washer when Caleb came back. “So you don’t want cookies tonight?” Mina teased, knowing she definitely wasn’t going to be baking tonight. “I’ll let her know in the morning that we can do some baking this weekend.” She decided as she dried her hands on a towel. “How was work?”

Caleb had been working late that night. After coming to terms that school wasn’t really for him (at least, not right now), he took his stepfather’s offer on helping out at the law firm and with his side hustle of stocks. It kept him busy while also allowing him to make overly decent money. He wasn’t expecting to be working as late, so he quickly shot Mina a text to see if she could pick up his sister from school; and once again, she came to the rescue. Finally getting back to their apartment, he immediately placed his keys onto the small table by the door. Caleb’s eyes shot up once he saw Mina standing at the doorway separating the living room from the kitchen. Raising a brow as she left him with anticipation in the beginning, he smiled as he continued to listen; tossing his jacket onto the couch as he made his way over to her. “So not only did you convince her that you are basically the pizza god of New York City, but I also get my own to eat?” He asked teasingly as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

Mina smiled up to him as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Well, I got to make sure that two important people in my life know that I am, in fact, a pizza God.” She teased. “No problem. You know I never mind. We also got her math homework done and did some work on her science project too. It’s really coming along. She’s in her room playing on the switch before she goes to bed if you want to poke your head in. I’ll go and put your pizza in the oven to bake.” The brunette said before lightly pecking his lips.

Caleb looked down, watching his hands as his fingers began buttoning up his shirt. “Oh, definitely.” He replied quickly, chuckling as he tucked his button down into his pants. He finished gathering himself up before stepping up behind the brunette. Taking hold of the tiny zipper of her dress, he slowly began zipping it up. Leaning down, he pressed his lips against her bare shoulder. “We don’t have to go back, you know.”

As his hands moved to the back of her dress, she straightened herself up so he had an better chance of moving the zipper up easier and resting her head back slightly against his shoulder at the soft kisses. “We didn’t come all the way back to Toronto to hide in a hotel room.” She told him with a smile. “We get to have fun with some old friends. It’s been far too long for us to not go to the reception.” The brunette added before turning to face him and kissing his lips. “Besides, it means I’ll get drunk and when we get back here, I’m sure I’ll make you socialising all worth it.”