Life's a Game, but it's Not Fair

The soft sunlight hit Reagan’s eyes and awoke her from her deep slumber.

And so did Jimmy’s snores.

Her father and Matt had been gone for a week for business, which led to Reagan sleeping on the bottom bunk in Jimmy’s room in a pair of sleeping shorts and one of Matt’s sweatshirts drenched in his cologne.

Whenever both Matt and Brian were home Reagan slept peacefully by herself in her room. She loved sleeping in the same bed as Matt some nights, but enjoyed having her bed to herself. If Brian left, she would call him and stay on the phone until she fell asleep. If it was Matt that was gone, she would wrap herself up in his clothes and sometimes sleep in his bed.

She sat up and stretched, rolling her neck and shoulders to wake up the muscles. Suddenly, she stopped as she remembered what day it was, a grin growing on her face.

Wednesday. Matt and her dad would finally be home.

She tiptoed out of Jimmy’s room, closing the door quietly behind her.

As usual, Reagan was one of the first up in the house. She walked quietly past Johnny and Z’s shut doors as she moved towards the staircase and headed into the kitchen.

Kappie’s door was shut tight as well, leaving Reagan to her thoughts as she poured coffee and water into the coffee maker.

As the coffee brewed, she mentally planned out the day. Matt and Brian would probably not be back until late tonight. Maybe she would call Blair to do some early shopping for her birthday party next week.

Her birthday party was going to be insane. Her father had closed her club, oh how she loved calling it that, for the night. Only those with a special invitation would be able to enter.

Grabbing her coffee mug and heading up the stairs, Reagan headed to her room where Gossip Girl was waiting for her on Netflix.

The theme sequence had barely started when she heard tires on the driveway. She rushed into Brian’s room to look out the window and confirm that it was one of the Escalades.

It was them. They were back!!

Grinning, she rushed down the stairs and threw open the front door, her bare feet slapping the stone as she sprinted to the Escalade

Brian dropped the duffle bag he was holding to pick his daughter up and spin her around, his laughter booming throughout the courtyard.

“How are you angel?” He asked, ruffling her onyx hair.

“The guys set off fireworks every night, Kappie perfected her crème brulee and I can successfully get out of Zacky’s headlock and wrestle him to the ground.”

It had been four months since the break in and the group had separated. Brian decided it was important that the girls both work with each of the guys, should self defense ever become necessary.

Now, he laughed at the image of his 105 pound daughter wrestling her uncle to the ground. “That’s my girl!” he proclaimed, kissing her on the forehead.

“Now if you don’t mind. I’m going to head inside. I know there’s someone that’s missed you almost as much as I have.” Brian winked at his daughter and walked in side.

Grinning, Reagan turned to see Matt standing there with his bags, his dimples nearly making craters in his cheeks.

“So, uh, you miss me at all?” she asked, slowly walking forwards.

Matt shrugged, “maybe a little.”

“Oh yeah?”

He leaned in and kissed her gently, “I have ingredients for strawberry waffles,” he whispered.

Reagan squealed, “MATTY WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME SOONER!!!”

Scooping up the bags near her feet, she rushed back into the mansion. Matt followed behind her laughing.

“Jimmy, give me the can!!!” Reagan cried, pouting.
The rest of the gang had woken up shortly after Brian and Matt’s arrival, and had all gathered around the table as Matt and Reagan whipped up batch after batch of fresh strawberry waffles, complete with whipped cream and syrup.

Jimmy finished forming his mound of whipped cream on his waffles and obliged.

It was good to have the family together again. Even one night of someone missing threw the group off balance.

Kappie pulled a fresh pot of coffee from the maker and walked around the table checking to see if anyone needed to be topped off or get a refill. She wore a pair of sweats and a tank top, her blonde hair pulled into a messy bun at the top of her head, and Brian couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

From his spot at the head of the table, he looked down to his daughter, who has about to put a very large forkful of waffle into her mouth.

“Reagan,” he called

She looked up; Jimmy leaned over and ate what was on her fork in one bite.

“After breakfast meet me in my office please, I have something important I need to discuss with you.”

She glanced at Matt to see if he knew what was up, he simply shrugged.

Zack and Johnny were on dish duty, so Reagan placed her plate and mug in the sink and headed down the hall to the office.

One of the large French doors was open and she could see her father pacing nervously inside.

“Are you okay Daddy?” she asked as she entered, pulling the large door behind her.

Brian wrapped his arm around her and guided her to one of the large leather chairs that faced his desk.

“I have something to ask you, princess,” he began. “No one else knows about it and I wanted you to be the first.”

“You know that you will always be my girl. I will give you anything and everything you want and need. Now, with your birthday coming up, I want to give you something you have not had yet. I want to give you a mother.”

Reagan squealed “You’re going to ask Kappie to marry you aren’t you!?”

Brian smiled and pulled out a ring box, “Yes, I am. Tomorrow night at dinner. Are you alright with this? I don’t want to take the attention off of your birthday.”

Reagan threw her arms around her father. “No it’s perfect. Kappie has always felt like my mother and now she really will be!”

Embracing his daughter, Brian felt like the happiest man in the world and tomorrow he knew he officially would have everything.

Kappie woke up at 7 o’clock the next morning and could not go back to sleep.

Deciding to take advantage of the morning, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt and slipped her feet into a pair of flats.

In the kitchen she left a note on the counter, letting everyone know she was headed to the farmer’s market to get some ingredients for breakfast.

Bags swinging in her hands, Kappie weaved through the early-morning crowd with a smile on her face. She loved the farmer’s market in the morning and could not wait to whip up a quiche for the guys and Reagan and then go out for dinner with Brian later. He had kept everything secret and she knew he loved to surprise her.

Approaching her car, she reached into her bag to grab her keys.

Just as she did, a hand grabbed her elbow and pulled her into the alley nearest to her. The groceries spilled from the bags and all over the sidewalk.

Kappie
Reagan

Notes