Fallen

One of the easiest things about my job was that I never had to worry about what I was going to wear to work. It was always the same thing; work shirt, khakis and some socks packed in my work bag. You didn’t have to worry about make-up unless the media was going to be there, because animals didn’t mind. My hair was usually in some sort of messy bun, and when I say messy, I do mean messy. Sunglasses sat on the top of my head for the majority of the day, or as my co-worker and I called them, antisocial glasses.

Carson, on the other hand, was a male-diva just like his father. Always wanting to look stylish, and complaining if the curly mop on his head was looking more disheveled than he hoped for. It was a good thing that his father had supplied him with a million clothing options, and that grandma was so keen on having him dressed like a young Scott Disick. If I had it my way, the kid would be in a t-shirt and jeans everyday… but he didn’t like that, so he didn’t have to wear it.

“Momma, where is my chucks?” Carson grumbled while rummaging through his closet, throwing things about.

I laughed, “You mean where ARE my chucks, right?” I got up from sitting on his bed and met him at the closet, shooing him away, “The messier you make your closet, the harder it is going to be to find them. I always tell you, Car, put your shoes away correctly.”

“Too hard,” he frowned and jutted his bottom lip out. He crossed his arms over his chest, while pouting. As soon as his eyes spotted his white chucks in my hand a smile formed over his face. “Thank you, Momma,” he grinned and sank onto the floor, putting the shoes on his feet.

“You’re welcome, bud,” I smiled and laced up his shoes. As soon as I was done I grabbed his sides, digging my fingers into them, “tickle attack!”

“No!” He squealed in laughter as I ticked his little tummy. As soon as I was done I gave him a kiss on the cheek and he shoved me away, straightening out his shirt. Just like his father.

I loved Carson. I loved him with every little neuron in my body, don’t get me wrong. But he reminded me so much of Brandon that sometimes it made my heart hurt. Carson was the right ratio; sharing half of the same facial features and personality traits with both of us. Somehow the two of us morphed together into one perfect, little boy.

Things had been hard since Brandon and I split six months ago and I left LA. I had moved in with my parents for two months, and continued to drive Carson to his old daycare everyday when I went to work. After about a month, my mom talked me into enrolling him into a daycare close by so that it was more efficient for both her and I. She helped me buy a small two-bedroom house; perfect for the two of us. I was grateful for her throughout the whole ordeal, and that she was still here for me whenever I needed a break from being a full-time worker and mom.

Brandon and I had been perfect together for three years. Carson was an unexpected pregnancy, but we had both vowed to work together to provide an incredible life for our child. That all changed when Carson turned two, and Brandon started the downward spiral. If he wasn’t out doing coke and “sleeping at a friends house” on the weekends I worked, he was out of town on the weekends I was home. I finally caught him cheating on me and had proof via a disgusting sex tape he snap chatted to our mutual friends. I had no choice but to get Carson out of that situation and end our relationship. He had proposed to me four months prior - all while he was screwing around behind my back.

Brandon begged for me back, saying he would change, and then I served him papers stating that I wanted full custody of Carson. He stopped making a point to try to fight it, or be in his son’s life, as soon as he read them over in front of me. I got hit with a “fuck you” and the following week he started back up with the drugs, partying and multiple women. Two weeks ago we finally had our court date to settle that Carson was officially going to be an O’Neil and not an Evans, and Brandon brought along his nineteen-year-old girlfriend. I was disgusted.

Carson hadn’t asked much about his daddy aside from the explanation I gave him. He had always clung to me more, but I knew sooner or later he would need some type of male authority figure who wasn’t grandpa in his life. My mom wanted me to start looking into dating someone, someone a little older. Brandon was just a year older than me - she wanted me to get a guy in his early 30s. I just wasn’t ready.

I told Carson to stay in the living room and finish his snack while I went and got ready for the day. He was busy, totally engulfed in the episode of Spongebob. I knew many parents were against the show because it had no educational value, but hey, sometimes kids liked stupid. I ran a brush through my hair after applying a little bit of foundation to even-out my skin tone. I added some eyeliner, bronzer and mascara, then slid my chapstick over my lips. I decided on wearing something really casual, unlike my son always wanting to look spectacular in his collared shirts. I pulled some jeans on and a light-weight maroon sweater. I slid sandals onto my feet and walked out of my bedroom. My purse was waiting on the couch next to Carson.

The minute he saw me he grinned, “Time to go?”

“Time to go,” I smiled and grabbed my purse. “Turn the TV off, bud.”

Carson nodded and pressed the power button on the remote. He hopped off the couch and grabbed my hand. I placed my phone in the holder on my dashboard, pulling up my GPS and typing in Val’s ex-husband’s address. He didn’t live too far from me, and it was only about a five minute drive. I was going to be dropping Carson off for a playdate with Cash, so I could go out and grab lunch with friends. I was lucky to have this weekend off because the weather was beautiful, which meant the zoo was probably slammed.

I pulled up to the house, it was a gorgeous rambler, and noticed only the glass door was closed, the actual front door was open.

I got Carson out of his car seat just in time for Cash to run out the front door and attach himself to my leg, “Liv! Liv! Liv!”

I laughed and placed Carson on the ground next to his best friend. I ruffled Cash’s hair, “hello to you, too.”

“Cash, that’s no way to say hello to someone,” a deep voice spoke from a few feet away from me. I looked up from the small boys and came face-to-face with Matt, a dimpled smile and soft hazel eyes. He took a step forward and held out his hand, “Nice to finally put a face to the name. Matt.”

I placed my hand in his, shaking it lightly, “Wish I could say the same, but I already knew what you looked like.” He laughed along with me, “Liv.”

“Do you want to come in, or do you normally drop your son off at strangers houses and leave?” Matt laughed, his own way of welcoming me into his home.

I shook my head with a laugh, “I have some time, but no, I don’t. I’ve just heard a lot about you from Val, so I assume that you aren’t a murderer of small children.”

“Boys, let’s go inside,” Matt spoke and led us into the house. He held the door open for me and stepped in behind me, “Cash, why don’t you show Carson around?”

Cash nodded and grabbed Carson’s hand, pulling him throughout the house. River was sitting on the couch in the living room, engulfed in a video game. I waved to him and he waved back, but his eyes stayed glued to the television. I wondered if that was how Carson was going to be when he hit six. I hoped that he would be more of the outdoorsy type like me.

“Want anything to drink?” Matt asked as I followed him through the living room and into the kitchen. I shook my head and said no thank you, and he grabbed himself a water bottle and leaned against the island. “I hear that you have a pretty cool job,” he smiled and cracked the cap on the bottle.

I grinned, “Yeah, I guess you could say it’s pretty cool. I get to go to work everyday and do what I love, which is something most people don’t have the opportunity of. You could say the same for yourself, huh?”

He nodded, “Absolutely, but now that I’ve gotten older the tour life isn’t as fun as it was in my twenties. I’d rather be home with the boys doing dad things.”

“No feeling quite like being a parent,” I diverted my eyes from him and looked around for a minute or two. I felt his eyes on me and I looked into them, “What? Do I have something on my face?”

Matt shook his head with a smile, “Just admiring the view.” I knew I had to start blushing when he let out a chuckle, “Val informed me that the boys spend their Wednesdays together after daycare. What do you say we go out and do something fun this Wednesday?”

“What are you thinking?” I asked, genuinely wanting to know if he had an idea. Usually Val and I just switched weekly between who had the kids and who didn’t. Sometimes we would do stuff together, but usually it was like our time to unwind. She’d generally dish off River to a friends house, too.

He shrugged, “Something outside since the weather is so nice? Hike to the beach?”

“A hike? With three-year-olds? Are you serious?” I laughed at his suggestion, “How about the beach and ice cream?”

“That works, too,” Matt smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth and deep dimples. A crash sounded from the other side of the house, both of us groaning with un-surprised looks on our faces, “Duty calls.”

I laughed, “I’m going to go meet some friends for lunch. I’ll call you when I’m coming to pick up the little hellion, or you can call me and tell me whenever you need me to get him out of your house. He can be a handful.” I started to walk toward the front door as he walked toward the hallway leading to the loud noise.

“I’ve raised two boys, yours is nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” Matt responded with a smirk, it failing a bit when another crash sounded. “Be careful getting out of the driveway,” he smiled and held the door open for me as I walked out.

Notes

Some insight on Liv's past relationship.
And her & Matt met for the first time!