Saturday, September 25th, 2021
5:15pm
AMC River East Movie Theater
Chicago, Illinois
“Mom, why do I have to wear a tie?” Riley asked, tugging at his
neck. “I look like an idiot.”
“You look great, Riley James. Maggie thought you looked handsome
at homecoming,” Bella quipped, smoothing her curls over her shoulder. She was
wearing an elegant black lace dress as they hung out in some conference room at
the movie theater, waiting before they had to walk the red carpet for this
movie premier. “I happen to agree.”
“That I look like an idiot?” Riley smirked, giving his mother a
shitty grin.
“You are an idiot,” Alec said, ruffling Riley’s hair. The
boys smacked at each other but quickly stopped when Bella gave them both the
‘mom’ glare.
“Be nice, Alec Charles,” Bella chided. “I thought we were beyond
this behavior.”
“I am, but Alec has the maturity level of a sixth grader,” Riley
teased.
“Says the boy who still sleeps with his wubby,” Alec teased back. “I’m
shocked it survived the tornado.”
“What is a ‘wubby’?” Edward asked.
“His baby blanket,” Bella answered. “It was pinned underneath one
of the walls. Riley was determined to get it out and he did. It’s stuffed under
his pillow. He’s also not the only one who needs his security blanket.”
“Mom,” Alec whined, rolling his eyes.
“You found that stuffed clown that Grandma Whitlock gave you. That
thing was so threadbare and creepy looking. I do your laundry and make your
bed, Alec Charles. I know that Poppy is still crammed with your pillows,” Bella
smirked. “Now, both of you. Stop it!”
“Sorry, Mom,” Alec muttered, but shot her a lazy grin.
Riley huffed out a breath, smacking at his brother and calling him
a suck up. Bella gave him another harsh stare. He muttered his apologies. “Seriously,
Mom. We’re going to a movie. A movie! The last time I went to a movie, I
was wearing sweatpants,” Riley sighed, loosening the tie.
“The last time I was at a movie, I was watching Elsa and watched
her dance with a underwater horse,” Edward chuckled, picking up a squirming
Lily, eager to be in her father’s arm. She was dressed in a pretty blue dress
and her strawberry blonde hair was curled, pinned back from her cherubic face.
She giggled in her father’s arms, singing one of the songs from Frozen II. “Bug,
please no. That song … ugh, it’s annoying.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” Lily giggled, kissing his cheek.
“I’ll forgive you, Bug. This time,” he chuckled, nuzzling her
neck.
“Really, Edward?” Bella teased.
“What?” He charmed Bella with his crooked grin, kissing her cheek.
“Besides, we needed to get dressed up since this the screening of Jacob’s final
production as a documentary film maker. At least, you guys get to go right
inside. Your mother and I have to walk the red carpet. There are reserved seats
with my last name. My parents are already in there, but my mom may sneak out.
She’s terrified of storms. I’m slightly jealous of them. They don’t have to
walk this red carpet. It’s not like we’re famous or anything,” Edward
snickered, putting Lily down and sliding his arm around Bella’s waist.
“Speak for yourself, Dr. Heatwave,” Riley smirked.
“Not you, too,” Edward groaned.
