Dark Paradise

chapter seventeen

C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N

IT FELT GOOD TO BE BACK. Celia bathed in the warmth from the Florida sun as they stepped outside of the airport. She then glanced down at the baby in her arms and smiled softly at her.

"Welcome to Miami, Olivia." Celia said to her and the baby babbled happily back at her.

The five of them were glad to finally be off the plane and on solid ground. Celia didn't mind airplanes but flying over a body of water for most of the flight freaked her out a little.

Connie returned to Celia, Javier, and Steve after calling her parents from a payphone.

"Mom said Dad and Brody are on their way and that Javier is welcomed to stay with us." Connie informed them as she took her baby from Celia. "Brace yourself , Javi. Our family can be pretty crazy."

"Pretty crazy is an understatement." Celia said as she took a seat on one of the benches sitting outside the departures.

"How many siblings do you have again?" Javier asked Celia as he took a seat beside her on the bench.

"Two sisters, including Connie, and two brothers." Celia answered with a wide smile as she tapped her foot impatiently. "All my siblings are married except me and Brody."

"Oh yeah, Brody isn't married yet." Connie remembered as she took a seat beside Javier. "I wonder if he's going to propose to Ashley soon."

"He better not. I want to get married first." Celia said as she leaned forward to look around Javier to her sister. "Imagine if he got married! The youngest in the family before me!"

"Find a boyfriend then." Connie retorted as she bounced her baby in her lap. "You know who's probably still here? Nicholas!"

"Oh my God." Celia groaned out as she shook her head at her sister. "No."

"Yes!" Connie urged as she moved to nudge her sister's bare knee with her hand. "I bet he isn't even married because he still likes you. You guys always got along well. He was the guy version of you. The two of you were literally two peas in a pod."

"Because Nick was my best friend since we were kids." Celia explained as she stood up from the bench, already tired of sitting down again. "He was there for me after what happened with he who shall not be mentioned and he still was my friend during my phase where I slept around like Javier over here."

"Well after everything with he who shall not be mentioned, you should've dated him. I don't understand how you didn't fall in love with him. He practically loved you unconditionally." Connie said as she too stood up and began to bounce the baby in her arms. "I would've literally already been married to the man myself if it weren't for Steve."