One Wild Night

Chapter 946: You Should Marry

Lucas couldn't stop complimenting her baking skills, and each time he did, Amy felt a warm blush creep up her neck.

When they were finally full and content, Lucas leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "That was incredible. I feel spoiled."

Amy laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll pack you some when you leave. I've fulfilled one of my promises," she said and Lucas grinned.

"Yeah. You have."

"So, I actually had an idea for what we could do today," she said, and Lucas raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Oh?"

"Remember when I promised to show you my basketball skills?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Lucas grinned, leaning forward with interest. "How could I forget? You really want to take me on?"

"You bet," Amy said with a confident nod. "I know a place where we can play, and it's usually pretty quiet this time of day."

"Alright, let's do it," Lucas agreed, his excitement evident in his voice.

Lucas offered to clean up while she dressed up, and after she was done dressing up she joined him, carrying a basketball.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"What? You even have a ball?" He asked, and she grinned.

"Scared I'm going to beat you now?" She teased.

"Almost," he said, and they both laughed.

They cleaned up together before heading out, Amy leading the way to a nearby gym that had a small basketball court tucked away in a quiet corner.

As she had predicted, the place was nearly deserted, giving them the court all to themselves.

Amy tossed Lucas the ball as they stepped onto the court, her competitive side emerging. "Hope you're ready for this."

Lucas caught the ball with ease, spinning it on his finger as he gave her a teasing smile. "You think you can take me down?"

"Let's see what you've got," Amy challenged, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she got into position.

The game started off light and playful, both of them laughing and teasing each other as they traded shots. But as the minutes passed, the competition grew more intense, with both of them determined to outdo the other.

Amy was quick on her feet, darting around Lucas and making a few impressive shots. But Lucas wasn't one to back down easily. He used his height advantage to block her shots and make some smooth layups of his own.

Their banter was constant, filled with playful jabs and laughter that echoed in the empty hall. Each time Lucas managed to score, he would flash Amy a grin that made her heart flutter, and every time she got past him to make a shot, she would throw him a cheeky smile, reveling in the way he narrowed his eyes in mock frustration.

At one point, Lucas managed to steal the ball from Amy, dribbling it down the court with ease. Amy chased after him, determined to get the ball back. Just as Lucas was about to go for a shot, Amy jumped in front of him, her hands reaching out to block his shot.

Lucas caught off guard, stumbled slightly, and ended up catching her in his arms as he fell. They both fell to the floor laughing, with Amy on top of Lucas.

As they laughed, they soon realized that their faces were inches apart and they stared at each other, breathless from the game.

The air between them seemed to crackle with tension, and before Amy could say anything, Lucas leaned in and pressed a quick, playful kiss to her lips.

As Lucas pulled away, wanting them to stand up and resume the game, Amy pulled him back and kissed him.

Lucas smiled as he kissed her back and the kiss deepened. The world faded away as they explored this newfound intimacy. The gym, the basketball, and everything else seemed to disappear as they lost themselves in the moment.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, their eyes met, filled with a mix of desire and uncertainty. The air between them was charged.

"You're getting distracted," Lucas said with a grin as he playfully tugged on her nose and pulled back, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Amy blinked, still a little dazed from the kiss as Lucas helped her to her feet. "You're the one who kissed me first!" she protested, her voice light with laughter.

Lucas laughed too, taking advantage of her distraction to score another basket. "And that's game."

Amy huffed in mock annoyance, crossing her arms as she watched the ball roll away. "You cheated."

"All's fair in love and basketball," Lucas quipped, walking over to her with a grin.

Amy shook her head, unable to keep the smile off her face. "Fine. But have it in mind that you made the winning basket only because you cheated."

Lucas chuckled, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll take that win. But next time, I'll play fair."

"Next time?" Amy repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course. Let's go for round two. First to make fifteen baskets," Lucas said with a wink.

Away from there, Aaron, Candace, Andy, and Jamal were in the car, on their way to a park where they planned to have a picnic.

Candace sat behind the steering wheel, a serene smile playing on her lips and beside her in the passenger seat, Andy fiddled with the radio, searching for a station that matched the lively mood of the morning.

The scent of fresh coffee wafted from the cup holder beside her, mingling with the faint aroma of the packed sandwiches and fruit salads stashed in the trunk.

"That's perfect," Candace said when Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On filled the car.

"This takes me back," Aaron said from the backseat where he was comfortably seaters

"Seems like you had good taste in music," Candace teased.

Aaron chuckled, "Of course, I do."

Besides Aaron, Jamal bounced in his seat, his small hands clutching a well-loved action figure. His eyes sparkled with excitement, but it wasn't the music or the picnic that had him so animated. "Aunt Andy," he piped up, "are you sure I'll get to talk to Dawn today?"

Andy turned in her seat, her smile warm and reassuring. "I'm sure, Jamal. Her mom said she is looking forward to it as much as you are."

Jamal's face lit up even more if that were possible. "I can't wait! I have so much to tell her."

Candace shot a quick glance at her son through the rearview mirror, her heart swelling at the sight of his enthusiasm. "You'll have plenty of time to tell her all about it, sweetheart. Just remember to let her talk too, okay?"

"I will, I will," Jamal promised, though his mind was already racing ahead to the conversation

he would have.

As the chatter continued, filled with laughter and gentle ribbing, Aaron's phone buzzed in his pocket, the vibration a faint tremor against his leg.

He pulled it out, "It's Debbie," he announced excitedly, a soft smile curving his lips. Andy and Candace exchanged knowing looks, grinning mischievously. "Oh, it's Debbie," Andy echoed in a sing-song voice, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"We better keep it down, Andy. Dad's got a lady on the line."

Andy stifled a laugh, glancing at her father in the rearview mirror. "Should we give you some privacy, Dad? Maybe Candace pull over so you can have a proper, romantic chat?" Aaron shook his head, though he couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at his lips. "You two

behave," he chided gently, but there was no real bite to his words. "You're worse than a

couple of teenagers."

Jamal, ever curious, looked up at his grandfather with curious eyes. "Is that grandma

Debbie?"

"Yes, Jamal," Aaron said, his attention shifting to the call.

He pressed the phone to his ear, his voice softening as he spoke. "Hey, Debbie. How are you

doing today?"

There was a beat of silence as Debbie responded, and whatever she said made Aaron's smile

deepen.

Candace watched him through the mirror, while Andy turned in her seat to look at him, their amusement evident as they exchanged another glance.

Aaron was so lost in his conversation, that he barely noticed them. "So, when am I going to

see you again?" Aaron asked, his tone tinged with a hint of longing that didn't go unnoticed

by his daughters.

Candace stifled a giggle. "Listen to him, getting all sappy. Never thought I'd see the day when he would be so lovesick."

Andy nodded in mock seriousness. "It's adorable, really."

Aaron, overhearing just enough to catch the gist of their teasing, covered the mouthpiece of

the phone and shot them a mock glare. "Alright, you two, knock it off. I'm trying to have a conversation here."

Jamal, catching onto the playful mood, chimed in with a grin. "Are you going to ask her to

marry you, Grandpa?"

Aaron nearly choked on his laughter, shaking his head as he glanced at his grandson. "Not just yet, buddy. Let's take things one step at a time."

Debbie's voice filtered through the line again, and Aaron refocused on the conversation, but

not without a final chuckle at his family's antics. "Sorry about that. The kids are having a field

day over here."

By the time Aaron hung up, his smile was still firmly in place. He tucked his phone back into his pocket, meeting the expectant gazes of Candace and Andy.

"So," Candace began, feigning nonchalance as she turned onto the road leading to the park,

"How's Debbie?"

"Yeah, Dad," Andy added with a grin. "Anything new with her?"

Aaron simply smiled, leaning back in his seat as he folded his arms. "Nice try, girls. But I'm

not saying anything."

Jamal beamed up at his grandfather, clearly impressed. "I like Debbie, Grandpa. She makes

you happy."

Aaron's heart warmed at his grandson's innocent observation. He reached over and ruffled

Jamal's hair. "She sure does, buddy. She sure does."

"You should marry her," Candace suggested.

"You should marry, Matt," Aaron said and Andy giggled as Candace scowled at her father for changing the subject that way when he knew Jamal would jump on it.

Ever since Dawn told Jamal that her mother had gotten married and she now had a daddy and

her mother had promised she would have a little brother or sister, Jamal had been all over her

to get married too.

"Yes, Mommy, I want you to marry Matt. And then you will give me a little sister and a brother," Jamal said excitedly just as Candace had expected. "Thank you so much, Dad," Candace said dryly and Aaron chuckled.

"You're welcome, glass house."