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It’s early morning, the sun occasionally peaking through the whitening clouds to shine in through the window with a glare. Lexi’s in her school uniform, with her bowl of cereal on the table beside her, empty, apart from the now chocolate coloured milk. She’s drawing on some paper, happy and content in her morning routine. Ben’s walking around, trying to find his car keys.
“Babe!” He shouts. “Have you seen my- oh.”
Callum appears next to Ben, dangling the keys on his index finger. He leans in for a swooping kiss, his hand on the back of Ben’s neck. “What time are you wanting me back today?” He asks.
Ben brushes down Callum’s shirt. “I thought we could pick Lex up together and then go out for a meal later?” Ben asks. It’s Callum’s birthday the next day, and Ben has already surprised him with a weekend away, leaving in the morning, so they promised Lexi that they would go out for a meal as a treat for her finishing the school term as well.
“Sounds perfect.” Callum smiles. “I’ll text you when I’m on the way back.”
Ben smiles too and leans up on the tips of his toes to kiss Callum once again, before watching him walking out of the door.
“Right princess, time for school.” Ben announces, walking back into the living room. He looks down at the table, watching Lexi finish up her drawing. “What have you been drawing this morning?” He asks.
Lexi looks up at him, moving her pens out of the way. It’s a birthday card, the paper folded over to look smaller. He reads the top of it, in a rich red felt tip colour, in Lexi’s neatest handwriting - ‘ To my daddy ’.
“It’s already been my birthday sweetheart. You made me a card at school, remember?” He smiles.
“I know.” Lexi says, rolling her eyes as though it’s obvious. “This one is for Callum.”
Ben pauses for a moment, his eyes flicking between his daughter and the card. He reads the words over and over again. He watches Lexi putting on her shoes and coat, and he suddenly remembers that he has to take her to school.
“You won’t forget to bring the card?” She asks. “I can give it to Callum after school.”
“Promise I won’t forget.” He says, picking up Lexi’s lunch box as she grabs her bag, swinging it around onto her shoulders. “Do you want to call Callum your other dad?” Ben asks, the very thought of it getting him giddy.
Lexi looks up at him, and there’s a shy smile on her face, like she doesn’t know what to say.
“You can if you want.” Ben says. “I think Callum will like that.”
“Really?” Lexi responds giddily. “You don’t mind?”
Ben grins and leans down to press a kiss to the crown of Lexi’s head. “Course I don’t mind it, princess. If that’s what you want to do, you can.”
It’s later in the day when Callum sees the card.
Ben drives them to Lexi’s school, the card hidden away in the back of the car and Callum’s already been warned that he can’t look, because it’s a surprise. He knows better than to ruin one of Lexi’s surprises by now.
Lexi jumps into the back of the car, throwing her bag over to the other side and taking her seat. “Did you bring it?” She asks her dad.
Ben smiles. “Nice to see you too, how was your day?” He rolls his eyes. “It’s behind Callum’s seat.”
Lexi grins and takes out the card, handing it over Callum’s shoulder. “It’s for your birthday.” She explains.
“Thanks Lex.” He says, taking hold of the card before looking at it. “ Oh .”
“Do you like it?” She asks, clicking her seatbelt into place.
Ben looks around to make sure it’s done up properly, and catches Callum staring at him with tears in his eyes, biting at his lip.
“He loves it Lex.” Ben smiles, reaching over and putting his warm hand on Callum’s thing, soothing him.
“Yeah.” Callum lets out, and he knows there’s tears in his voice. “I love it.”
“I can’t believe you brought me here.” Callum says with a grin, laying down on the bed to stare at the ceiling. They’re in their wedding hotel, a posh suite with a balcony looking out onto the grounds, the dewy grass shining in the late morning sun. “I still can’t believe we’re actually getting married here.”
Ben speaks from the bathroom, hidden by the wall. “I know you wanted to spend the night here, so I thought that instead of waiting until our anniversary, we could just come here for your birthday instead. It’ll be better this way anyway, we have an entire weekend to ourselves, but we’d only be here for a night after the wedding.”
“It’s amazing.” Callum responds, completely in love with their room for the next couple of days. “You’re amazing.”
Ben steps out from the bathroom, wearing only his boxer shorts and a tie, slack around his neck. He’s holding another one up near his face. “Which one for the meal tonight?”
Callum sits up and tilts his head to the side slightly, unable to take his eyes off of Ben. He’s gorgeous. Callum stands up and strides over to his fiancé, taking at least three steps before their bodies are only an arms length away. He stretches out an arm, grabbing onto the slack tie around Ben’s neck and pulls him forward, letting their chests clash together. “I love you.” Callum grins, leaning in for a kiss, hot and needing, and neither of that want to let go. “So much. I can’t wait to call you my husband.”
“Speaking of that.” Ben says, wrapping his arms around Callum’s shoulders, joining his hands together and letting them thread through the back of Callum’s hair. “I’ve got another surprise.”
“Yeah?” Callum asks, putting his hands on Ben’s waist, pulling him in even more now.
Ben hums. “You know those rings you’ve been looking at?”
Callum raises an eyebrow. “You know about that?”
“Got eyes in the back of my head babe.” Ben teases, chuckling. “I bought them.”
“Really?” Callum asks, his eyes lighting up.
Ben nods, his hands stilling on Callum’s head. “We can go and pick them up this afternoon.”
Callum swoops his head down, wrapping Ben up in a kiss once more, his arms instantly curling around Ben’s body as he picks him up off the ground, turning them in time together and taking three more steps back to the bed, grinning to himself as they fall down onto the mattress together. “I got so lucky with you.”