*A few days later*
"When next is he coming?" Tris whined to his mum.
Amy groaned in frustration. This was the upteenth time Tris was asking her this question.
She was beginning to regret letting Cole in Tris's life. If she knew that Tris would disturb her this much, she would've thought otherwise.
"I don't know, Tris. Stop asking me. When he comes, you'll see him," Amy replied quite curtly.
"Tris, you need to go eat lunch. I'll text him if you want to see him that bad. Your food is on the table. Eat up, so you can go take your siesta." Kayla said to him.
Tris reluctantly left the kitchen space to the dining area where he meal was.
"And how long has he been with Cole that he wants to see him already?" Kayla questioned as she joined Amy in the kitchen.
"To be honest, even I am surprised by his longing. I didn't know that he was going to be this close to him," Amy replied with a sigh.
"It seems you guys had so much fun two yesterday, he can't wait to be with him again," Kayla said
"He did have a lot of fun," Amy answered.
"And how about you?" She asked.
"What?"
"Did you have fun?" Kayla questioned.
Any didn't know how to answer that question.
"Uhmm... Yeah, I guess," she shrugged and continued washing the pots.
Amy knew where this conversation was going already.
"I hope you didn't have too much fun that you got carried away by it? I hope you're not letting him sway you?" She asked.
Amy exhaled and dropped the plates in her hand
"Kayla, I know you do not trust Cole. Hell, I won't be surprised if you hate him. But he's trying to prove himself, and he's doing well so far," Amy explained.
"So what? He's a good guy now? We're going to forget all that he did to us by trying to takeTris from us?" Kayla questioned.
"We're not putting it behind us. Still, we should give him the benefit of doubt. He's a changed man. Besides, you can see that Tris is excited to have him around. Tris needs him. Why don't we give him a chance?" Amy begged.
"Fine. All I'm saying is that you should be careful. I have my doubts about him. Left to me, I would get a legal restriction to keep him far away from Tris," Kayla replied with a frown.
As Amy opened her mouth to speak, they heard a knock on the door.
Amy was grateful for that interruption, because she didn't know what else to tell her.
"I'll go get the door," Kayla opted and left the kitchen.
She went over to the door and unlocked it, to see Cole standing before her.
"Hi," he waved when he saw her.
"What are you doing here?" Kayla frowned.
"Can I come in?" He asked.
Kayla eyed him from head to toe before stepping aside.
"Mr. Stranger!!" Amy heard Tris scream, and she got confused.
"Why is he here?" She asked herself and went to check for herself.
She walked to the living area and saw a casually dressed Cole, carrying Tris who had a wide grin on his face.
"Hey, Amy!" He greeted.
"Hi! You didn't tell me you were coming today. What are you doing here?" She asked, surprised.
"I came to take Tris out today," he announced.
"Oh? But I'm not ready to go-"
"There's no need for you to go. It's going to be just Tris and I," he said.
"Yay!!" Tris ululated in happiness, but there was an awkward silence between the adults.
"Just the both of you?" Amy asked.
"Just the both of us," he said.
"Are you kidding? Where are you both-"
"Tris is still having lunch. Why don't you join him at the diner, so you can have a plate?" Amy interrupted Kayla.
"Why does he need to eat? Didn't he eat before coming-"
Amy dragged Kayla away and begged her to shush.
He was soon seated besides Tris at the dining.
"Thank you," he said as Kayla reluctantly dropped a plate of salad on the table.
Cole dug a spoonful and took a bite.
"This tastes delicious! Did you make this?!" He exclaimed, relishing the food.
"Nice try, but I'm not a baby," Kayla scoffed at his attempt to win her over and walked away.
"Mr. Stranger?"
"Hmm?"
"I told my friends in school that I have a father," Tris announced.
"Oh yeah? And what did they say?" Cole asked with his mouth full.
"They said they were happy for me, but their daddies and mummies live in the same house. Why don't you and mummy live in the same house? You can come live with us and stay in my room. Or we can come live with you," Tris kept blabbering as he stuffed his face with greens.
Cole and Amy exchanged glances at his innocent question.
"Uhmm... Maybe not now, but that will surely happen," Cole answered with a smile.
They kept on talking and eating until they were done and ready to go.
"Cole? One minute with you?" Amy dragged him to the kitchen.
"And when did I say you can take my son out on your own?" Amy questioned with a frown on her face, once Tris was out of earshot.
"Come on, there's nothing to worry about. I thought we agreed I'd have some time with him?" Cole questioned.
"I never said you could take him out alone!" Amy argued.
"So what, now? Do you want me to leave?" Cole asked.
"You know he's going to be moody for the rest of the day if I don't let him go out with you!"
"Exactly! So why don't you calm down and let him?"
Amy tried to keep her anger in check.
"Where are you taking my son?" She asked a bit calmly.
"A little shopping here and there wouldn't hurt-"
"Don't play with me, Cole! Where are you taking him?!" She cut him off.
Cole sighed. Either he was a terrible liar, or Amy saw right through him.
"Fine, I'll tell you the truth. I played chess with a couple of some old billionaires three days ago, and I lost. They agreed to a rematch today, and I need to win my money back," Cole explained.
Amy could not believe this guy right now.
"You want to use Tris against old men for a petty amount of cash? How shameless can you get? Besides, what made you insinuate that he knew how to play chess?" She folded her arms.
"Tris is a bookworm. He's smart. Of course, he knows some chess. Let me get back at those scumbags, please ," he pleaded.
Amy eyed him, giving it some thought.
"Fine, but I want my son back here by 7:30 pm,"
"Yes ma'am-,"
"A minute later that...," She closed the distance between them and stared at Cole with cold eyes, "... And you'll never get to see Tris again. Am I clear?" She questioned.
"Yes ma'am," Cole repeated, but this time, with fear in his eyes and voice.
They left the kitchen and met Kayla making Tris recite her phone number.
They finally bade the women goodbye and exited the apartment.
"Tris?" Cole called.
"Yeah?" Tris responded with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Have you ever been on a mission?" He asked with that same glint as his son.