Chapter 25: I Love You

**”When I say I love you more, I don’t mean I love you more than you love me. I mean I love you more than the bad days ahead of us, I love you more than any fight we will ever have. I love you more than the distance between us, I love you more than any obstacle that could try and come between us. I love you the most.” – Unknown.**

**Johnnie**

Before we got on the plane to meet my family, we dropped by a clinic to get Alexis a refill of her pills. My godparents, which consist of my aunt and uncle, are excited to see me. I haven't told them I'm bringing a girl. I want to see their faces.

“So how are you feeling after the birthing event?”

“Feels like I delivered the baby without getting the prize. I dealt with the worst abdominal pain and lower back pain in my life. I am still a bit tensed up too.”

She giggles, “I'm sorry I don't mean to laugh at your pain.”

“I give all credit to women and will never take for granted what you have to go through,” I leaned down to kiss her lightly. “Sometimes girls are just better at things.”

“I guess we will have to wait and see,” she replies and that brings a smile to my lips. I want to scream from the rooftops how much I love my girl, but I can't until I tell her. 

“So are you excited about the cruise?”

“Yeah, I can't wait. I think it's going to be a blast. Dean and Luke are freaking hilarious; they just amplify everything. It keeps everyone on their toes then sometimes Dean just surprises me with a sweet moment,” she says.

“You never know what you're going to get,” but I am glad that she's fond of my friends. Her friends are pretty great too. 

**Alexis**

My name is called. I get up, grab my prescription, and head to the airport. When we get there, the plane is waiting for us. Johnnie helps me out of the backseat. We make our way up the stairs of the plane. I met the two pilots and the flight attendant. Everyone seemed so nice too. We get seated and wait to take off. “This is beautiful.”

“It makes traveling a lot more desirable. Less crazed fans and farty passengers,” he jokes.

I laughed. We get rum and coke and then the plane takes off. “So will they like me?”

“Oh yeah. My godmother, who is my aunt, will probably faint. I didn't tell them you're coming. I want to see their faces,” he says. I gasp. “Don't worry. They will love you. My brother and sister will be there too.”

“Is your brother in Porn?”

“He used to but now he just models,” he replies.

“Cool. And your sister, how old is she and what does she do?”

“She is twenty-two. You both will hit it off. She's an influencer on Instagram.”

“Oh yeah, what's her name?”

“Lynn Simmons,” he says.

“I follow her. She is beautiful and amazing.”

He grins, “She is. She works hard to have good content and be relatable to girls and women.”

“Absolutely. Do what you love and it won't seem like work.” A few hours later we land and depart from the plane. We have a car waiting for us. My stomach swarms with anxiety. I worried that I might not be accepted. 

Johnnie slides his hand in with mine. I rest my head against his shoulder. I was feeling tired and my body was feeling achy. Not long and we are pulling up outside his former home. They lived by the ocean, my favorite place to be. I always hated that the Midwest was so far from the ocean. “Wow, by the ocean! I love the ocean and this place is beautiful.”

Johnnie smiles, “Yeah. It's my favorite place if I am not working.”

“I can see why. It's breathtaking.”

“It is, but not as breathtaking as you,” he kisses me.

We walk up to the front door. He knocks. The door opens. “Godpops!” I giggle at how childlike Johnnie sounds. It is so endearing.

“My boy. How the hell are you?”

Johnnie says, “Good, really good,” as he looks at me.

His uncle asks, “Who is the beauty that has you so enamored?” 

“This is Alexis, my girlfriend,” he says.

“What?”

“My girl. She's it for me,” Johnnie replies.

“Wow, never thought I'd see the day. Alexis, it is a pleasure to meet you. You can call me uncle, pops, or Ken, whichever name you like,” he said.

I hear a woman’s voice which I recognize as his sister, Lynn, “Did I hear the word girlfriend come out of your dirty mouth?”

“You did,” he beams as he hugs Ken and Lynn.