3D: The Sleepover

Aubrey paced back and forth, up and down the stairs in anticipation of her brother’s arrival. Everything had to be perfect. Oliver had visited before but only stayed a few hours. This time, he would stay an entire weekend, and she couldn’t stop smiling about it. Oh, how she missed spending time with her favorite little dude. She and Skyla discussed weekend visits before, but Aubrey had little free time. Now, with two well-functioning restaurants, she felt comfortable taking more time for herself.

His little footsteps padding the stairs quickened her heart making it beat faster. Back in the day, when she used to watch him as a toddler, caring for him was easy. All he needed was chicken nuggets, flash cards, and hot beat to bob to. She could carry him wherever she went, and he almost never vanished from sight. But now, his legs were longer, and her house was bigger. He spoke in full sentences and had no qualms about expressing displeasure. If this visit didn’t go well, it could damage their relationship. The pressure was on to impress the little goober.

Julio also loved Oliver and was excited about the weekend. Aubrey invited him to join the family fun, but he thought it was important they get some quality sibling time. He and Oliver developed a cute friendship back when they were dating. When Oliver began demanding flash cards from him, she knew for sure Julio would fit in well with the family.

“Welcome to my house, Oli! I’m so happy you’re here!”

His cute, raspy giggle echoed through the house and made her heart smile. “You’re squeezing me, Aubrey!”

“I know!”

Being around a child again was exhilarating, and she looked forward to her own children running around filling the home with laughter. Aubrey would never discourage Oliver’s growth, but sometimes she missed the days when he was just learning to talk and couldn’t pronounce her name correctly. He called her “Awwbee.” She loved the name so much she canonized it as her Simstagram handle.

“Do you even have toys here?”

Aubrey feigned disgust. “Who needs toys when you have me?”

He gave her a serious side-eye.

“Ok, ok, yes, I have every imaginable toy!”

He pumped his fist into the air. “YES! But, wait…how do you have toys? You don’t have kids!”

It was a well-known fact that she and Julio intended on starting a family, but somehow his line of questioning made her uncomfortable. The brain of a child was a wandering maze; one never knew where she’d end up.

“I don’t have kids yet. Come, sit with me!”

She squeezed him again, and his cute giggle filled the house once more. She missed it so much.

“I can’t breathe!”

“I just love you so much! You know that, right? Even if I don’t talk to you, I still love you.”

“I know. You have a restaurant like Daddy.”

She felt such relief from his understanding. The emotions of a child were dodgy sometimes like a minefield. “I have two restaurants!”

“Coooool! You’re famous!”

She laughed. “Not quite!”

“Where’s Julio?”

“He’s in the office working. You can play with him tomorrow. Ok, Mister, it’s your first night here. No parents! What do you want to do?”

“Llamaman vs. Unicorn VIII!!”

Aubrey loathed those movies and low-key hated that Jonathan brought them into their lives. According to him, Pruetts were long time Llamaman fans, and they needed to maintain the tradition. But, for the handsome little devil whom she didn’t see enough, she’d suffer through the idiocy.

“Coming right up! Want me to make popcorn?”

“Yeah!”

His excitement was contagious, and she grinned all the way to the kitchen. Julio met her and asked how it was going.

“We’re gonna watch a movie. His eyes are a little red, so I highly doubt he’ll stay awake through the whole thing.”

Julio grinned. “Poor guy. Ok, well I’ll wait for you upstairs then.”

He pecked her on the lips.

“Later,” she said.

When she returned with the popcorn, what she saw confirmed the statement made to Julio.

Though she suspected his state, she was still disappointed. At least he’d be around for the whole weekend. They could eat the popcorn later.

She shook his leg. “Come on, buddy. Let’s get you to bed.”

His eyes eased open. “I don’t wanna go to bed,” he whined in his morning voice.

She giggled. “But, you’re sleeping, Oli.”

“I’m not sleep,” he said through a yawn.

“Come on, man. We’re going upstairs.”

Watching him grow up was so weird and interesting. Certain parts of him remained unchanged like not wanting to go to bed at night. He and Maya were such night owls. He also still had an affinity for chicken nuggets.

“Do you like this room? I’m not done with it yet, but it’s good enough, right?”

“Yeah. It’s ok.”

“Awww! What’s the matter, Oli?”

“I don’t wanna go to sleep! I wanna stay up with you!”

He was very serious, so she tried to hide her amusement. “But you can barely stay awake, bud. It’s ok. We have two more days together. There’s plenty of time to stay up late, ok?”

She tucked him in, and he went out like a broken lamp as soon as his head hit the plush pillow.

In the morning, Aubrey dressed before checking on Oliver in his room. She assumed he’d take advantage of sleeping in and tended to her own needs first, but he was missing. She panicked for all of five seconds before thinking to check the play room. All the air seeped out of her lungs when she found him working on a masterpiece at the art table. Everyone was so glad to see Skyla’s biggest talent finally pass on. It seemed a shame to waste such creative genes.

“There you are! I thought you ran away or something.”

“Nope.”

“Whatcha makin’?”

“I don’t know yet. Just trying to find my inspiration.”

She almost doubled over in laughter. Where in the world did he learn that? Kids really did say the darndest things.

“Ok, Mr. Picasso. But … Be careful with that glitter, please.”