marty rivera

Anthony felt his cheeks warming with Marty's words. He hadn't expected to be so enamored with her, not so quickly. But how could he not be? "You'll be my favorite, as well." Anthony agreed, not because he felt like he had to say it but because genuinely meant it. His smile was no longer faint against his lips as the corners of his lips curled upward into a brighter one. "Did you sign up with your own free will or did someone else sign you up? I've noticed that to be a common theme tonight." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; anthony blake #anthony;;003 #event;;005 #queued

She grinned at him and bit the side of her bottom lip for a moment before licking her lips. "Anthony Blake, I could swear that you're flirting with me." She said as she looked him over, her eyes going to his lips for a moment, then back up to his eyes. "Oh, I signed up." A pause. "With heavy influence from my fourteen-year-old." A laugh escaped her lips. "What about you? Your brothers force you into this or did you do it willingly?" @anthonyxblake

"Oh no, this is definitely worse. I mean, if you really want to be brave, you can go look. Though, because you guys are here, she might actually put it away the first time I ask." Corinne hoped, at least, that because they had a guest, it would make her want to listen. "You know how pre-teens can get, in one ear out the other. At least my toddler listens." Which, honestly, was a miracle because Corinne had been a bit of a wild child herself. "I mean, I also have coffee before and after. But, fine." Corinne refrained from asking Marty to join her again. "Not sure about that second one." A sigh came from her parted lips, maybe before everything had happened, but now, it was more complicated. A part of Corinne was still pissed that Clementine left after her mother had passed, and then again in January. @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; corinne beaumont #corinne;;001 #queued

She laughed and shook her head. "No, thank you. I know what it's like at their age. I was that at their age." She laughed a bit more and shrugged. "Sometimes I still can be." Marty definitely had her room dirty now more than a few times when she was really busy, but always got it back looking neat within a few days. "I'm sure you do. You would need to with that." She shook her head. "Everything okay?" @corinnebeaumont

connorxbowen

He had half expected the brunette to get up and leave with her statement. Yet, when she didn't, he found that to be a good sign. Maybe they weren't soulmates. He wouldn't be able to gauge that in a short amount of time, but it was something. "Honestly?" His lips thinned as he sorted his thoughts. He didn't want to lie, but how much honestly was too much in speed dating? "I'm dealing with a broken heart and I didn't want to lead anyone on by showing up and connecting." He paused, shaking his head briefly. "Yet, leaving someone here, without an explanation somehow felt worse to me." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; connor bowen #connor;;001 #event;;005

She listened to him and nodded. "That makes sense." She definitely wouldn't have made it out if she was going through heartbreak. She reached for her glass, took a sip, and then put it down. "At least you're honest. Can I ask about the heartbreak or are you ready to even talk about it?" She asked curiously and sat up a little. "If not, we can switch the subject, but I'm happy to an ear if you wanna talk." @connorxbowen

Anthony's heart rate picked up when he heard her voice, but more so when he saw her face. Her beauty took him by surprise any time that he saw her, pulling the breath right from his lungs. "Oh yeah," he cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his shirt as he spoke. "My brothers thought it would be a good idea for me and I didn't disagree." Right now, he was particularly glad that he had come out. "Are you enjoying yourself so far?" @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; anthony blake #anthony;;003 #event;;005

She smiled over at him, noticing the way he adjusted his collar, and nodded. "I'm glad you didn't." She said before nodding. "It's definitely gotten better now." Marty had been worried about Emilia all night since her daughter was sick, even though the teenager was insisting she went out. Now, that worry was out of her head as she sat across from Anthony. "It's definitely a nice surprise that we got paired up, isn't it? Don't tell the others, but you're going to be my favorite date of the evening." @anthonyxblake

jeffersontcooper

Hearing the way that Marty praised him and Tomas nearly made Jet burst into tears. The only thing he'd ever wanted in life was to be a good dad, and while there were times he felt he'd messed up with his son, he was happy to have been able to raise children that grew up to be as perfect as Marty and Evan had. "You know even now I'd do anything for you, kid." he stated, arms snaked around Marty's body, squeezing as tightly as he could without hurting her. "And those kids of yours. I promise just because they're cute and tiny doesn't make me love you any less." he winked, though he knew there was no part of Marty that would even believe for a second that was possible; or so he hoped anyways. "I know that not everyone is, and thank goodness for that. I don't think I could survive it if there were two of Dad walking around here." Jet spoke, clearly teasing his daughter. Yet he didn't pry, leaving it at that and nodding at her statement about getting the gossip from Emilia. "I do." he laughed. "She told me about some drama with some boy at school just last week, but you'll have to forgive me because now I can't remember anything about it." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; jefferson cooper #jet;;001

She hugged her dad tightly and nodded. "I know. There's never a moment where I or the kids didn't know that, okay?" She moved back and looked into his eyes. It was something she knew was true before shew as even adopted by Tomas and Jefferson and it was going to be something she knew to be true for the rest of her life. Laughing, she nodded. "Touché." She said and took a breath as they talked about her daughter. "Oh, yeah. This boy was trying to ask her on a date and played "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel on an old school boombox to her in the gym. I'll give him credit for the Say Anything reference, but Emilia did not like it at all." @jeffersontcooper

She smiled at him and shrugged. "I'm always here to talk." She offered up to him. She didn't mind the company and talking with Anthony was always easy. Marty didn't feel like she had to filter herself and knew she could joke with him. It was nice. "I'm glad you're feeling that way and that it's not the opposite where you're absolutely hating it here." She laughed a little bit. "I think Kismet Harbor is a great place to find that peace and move forward. It certainly has for me, even though I've lived here my entire life." @anthonyxblake

#interaction ;; anthony blake #anthony;;002 #end

"Do people actually hate it here?" Anthony wasn't the type of person to dream, to let his thoughts get away from him in a way that he couldn't chase them down later. Yet, there was something about Kismet that he imagined made it difficult to hate. "I think that says a lot if you're saying that and have lived here your entire life." Not many people often felt that way about their own hometown. @martyxrivera

END.

Corinne totally agreed, but it was just a rule they had had before they had moved. Plus, it just made it easier for them to keep things where they belonged. Especially when Corinne had been on her own with the girls. "Oh, I am sure if I go and actually search Tilly's room, I could find something. I just try to avoid her room until she has cleaned it. Complete tornado disaster in there." In true middle child form, Tilly hated to clean her room, or do anything she was told. She preferred to beat to the rhyme of her own drum. "I don't even want to know what she and Luca are up to right now. I'm sure they're scheming something." Corinne was never worried about her kids, unless they were quiet. Then she knew something was up. "Oh, it's not that bad. I promise." Corinne laughed. She had been trying to find someone to go with her in the morning and failing. "Oh, I go before the kids are up. It's just easier, especially with Rosie." The toddler turned to look at her at the mention of her name. Corinne was soaking up the fact that Rosie was still cuddly and clingy towards them. She knew in the blink of an eye that it would be gone. "Come on, one time. On the weekend. I swear you'll feel so awake after. Sometimes it's better than coffee." She laughed, knowing she probably wouldn't convince Marty, but she could try. @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; corinne beaumount #corinne;;001

"Em's room is the same. She likes to throw things around." Which she understood because Marty was the same way. And there were a few grievances about cleaning the mess, but eventually it got done and that's what mattered. As Corinne tried to convince her more about going to cycling, she shook her head. "Now that is where you're wrong because nothing is better than coffee in the morning." A pause. "Except maybe sex." She smirked. "But no. I'd rather sleep in." @corinnebeaumont

connorxbowen

starter for @martyxrivera

location: cedar grill and lounge

|| where connor is a little more open

From one round to the next, Connor was almost grateful that they did not last all that long. He found that it was a good way to get to know someone in the way that a person could decide on whether or not they thought they could spend more time with them. So far, Connor thought things were going well. At the very least, he was trying to move on from the woman that he never should have fallen for in the first place. The boundaries had been clear, she was married and he was just the one she could have some fun with. That's all it was supposed to be and yet, for him, it hadn't. "I'll admit," he looked to the beautiful brunette. "I almost didn't show tonight."

#interaction ;; connor bowen #connor;;001 #event;;005

"Really?" Marty asked as she sat back in her seat a little. "That's definitely an admittance from a potential future date." She teased Connor a little bit. Sitting up, she shrugged. "If I'm honest, I'll say the same thing. Though, if ours is for the same reason, that'd be something." She grabbed her drink and took a sip. "You first. Why didn't you almost show up?" @connorxbowen

closed starter for @ezrayoung

Marty glanced at her phone a moment between dates. Emilia hadn't been feeling well that day and she was currently with her grandfathers while Marty was there. The teen had insisted that her mother did this and so she was there at speed dating, but she wanted to make sure her daughter was okay. After the confirmation that she was, she looked up in time to see someone sitting down. "Sorry. I'm just checking on my daughter." She said and put her phone back into her bag, sticking her hand out after. "I'm Marty."

#interaction ;; ezra young #ezra;;001 #event;;005 #kismetharbor.event005 #queued

closed starter for @anthonyxblake

"Hey, stranger." Marty said as she saw Anthony sit across from her, a grin on her face. She had spotted him when the whole speed dating began, but it was a pleasant surprise to see that they had matched; one that she was sure her dad would day something about if she were to tell him later on. "Finally get a break from the auto center to have some fun, huh?" She teased him a little bit. "It's great to see you."

#interaction ;; anthony blake #anthony;;003 #kismetharbor.event005 #event;;005 #queued

"Brave or stupid, I don't know." Corinne laughed a little, knowing it wasn't her idea to have the white couch or the rules. If it had been Corinne, she would have gotten a dark couch. "I think those are more Clementine's rules than mine, though I don't hate them. It keeps the messes and crumbs out of the living room. Not to mention bugs. I think if I saw a roach or anything crawl near the couch, I would never sit on it again." Corinne explained that she hated most bugs. Waving her hands around a little as they changed the subject. Rosie looked up to her mom with a slightly confused look on her face. Corinne bent over, soothing her hair softly, signing she was okay and just being silly. Reassuring Rosie that she was okay. "Good, busy busy busy. Girls are starting spring activities, so adjusting our schedule to that. Hallie joined the theater group at her new school and will be in the play at the end of the year. Tilly has shown interest in playing rec hockey. We might sign her up for a season to see how she likes it." It was adding another sport to their list that she already did. She was so much like Corinne in the way she was athletic. "I finally started going to spin class in the morning. I haven't been able to while Clementine was away. You should join me sometime. It's a great way to wake up." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; corinne beaumount #corinne;;001 #queued

She laughed a bit and nodded. "True. Emilia is really good about cleaning up after herself. It's Luca I gotta worry about, but he's getting there. He just sometimes forgets a cup or something in the living room." Which wasn't bad. "Plus I make sure someone vacuums often to prevent it. You just gotta clean, but with chores it helps." Marty laughed more before listening to Corinne talk about what the kids were doing. "Oh yeah? That's amazing. Hopefully they both like it. Emilia's doing a creative writing class and then Luca has been interested in fixing things thanks to his dad." She shook her head with amusement. "Spin class? No thank you. I'd like to move the rest of the day." She joked. "I don't have time anyways between getting the kids out the door and then going to work." @corinnebeaumont

evanxcooper

"Yeah, I mean, I know it's been a while for the both of us but I remember being a teenager and then you put a bunch of them in a house?" Evangeline shook her head slowly, though it pained her heart to think that she might not ever know the trials and tribulations of raising a kid to be a teenager. "Oh, now those are some good ones. You know, nothing humbles me more than finding out the years some of those movies were made." She shook her head at her sister. "Sometimes it feels like yesterday that they just came out and then it's like, no, that was twenty years ago." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; evan cooper #evan;;001 #queued

She laughed and nodded. "It gets chaotic. I feel bad for the dads for dealing with our shenanigans for so long." She laughed. She couldn't imagine having two teenagers at the house at once. She was happy her kids had a bit of an age gap. "You and me both. And the music we listened to? Like what do you mean Complicated by Avril Lavigne came out twenty-four years ago?" She shook her head. "I feel like suing someone because of that." @evanxcooper

jeffersontcooper

"I tried my best." Jet smiled, offering his daughter a small smile. "I know I wasn't perfect and there were a lot of things I wish I could've done differently, but, I made sure you knew how loved you were. Still are." he winked, taking a step forward to wrap his arms around her in a hug. The only thing Jet loved more than being a husband was being a father; and he always hoped that he'd done by right by all of his kids as they grew up. "Honey we all prefer things that are easy." Jet stated, shifting right into the next part of his statement. "But it's the hard tasks that really show us that we're meant to do whatever it is we're doing, you know? I'm proud of you." he smiled, only turning his attention towards her more when she stated that her and Anthony were just friends. "Okay." he nodded, smiling a little wider. "I'm not saying there's more, but just know that your dad and I were just friends before we started dating, so, nothing is impossible." he winked, though he was just picking at her at this point. "And I'm glad that things are good with Diego sill. Luca deserves to have him and you deserve someone easy to deal with." he stated. "I just like to check in sometimes. It's weird having to ask about things now that you're adults, I know but I miss having you guys under the same roof where the gossip just fell into our laps." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; jefferson cooper #jet;;001 #queued

Marty gave her dad a look. "Excuse you. You were perfect. You and Dad both. You took me in when my mom didn't want me. You help me grieve my father's death and you have been amazing with me and my kids ever since. You have and always will be a perfect dad for me." She assured him, hugging him back tightly. She had always loved Jet and Tomas and she really was thankful for everything they had done for her and her kids. She smiled as she moved back and nodded. "You're right, but thank you. I'm glad I make you proud." It was something she tried doing and she hoped that her late father felt the same way. Marty rolled her eyes and laughed. "Okay, well, not everyone is you and Dad." She told him, but there was a thought in the back of her head that maybe something was going on there with Anthony. She quickly shoved it away, though. She couldn't do that right now. "I know you do. And I'm sure you still get plenty of gossip from Emilia when she comes over." Marty grinned. "But I'm always around to chat." @jeffersontcooper

Anthony's smile was softened with her words. He could tell that they were genuine, like she understood what he was trying to do without him being able to explain it to its fullest. He had never been all that good with words. "Thank you." He looked at her, gaze lingering longer than it should have. "It's been really great to talk about this with someone. Someone that's not my brothers." A sigh fell from his lips and he averted his gaze for a beat. "I -" he shook his head, "It's nice to just have new people in my life. I've spent so much of my time here in the last two years trying to reconnect with my lost past that this finally feels like moving forward. @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; anthony blake #anthony;;002 #queued

There was no question in her mind. Anthony wasn't sure how'd grown to deserve that kind of words she spoke to him. They'd not known each other a long time but had got to know each other over the course of him buying Lucy's Auto Shop. There was a quiet kind of warmth in the way that he looked at Marty as she asked again. "For me," he began, pausing for a beat. The moment was carrying a quiet kind of heaviness for him, one he couldn't quite put his finger on. "I want it to give me something to be proud of." @martyxrivera

#interaction ;; anthony blake #anthony;;002 #queued

She cocked her head as she watched him. She admired how he wanted to do these things for his brothers and make the shop somewhere they could get a good source of income and set a future up for their families, but, as a sister herself, she knew taking care of others usually took priority over their own wants and needs. Which was probably the root of her asking him, she wanted to take care of him. In a friend way, of course. When Anthony answered, she smiled and nodded. "And I'm sure it will. I have full faith in that." @anthonyxblake

Who: @martyxrivera

Where: Corinne & Clementine's House.

Corinne had poured two glasses of wine after pulling a bottle from the small fridge in the kitchen. It wasn't something she thought they needed in the kitchen, especially with younger kids. It did come in handy, though. The kids were off hanging out. Hallie and Emilia were off with the closed door, which seemed like the norm for teenage girls, while Luca and Tilly were in the playroom downstairs. The only one who stayed close was Rosie, who was playing quietly near Corinne. Corinne loved that her youngest still wanted to be near her, hugged her, and said how much she loved her. She knew it was only a matter of time before she ended up like the older two, and it made her sad. "Here you go." Corinne sat next to Marty on the oversized white couch in the living room. "I don't know how I was convinced into getting a white couch, but I would say it's holding up pretty well so far." Corinne wasn't worried really. their girls knew better than to eat or have drinks anywhere that wasn't the kitchen unless it was water. "So, how has everything been with you? God, it's been too long since we've had a catch up." @martyxrivera