One Wild Night

Chapter 988: You Did What?



As the plane touched down and Aaron, Candace, and Jamal made their way through the bustling airport, Candace scanned the crowd, half-expecting Harry or Andy. But before she could wonder too much, she saw her dad's face break into a warm, happy smile, his eyes lighting up as he spotted someone.

There, just a few steps away, was Debbie, waving and beaming as she walked over. "Aaron!" she called, her voice bright and full of excitement.

Aaron chuckled, his whole face softening as he opened his arms, and Candace couldn't help but smile as she watched her dad step forward to hug his girlfriend.

"I missed you," Debbie murmured as she squeezed him tightly. "I thought I'd surprise you since I couldn't wait to see you."

Candace exchanged a knowing smile with Jamal, who was bouncing on his heels beside her. "Looks like Dad wasn't expecting this," she whispered, and Jamal nodded, grinning.

After a moment, Aaron pulled back and turned to his them, his hand still resting on Debbie's shoulder. "Candace, Jamal, I know you've spoken to Debbie over the phone, but this is your first official meeting. This is Debbie," he said, his voice proud. "Debbie, this is Candace, and this little one," he nodded to Jamal, "is my grandson."

"Hello, Debbie, it's good to finally meet you. You are beautiful. Thank you for making this old man happy," Candace said, and Debbie laughed.

"He's not so old..."

"He is," Candace cut in, and Aaron laughed.

"You're just jealous that she came to get me and no one came to get you," Aaron said dryly and Candace giggled.

Jamal, with a big, toothy smile, looked up at Debbie and gave a little wave. "Hi, Grandma Debbie!"

Debbie's face softened, and she let out a small laugh. "Well, aren't you just the sweetest," she said, bending down to his level. "I've heard so much about you, Jamal. It's so nice to finally meet you."

Candace watched, her heart warm, as Jamal's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Grandma Debbie, do you like superheroes?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Debbie winked at him. "Oh, absolutely. I think they're amazing. My favorite is Spider-Man."

Jamal gave her an approving nod, clearly pleased with her answer and Aaron laughed, asking Jamal how long he had been waiting to ask her that.

Meanwhile, Candace noticed a slight commotion off to the side-people were pointing, whispering, even snapping pictures. Curious, she glanced in the direction they were all looking.

And there, walking toward them with a bouquet of flowers in hand, was Matt.

Candace's eyes widened and her mouth parted in surprise. "Oh... my..." she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. Before she could process, Jamal squealed, "Matt!" and dashed toward him, his little feet thudding excitedly against the floor.

Matt, grinning, crouched down to catch Jamal, scooping him up and lifting him high. He looked over Jamal's shoulder, locking eyes with Candace, and winked.

Candace laughed, her heart pounding with excitement as she hurried over. She wrapped her arms around Matt as soon as he set Jamal back down, feeling his warmth as he hugged her tight.

"Were you surprised?" Matt asked, his voice teasing as he held her close.

"Completely!" Candace laughed, looking up at him with shining eyes. "I wasn't expecting you at all. Didn't you say you will be in Ludus on Wednesday?"

"Well, I wanted to surprise you," Matt said, grinning. He looked down at Jamal, who was standing at his side, holding onto his hand. "Jam, I hope you're ready to spend the holidays playing games with me?"

Jamal nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I'm ready!"

Candace chuckled, nudging Matt playfully. "You might have some competition there. I'm ready too."

Matt let out a soft laugh, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked back over to join Aaron and Debbie together.

Aaron grinned as he watched them approach, and Candace gave him a pointed look, "Look who got welcomed by her boyfriend and got flowers," she said with a smirk, and Aaron laughed.

"Did you really think I didn't know about this?" He asked dryly and Matt chuckled.

"I'm sure Matt doesn't need an introduction. Matt, meet my girlfriend, Debbie," Aaron said when he noticed the way Debbie's eyes lit up as she watched Matt.

She glanced at Aaron and then back at Matt, smiling warmly as she extended a hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm a fan, by the way."

"Thank you," Matt replied, shaking her hand, his own smile easy and genuine. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Debbie."

"Well, I hope you'll be joining the family for Christmas dinner at my place," Debbie said with a soft smile, looking at Candace and Jamal with warmth in her eyes.

Matt nodded. "I'd love to," he replied. "I'm looking forward to it."

After a few moments of chatting, Matt looked over at Aaron. "I hope you don't mind that I'm taking Candace and Jamal with me."

Aaron chuckled, "Not at all. I already informed Harry that they will be going with you..."

"You did? What if I didn't want to go with him?" Candace asked with a raised brow.

"I would throw you over my shoulder and take you with me. With your father's blessings of course," Matt said with a wink and Candace giggled.

"Alright. We will leave you now. Debbie and I have some catching up to do ourselves," Aaron said, and Debbie grinned, linking her arm with Aaron's.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Absolutely," she said, and they all laughed as they started heading toward the airport exit, ignoring the occasional flashes of cameras around them.

Once outside, Matt led Candace and Jamal to his car. As he started the engine, Candace turned

to him with a mischievous smile. "Think we can drop by Tom's place first?"

Matt raised an eyebrow, glancing at her with interest. "The pool party you mentioned last

night?"

"Yep," she nodded. "And I'll get to see my girls before tomorrow."

Matt chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, sounds like a plan," he said, pulling out of the airport and setting course for Tom's place.

Away from there, the rest of the group had arrived; Jade and Harry, Aurora and Philip, as well as Andy and Sharon who had formed a special friendship and even arranged sleepovers with Mari and Emily who now attended the same school.

While the ladies lounged at the poolside swimming, eating and talking about their hangout the next day and their plans for Christmas, the men played games in the Den.

After sometime, the men decided to join the ladies, and they all participated in games, with Andy and Sharon pairing up as a couple.

Sonia and Bryan sat out some of the games since Bryan didn't want Sonia overexerting herself, so instead they acted as judges for the games.

They were in the middle of a couple's relay swimming when Matt and Candace walked in after letting Jamal join Mari and Emily who were having dinner at the dining.

"Go, everyone!" Candace called out excitedly as she watched the ladies swim over to their

men with the baton.

Matt chuckled, "Who exactly are you supporting?"

"No one. I would have supported Andy, but I'm too jealous of her friendship with Sharon to

let them win," she said, and Matt laughed.

"You know you're far away and she does need a friend here in Ludus, right? Sharon isn't replacing you," Matt said, and Candace rolled her eyes.

"And you think I don't know that? That doesn't make me less jealous. I'm sure you guys don't understand this whole female friendship jealousy thing," she said with a dramatic sigh, and

he smiled.

"Hey! I didn't know you were around," Bryan said as Matt and Candace joined him and Sonia.

"I came in this morning to surprise my baby. Hey, Sony. How's our baby doing?" Matt asked

as he bent down to kiss her cheek.

"Kicking and being a good baby," she said with a wide smile.

"It's good to have you both here. Are you going to join in the games?" Sonia asked, and Matt

shook his head.

"I'm tired. I haven't gotten enough rest and I'm a bit jet lagged..."

"You are? Why didn't you say that? We would have gone home so you get some rest," Candace

said with a frown.

"You wanted to come here and see the girls. You should. Besides, I figured you'd see Harry

and Andy too. We can go after a while and I can have you to myself," he said, and she grinned

as she leaned in to kiss him.

"Eww! Get a room," Sonia joked, and they all laughed.

"We will eventually," Candace said with a wink and Sonia giggled.

"Amy and Lucas are winning again," Bryan said, and Sonia returned her attention to the pool

where Lucas had just beat the other guys.

"I think you two should take a break," Lucy said with a scowl, and the others agreed while Lucas and Amy laughed as they high-fived each other.

"I'm sorry Lucas and Amy keeps winning you guys. If Bryan and I were playing, we would have

won some rounds too so it wouldn't be flawless victory on their end," Sonia said sweetly, and

everyone laughed.

"You weren't even paying attention. How would you have known had someone else won?"

Jade asked, and Sonia shrugged.

"It was pointless. Winners know winners," Sonia said with a wink at Amy and Lucas and they

all laughed.

"Welcome, Candy. You too, Matt. It's good to see you," Andy said as they all climbed out of

the warm pool.

Sharon had a wide smile on her face as she got to where Candace and Matt stood, "Hello,

Matt. I've been dying to meet you in person. I'm a huge fan," Sharon said as she shook hands

with Matt.

"Thanks. It's nice to meet you too, Sharon," he said, and her eyes widened.

"You know my name?" she asked, and Matt chuckled.

"Yeah. I've heard a lot about you from Candace," he said, glancing at Candace who was daring

him with her eyes to say what she told him.

"Nice things, I suppose?" Sharon asked with a grin.

"Yeah. She says you're such a great friend to Andy, and she's thankful that Andy has someone

like you to rely on over here," Matt said, and Andy eyed Candace with amusement, knowing that Matt was saying the exact opposite of whatever she had said.

"Aww. Thanks, Candace. Andy is wonderful to me too," Sharon said sweetly before walking

away, and Andy giggled.

"I've missed you," Andy said as she embraced Candace.

"You have? It doesn't seem like it," Candace muttered and Andy laughed.

"It doesn't have to seem like it. It is it. And it is silly for you to be jealous. Sharon is a good

friend no doubt, but you? You're my soul sister and best friend. We have history and nothing

can get between that. So, stop being so petty. It doesn't suit you," Andy said, and Candace rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips.

"So sweet. Now I'm jealous," Matt said, and Candace kicked his shin playfully.

As everyone relaxed and chatted, Andy looked at Candace, "So, you'll be at Matt's, huh?" She

asked, and Candace nodded.

"Yeah. But we will stop over for dinner at yours when you're ready. Matt should at least see

Alex. He's been dying to meet him," Candace said, looking at Matt who was busy talking with

Bryan.

"So, I've been meaning to tell you something, but I didn't want it to be over the phone," Andy

said, and Candace raised a brow.

"What?"

"You first have to promise not to be mad," Andy said, and Candace narrowed her eyes.

"What have you done?" she asked wearily, and Andy winced.

"It's nothing bad I promise. Or maybe it is. But it's not bad for me. I know you're not..."

"You're blabbing. That means you're nervous. What did you do?" Candace asked with a frown as she sat up.

"I got married to Alex," she whispered, and Candace's eyes widened.

"You did what?" Candace asked in disbelief.

Andy nodded, "We went to the island together a month ago and we got married there," she

said, showing Candace her gold bracelet, "I decided to wear a bracelet instead of a ring."

"How could you not tell me? Is Dad and Harry aware? No. I'm sure they are not. Is Sharon aware?" Candace asked, and Andy rolled her eyes.

"She has never even met Alex. I can't tell just anyone about him, you know? You're the first

and only person I'm telling. Now I'm Mari's stepmom officially and her legal guardian too," Andy said, and Candace sighed.

"I'm not sure Dad is going to like that you did this without us. It would have been nice to be

there," Candace said, and Andy smiled.

"Dad will understand. And so will Harry," Andy said confidently, and Candace sighed.

"Are you happy?" She asked, and Andy nodded.

"Yeah. I'm very happy."

"Okay. Congrats, then. And you're lucky you didn't tell Sharon before me," Candace said as

she embraced her, and Andy laughed.