“I thought you said you had your eye on someone.”
“That someone is you,” he says with a smirk.
“Are you guys coming or what?” Amari yells.
“We’ll be right there!” Kai yells back.
“Come on. I don’t want to keep our daughter waiting…” Before he turns his back on me, he says, “Beautiful.”
I stand there in shock and silence. I haven’t heard him call mebeautifulin years. All those times he tried to get me to come back to him and failed. He would always call me beautiful, as if I were going to come running into his arms over the sentiment.
My heart thumps wildly in my chest from this conversation.I will not stop trying until you’re mine againreplays in my head. Maybe he has grown up, because this is not the way he used to try to win me over. He sounded seductive this time. Like heneedsme, not like he justwantsme.
As if I’m his possession.
Kai
I square my shoulders as I walk into the living room. The surprised look on B’s face was more than I expected. Years ago, when I would try to win her back, her expression was never surprised. It was always more likethis again. She told me to work on myself, so I did. Maybe I waited too long, but I wanted us to both be in a good place in our lives before giving it a shot again. Back then, I was still fucking up, and she was too busy with school, work, and raising Amari to even have the energy for us again. I can tell she’s more relaxed and not always stressed now. I’m sure that has to do with her being done with school and able to work part time, so she has more time for other things—and Amari. When we get back together, I don’t care if she chooses not to work. All that matters is that she’s happy.
The only problem is…I never thought she would get this close to someone else so fast. Now I’m watching as she creates a familywith someone else. Moves into his home. Starts traditions. All the thingsweshould be doing together. I know I’m to blame, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back and watch him take my family from me. He’s not truly taking my family from me, but he’s taking the family dynamic I want with B and Amari. I want to come home to Blakely and Amari from a long day of work, spend my evening eating dinner with them, doing homework with Amari, getting Amari ready for bed, and read a bedtime story to her until she falls asleep. I want to end the day with B beside me and start the day with her beside me. I want her pancake Sunday tradition to be us three every Sunday. I never knew what I had until it was gone. It’s a regret I live with every day. And now I will do everything I can to win her back.
I kick off my boots and relax on the couch. “What are we watching first?”
Amari has her arms crossed, sitting on the couch as if she is already fed up with waiting for us.
In walks B in her skintight black leggings and a black tank top. “You changed?” The clothes may be comfy for her, but they’ve never made me feel any comfort. Those clothes highlight all her curves, making me want to tear them off of her. Knowing I can’t makes me feel the discomfort of having to hide my, you know, so no one sees it bulging out of my pants. Especially Amari. I couldn’t imagine if she questioned what the hell’s popping out of my pants.
“If we’re going to be watching movies all day, I want to be comfy.”
The hope of her sitting right next to me fades as I watch her sit on the other side of Amari.
“What are we watching first?” B asks Amari.
“Cinderella.” Amari points the remote toward the TV and starts the movie.
Her aunt, Brynlee, gave all of her old princess movies to Amari when she didn’t care for them anymore. Amari learned—at a young age—how to use a DVD player. She’s always been quick to catch on to things.
Twenty minutes into the movie, Amari cuddles up next to me. I rest my arm on top of the couch. I glance over to my left, catching a glimpse of B watching the movie. She’s so into it. She doesn’t even realize that I’m staring at her. I can’t help but notice how much she has grown and matured. Her features, which were once innocent, now radiate elegance. She’s always taken my breath away. Her eyes still hold the same spark they had when I first laid eyes on her. I’m in awe of the woman and mother she’s become. I hope she feels the same way toward me.
Three movies and a nap later, it’s almost dinnertime. I made so many crepes for breakfast, so we had crepes for lunch again. I need to cook my girls a proper meal with protein and vegetables. “What do you say I cook us some dinner while you guys watch the fourth movie?” I glance between Amari and B.
“I can help you,” B says, eyeing me.
She must be sick of watching movies like I am.
“I have to watchSnow Whiteby myself?” Amari questions.
“Honey, we’ve watched three movies already. You really want to watch a fourth one?”
She shrugs her shoulders.
“Why don’t you help your mom and me cook?”
“Okay,” she says, scooting off the couch and running into the kitchen.
B gets up from the couch and stretches, reaching her arms high into the air. “Oh my God. I wouldn’t have been able to handle another movie. My ass hurts,” she says, rubbing her ass.
I look behind her, watching her rub her ass.
