Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Twenty Nine

I'm so sorry it's taken a while to update this 😩

Demi

"Mommy" Ayla beamed as I pulled open the front door. She ran at me, her arms locking around my legs. "Hi Baby" she pressed a kiss to my belly. "Where Bebe and Kyra?" I smiled down at her, my fingers running gently through her hair.

"They're in the living room, Peanut" she nodded and pulled away from me. I couldn't help but to laugh as I watched her run off. "It's nice to have you home, Baby" I chuckled, glancing back at Max who stood on the porch, holding Ayla's backpack. I gave him a smile as I took it from him. "Was she good?" he nodded, very briefly glancing down at my belly that was slowly becoming harder to hide. I'm now 17 weeks pregnant and my bump is growing so nicely. The only reason Max knows that I'm pregnant is because Ayla told him, sure to add in that we hadn't forgotten about her. I love that she's so to the point with everyone.

"She was fine" my eyebrows furrowed as I watched him.

"Are you okay?"

"Never been better. I'll see you later, Demi" he turned and headed down my driveway before I could even question him.

"Okay then" I moved away from the door and lightly closed it behind me. I stood at the door for a moment, my lips twitching into a smile as all I could hear was the girls giggles. The sound would never get old. I love my girls so much. I glanced down at my belly, gently running my hand along it. "As much as I love my girls. You better be a boy" I lightly tapped my stomach, smiling at the little flutters that erupted inside me. I've felt many flutters but none have been strong enough for Kobe to feel yet. "I love you" I gently whispered, caressing my belly for a moment before I headed towards the noise. I smiled at the sight I was greeted with because Ayla and Kyra where climbing all over Kobe who lay in the middle of the room. "And what are you lot doing?" they giggled as their attention fell on me.

"We tickle daddy" my heart burst. Kobe loudly laughed as Kyra and Ayla began to tickle underneath his chin.

"You both want to know where daddy is really ticklish?" Kobe glanced to me with a glare but I ignored him as I smirked. Ayla and Kyra eagerly nodded. "Daddy has really ticklish feet" they giggled as they moved to Kobe's feet. I laughed as they began to tickle him. I glanced up to meet his eyes and laughed at the look of playful annoyance.

"Hate you."

"Love you too, Babe" I gave him a wink before I headed from the room, laughing as I went with Batman and Ella following behind me. I think they're getting a little too old for all the roughhousing.

-

"Max seemed off when he dropped Ayla off earlier" I spoke as I cut the grilled cheese in half.

"How?"

"I don't know. He just seemed different" Kobe ran his hand along my back and pressed a kiss to my temple.

"I'm sure he's fine, Babe" I nodded but couldn't entirely convince myself. "I'll get the girls to wash up" I sent him a grateful smile and we shared a brief peck before he headed into the playroom to grab the girls. I placed a slice of grilled cheese onto the girls plates along with some chopped veggies. I smiled as the girls came into the kitchen followed by Kobe.

"You girls washed your hands?" they nodded and slid into their chairs at the dining table. I placed a plate in front of them, taking a seat in a chair opposite them. "So, how was your daddy's, Peanut?" Ayla glanced up at me and shrugged. "Did you do anything exciting?" she shook her head.

"No" she took a bite out of her grilled cheese.

"Did you do anything at all, Baby?"

"I met Lily" she nodded as she spoke, my eyebrows furrowed together as I glanced to Kobe who looked just as interested.

"Who's Lily, Ayla?"

"Daddy's girlfriend. Can I have drink?" Girlfriend? How many women does he go through?!

"What would you like, Peanut?"

"Milk."

"You want some milk too, Ky?"

"Yes Daddy" Kobe pressed a kiss to my cheek before he headed into the kitchen to grab the girls a drink.

"Is Lily nice?" Ayla swallowed her mouthful of food as she shook her head, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Why don't you like her, Baby?" her shoulders shrugged. Before I could question her further though, Kobe stepped into the room with two sippy cups of milk.

"Thank you, Bebe" Ayla took the cup and took a long gulp.

"You're very welcome, Peanut" she giggled as she lowered the cup back down onto the table and put her focus back on her lunch. Kobe took a seat beside me and ran his hand along my thigh as he watched me with slightly furrowed eyebrows. I gave him a small smile and lightly shook my head, a silent promise that I would talk to him later. Ayla started asking questions about the baby which thankfully pulled my mind from Max and his new girlfriend that Ayla doesn't like for some reason. She asked that the baby be a boy, she actually sort of demanded the baby be a boy. "Don't worry, Peanut, we want a boy too" I rolled my eyes at Kobe who lightly laughed. "But we'll still love the baby if they're a girl, right?" Ayla nodded, flashing me her widest smile. I shook my head but lightly smiled at my little family. I'm so glad we have Kobe. I'm so glad that the girls have a father figure in Kobe. I always hope that Max continues to grow up and improve his relationship with Ayla but he always ruins it somehow. He always falls back to be absent. I'm just glad my girls have Kobe.

——