Falling By Chance

Chapter - 7

"We've got to bake chocolate chip cookies Aunt. It's our thing..." Elle pouts, giving me her puppy dog eyes. She is staying with me again today as Matt has to deal with Cynthia, he didn't want Elle to be there when that happens. So he asked me to babysit her. I'm so tired that I don't want to move a single limb let alone my whole body, but as I said before she will get me to bake cookies everytime!! She is just that good with her charms already at this young age.

"Aunt Roxyyyyyy....." she whines, increasing the intensity of her stare.

There's no winning over this kid. Surrendering is the best strategy in your arsenal right now. Give up or suffer.

"Okay. Fine. You and your cookies..." I sigh. I get up and now I'm beginning to regret this tradition of ours because I was the one who suggested it in the first place. I didn't know I was dealing with the devil's spawn who would hold on to it so dearly. But as I look at her and see the happiness radiating off of her, I smile. No regrets whatsoever...

"Let's start baking..." I reply, equally happy now. What could I do? Her smile is contagious.

When we are done, we baked enough cookies to last Elle a lifetime. Cookie obsessed kid. I can't complain, because I had fun with her. She is this fiery ball of energy that you can't just escape. Besides the fact that I love children, I have no younger siblings, nieces or nephews to spoil. That's why I dot on the little girl, like she is my own. As we were baking, Elle told me about her plans and ideas she has in her mind for her trip to Disney World. And the most adorable thing I found about her plans is that she wants to do everything together with her father, never leaving him out of something fun even if it is something as simple as eating cotton candy. I realise all that matters to her is to spend quality time with her father no matter where they go, whether it be Disney World or a nearby restaurant to their apartment. And I don't blame her. She already lost her mother. It's a good thing Matt came to his senses.

We have dinner afterwards. I make her favourite mac and cheese while I make myself a simple salad, since I am not in the mood for something heavy. Elle goes to the living room to watch cartoons while I do the dishes.

I am just coming out of the kitchen, when my phone started ringing. Elle, who is so engrossed in her cartoons, doesn't even hear it even if it was lying just beside her. I pick up the phone, seeing Jakie flashing on the screen. My face instantly lights up.

I sink down on the couch beside Elle and answer the call.

"Hello?" Jake says.

"Hey..." I reply.

"How are you doing, gorgeous?"

"I'm doing good. How about you, Mr. Valtor?"

"Well, it depends on what you are asking about. If you're asking about my day today, it was complete and utter shit. I feel like banging my head on the wall. But if you're asking about like right now, I'm finally feeling good all of a sudden after hearing your beautiful voice, sweetheart." He says it so seriously and I don't know why the heck did I just laugh at that. Maybe it has to do with the fact that you can't help being weird in serious situations? My inner voice mocked me. I hate that it was right. Ignoring it, I reply to him.

"What can I say, I have an awesome voice... " trying to sound cocky to make him laugh and he does.

"Now don't be so humble..." he replies, sarcastically.

We talk like that for a few minutes when Elle grabs my attention by poking her finger in my ribs. "Is it Daddy you're talking to?"

"No Princess." I reply to her and at the same time Jake asks, "Who is it? Your kid? You have a kid?", sounding confused, his voice lacing with accusation.

"Hold your horses Jakie, and stop jumping to conclusions when you don't know anything... " I reply with an edge to my voice. I don't take being accused by someone lightly without them knowing the complete picture, whether it be directly or indirectly. So I don't care if I sound like a bitch. I don't like being judged when I don't judge people myself. It triggers me.

"Sorry, didn't mean to... So who is the little girl? And how do you know her father?" he says in a small voice, but I notice a hint of jealousy as he throws the last question at me.

I sigh and roll my eyes at him. "Jake, the little girl is one of my students and the daughter of one of my close friends. His name is Matt. He runs his own business. Elle is staying with me because he was busy tonight." I explain. He doesn't say anything. I sigh.

"No need to get jealous, Jakie..." I tease trying to break the tension.

He laughs. And I start laughing with him.

Elle nudges me again. "Who is it then?" she asks, her eyes still trained on to the television.

"It's my....." I trail off thinking what should I refer to Jake as. A friend? A mere acquaintance? A potential boyfriend? Let's settle for a friend for the time being. Yeah? There, you're welcome by the way for the help. Can my inner voice just shut up. "... It's Jake, Princess. He is aunt Roxy's friend."

"Can I talk to your friend, aunt Roxy?"

I stare at her shocked as I pass the phone to her. That's a first. Elle never liked talking to strangers. Not.At.All. So, it came as a bit of a surprise to me that she wants to talk to Jake. I shake my head and focus on their conversation.Well actually focus on what Elle is saying.

"Uh-huh. Yes. I'm four. Aunt Roxy calls me Princess, you can call me Princess too." She says proudly.

I zone out a bit while she is busy talking to Jake. It has been hardly a few seconds when I come back to my senses and heard Elle.

"Yes, Uncle Jake. I can ask her for you." Uncle Jake? When did he become her uncle? And ask me what?

"Okay... I'll give her the phone now. I already know she is going to say yes. Uh huh. There's no point asking. I approve." She shrugs her little shoulders as she replies smugly.

"Here aunt Roxy, Uncle Jake wants to talk to you. And you have got to say yes!" she squeales and before I could ask her what she meant by her statement, she runs to her room to get ready for bed.

This adorable little imp!

"What were you two talking about?" I ask Jake, once Elle was out of the living room.

"I was asking for her opinion on something. She is really cute." he replies, trying to steer off the topic.

"Jake...." I say in a stern voice.

"Okay. Okay. Jeez... I was just asking Elle if her aunt is going to say yes if I ask her on a date?" he says into the phone hurriedly.

Wait. What? My brain stops functioning for a moment.

"You want to ask me on a date? And you asked Elle for her permission. That's why she said 'I approve'. Didn't you?" I ask him softly, after recovering from my state of vacuity.

"Yeah. Will you say yes?" he asks unsure.

I decide to annoy him a bit. "Well you haven't asked me yet so I don't know.." He groans.

"Stop goading me, Roxy."

I just giggle at his annoyance.

"Okay fine. Let me ask you, properly. Will you go out on a date with me Ms. Roxanne Rain?"

My breath hitches at the way my full name rolls off his tongue.

After processing and gaining my brain capacity back, I reply, "Yes I'd love to, Mr. Jacob Valtor.", saying his christened name for the first time.

I hear him sigh with relief before he bid me goodnight. I walk over to Elle's room to check up on her, finding her already asleep. I walk back to my room.

I lay awake in bed too elated to fall asleep.

************

A/N: Yayyyy!!! Jake finally asked our Roxy out... 💃🏻💃🏻😍😍

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Until then,
Love,
S ❤️