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Seventeen

To say I woke up a bit sore the next day would be a huge understatement. Sebastian proved he had carefully thought out every move and I was not disappointed.

"Mom, will you help me fix Daisy's hair?" Aurelia asked as she skipped across the living room to where I was on the couch. My heart still skips a beat when she calls me mom.

"Of course. What would Daisy like her hair to look like?" I ask as I took the doll from her.

"She wants a braid." Aurelia says very matter of fact.

"You got it, girl." I smile and begin braiding the doll's hair.

Aurelia always wants me to braid her doll's hair so she can watch the way my fingers weave the hair together. I think she's trying to learn how to braid without asking to be taught.

"All done!" I hand the doll back to Aurelia and she carefully inspects the doll's hair.

"You missed a piece." Aurelia sighs, putting a hand on her hip.

I had no idea I was living with a teenager.

"Okay, sassypants, my bad." I laugh and fix the doll's hair, adding in the missed strand of hair before handing it back to Aurelia. "Better?"

"Much." She states plainly and runs back to her room.

"What? You aren't going to say thank you?" I yell after her. Her head pops out of her door.

"Thank you, mommy!" She smiles before disappearing back into her cave of toys.

"You're welcome." I sigh and go back to looking at my phone. Sebastian had sent me a text. He was out with Mackie for some kind of "bro-time"? I think they're just trying to play Xbox without anyone making fun of how terrible they are at it.

Everything good there? Sebastian's text reads.

Yep, except our daughter has the attitude of a 16 year old. I send back with an emoji that is rolling its eyes.

You haven't figured that out by now? She gets it from you.

She does not. I send back, rolling my eyes even though he can't see it.

Oh yeah? You just rolled your eyes, didn't you?

Can he see me?

Shut up. I quickly send back.

I love you.

Whatever. I let out a long breath as I send the text.

Tell me you love me, woman. He sends back.

I love you......most of the time. I laugh a bit to myself as I hit the send button.

You loved me last night.

Sebastian Stan!

Byyyeeeeee. He sends back with a smiling emoji. I laugh again and set my phone down on the couch as I stand up to go check on Aurelia.

She is sitting in the floor with at least ten stuffed animals in a circle around her doll. Is this a doll sacrifice ritual? We have to get her back into therapy.

I shake my head and head cautiously back towards the couch. I don't want to be the next sacrifice.

My phone buzzes as I sit down and I see Kayla's name pop up.

"Hey, Kayla! How are you?" I say cheerfully. Kayla is the MMA fighter that Mackie is seeing.

"Hey girl! I was going to see if you wanted to hang out? Anthony is with Sebastian playing Xbox and they're yelling at the TV every five seconds. It's starting to give me a headache." She says laughing. I knew they just wanted to play Xbox.