Söbriety • Mötley Crüe •

96. Preschool

Warnings: PLEASE HEED THE WARNING TOWARD THE END OF THE CHAPTER

Ryan's POV

"Come on, Nik! We're gonna be late!" I tap my foot against the bottom stair, opening my ears for any sign of life and only receiving a grunt in return.

Normally this is the other way around, and I'm always the one that he's waiting on. Now I understand why he gets so frustrated.

"Nik-" I start to yell, his head coming into view at the top of the staircase.

"I'm coming!" He cuts me off with an agitated tone and I throw my hands up in surrender. "Where's the child?" He looks around the living room with eyebrows raised, Wylie quickly walking into the room from the kitchen with a juice box twisted into her fingers.

"I'm ready!" She announces as she pivots on her heels, walking toward the front door as she sticks the straw into her mouth and sucks in a sip.

"What is she wearing?" Nikki mutters beside me as he looks her up and down in confusion, her hair twirled into a high pony with a red and black plaid bow to match her red and black plaid dress.

"I wanted her to look presentable for the interview. Sweats didn't seem appropriate." I shrug my shoulders as I throw my purse over my arm.

"I didn't know we even owned a dress for her." His throat vibrates with a chuckle.

"We have several dresses. I just don't put her in them very often, because I know they're uncomfortable. But comfort is not the goal today, getting her into a good preschool before she runs her mouth is the goal." I sigh out through my nose, silently praying for this to go well.

"It'll be fine, Ry." He wraps his arm around my shoulder and squeezes in an effort to comfort my stifling nerves. "She knows she'll get an ass whoopin' if she says anything unlady-like."

"Are you saying I'm unlady-like because I curse?" I quirk an eyebrow at him and his face breaks into a grin.

"Amongst many other things, babe." He shoots me a wink before leading me to the front door where our impatient toddler awaits.

That's fair.

The preschool is only a rare ten minute drive from the house, which is a huge addition to the 'pro' column in my never-ending pros and cons list. My hands start to shake with anxiety when Nikki walks around the car to open the door for me, Wylie hopping out of her seat excitedly.

God, I hope this goes well.

The building smells like apples when I open the front door, which is oddly comforting to me. The long stretch of hallway in front of us opens to multiple doors of what I assume are classrooms, children's art littering all of the walls.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sixx?" An older woman opens the door to the office on our right and I give her a nod before grabbing Wylie's hand. "Welcome to Cambridge Preschool! Come on in, Dr. Miller is ready for you in her office."

"Doctor? That's fancy." Nikki whispers as he wiggles his fingers and I elbow him in the side.

Wylie grips my hand tighter as the woman ushers us into the head hancho's office, a small but highly attractive woman turning around in her chair to greet us. I grab Wylie under her arms and plop her into my lap as I sit down, the woman's icy blue eyes cutting into me.

"I'm Dr. Miller." She reaches her hand out to me first and I reluctantly shake it. "You must be the Sixxes."

"Yes. I'm Ryan, this is Nikki, and this is our daughter, Wylie." I point accordingly, Dr. Miller nodding along with me as she gives Wylie a small wave.