violet | j.martell (sequel)

five

➜ CHAPTER 5
[ 6258 words ]

IT WAS WEIRD. GOING OUT together as a family for the first time ever. well, violet just thought it was her mom and the handsome guy she works with. it was weird, but it didn't feel wrong either. maybe weird isn't the right term. it was new?

they went in separate cars of course, jaeden martell getting into a car with his ex and a baby would definitely cause some drama. maybe going to the fair would too but that's why jaeden came prepared with his disguise, shades and a beanie. he knew he looked weird but lauren was firm about not wanting anything about violet to get out to the press.

they paid for their tickets at the entrance and walked into the fair where violet marveled at all the rides and booths. excitedly telling her mother that she wanted to play everywhere and to get the giant stuffed animals.

"i want the panda! and the bunny! and the penguin!" violet cheered, pointing at all the prizes at the booths

"you have to win the games first sweetie! so which one do you wanna do first?" lauren asked, crouching down to the four year old's level.

a smile unconsciously formed on jaeden's lips as he watched the mother-daughter duo converse. or 'stragegize' as violet would say. he placed his hands in his pockets, slightly tilting his head to the left, admiring the way it felt like lauren and violet had their own secret language.

"okay she wants to go to the one where you knock over the cans with the ball because she wants the crocky" lauren told the brunet who snapped out of his trance

"crocky?"

"crocodile. it's one of her favorite animals"

"a four year old's girl favorite animal is a crocodile?"

"mine was an alligator. you can see where she gets it from" lauren chuckled, gesturing for jaeden to continue walking with her as they followed behind violet who was already skipping over to one of the booths

"an alligator? why?"

"i don't know. it just was" she beamed, tucking her hands in the pockets of her jacket as she and jaeden trotted towards violet who was jumping up and down, pointing at the stuffed crocodile that was displayed at the booth

"how much?" lauren asked the man handling the game

"ten dollars for three balls"

"we'll take six", she handed him twenty dollars as jaeden lifted violet up to the table so she could see the cans. the man gave them six balls, violet eagerly picking up the purple one before aiming at the stack of cans in the middle, ultimately hitting one.

the toddler pouted before sighing heavily, picking up another ball before tossing it at the same stack only to miss it completely

"don't worry sweetie, you got four more" lauren told her, rubbing her shoulder upon noticing how unnerved her daughter was getting.

"how 'bout i help you? i'm really good at this" jaeden suggested, handing her the green ball as lauren took a step to the side so jaeden could stand behind her

"is he mama?"

"yup! he is, we went to the fair before too and he won me a penguin" lauren replied, smiling fondly at the memory making jaeden do the same

"we ended up accidentally leaving it at the restaurant though"

"hey at least we know you have a good aim"