𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁

Chapter 17

February 17th, 2022

3RD PERSON

"Momma?"
"Yeah?"
"I have a little project to do today with Phoebe. It's gonna effect a big part of our grade." Rhianna walked in the laundry room where her mom was putting dirty clothes in machine.

"Oh, okay."
"So, uh, can I go to her house?"
"Of course you can. I will explain it to your dad." Sasha smiled as she stood up, looking at her daughter.

"Okay, I will be home by 8." Rhianna stated, knowing that neither of them are allowed to be out of the house after 8pm, except for Sasha if she is working afternoon shift.

"Okay, do you need anything?"
"No, I'll just bring some of my school stuff."
"Okay baby. Have fun, but not too much because it is still for school." Smile stuck on Sasha's face, making Rhianna's lips curve into one too.

"Okay, love you."
"I love you." Sasha kissed Rhianna's cheek, before Rhianna ran off to pick up her stuff before going out to get her bike.

"Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"It's raining outside." Rhianna felt kind of guilty that she is interrupting her mom.

"Oh, shit I forgot. I totally forgot it's raining. I'll give you a ride."
"Okay, thank you."

Sasha got in the car with Rhianna, driving her to the Mitchell's house.

"Okay, should I just come and pick you up around 8?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll see you then." Rhianna rushed to the front doors of the house as her mom watched her from the car.

Jaden opened the doors, a smile appearing on his face when he saw Rhianna.

"Hi, come in. Come in."
"Hi." Jaden motioned for Sasha to come inside, but she showed him with her hands she doesn't have time.

"Next time!" She yelled from the car, before waving with a smile and driving off.

"Hey, P is in bathroom drying her hair. You can go to her room, or Sara's. Or stay here until she's done, whatever you're comfortable with." Jaden said as he closed the doors of the house and looked at Rhianna.

"What's Sara doing?"
"I'm pretty sure nothing except being on her phone or something. You want me to call her?"
"No, it's okay. I'll go by myself."
"Okay." Jaden smiled at the girl, letting her walk off.

He went to continue making the dinner because he was going tonight on a date that Phoebe made him go to.

But due to the fact that Linda is on her job until 8pm today, they are going to go on dinner a little later than expected.

——

"You do know that if you're going on a date, it's time to move on?" Sara walked in the kitchen, sitting on the stool, catching Jaden's attention, "If you're moving on, you gotta take off the ring." Sara said as she leaned over kitchen island to her dad.

Jaden sighed as he looked down at his hand.

"I don't know."
"C'mon dad. I know you love her so much still, but she wouldn't want you to be alone for the rest of the life you have. She would want you to have fun and experience stuff. You deserve to have fun dad. You're so stuck up on us three it hurts me so much that you feel like you can't have fun on your own, and without your kids." Sara's eyes filled with tears making Jaden sigh as he walked over to her and cupped her face, resting his forehead on hers.

"I love you so much. But I don't feel like I can't have fun on my own. I just feel so much better when I'm around you guys. You make me feel so happy. I'd rather binge watch NCIS New Orleans with you guys than I would do anything else. Please don't feel like you make me feel stuck up, because it's not true. What I do is all my choice, not what someone makes me feel like I should do." He had to hold back his tears as he wiped Sara's tears.

It hurt him so much that his kids feel like they hold him back from doing 'fun' things. Because he knew it is not true. Because the only way he has fun is with his kids. And all that he said is true.

There's not a place that makes him so happy like his home. And his home are his kids.

"I love you so much." Jaden whispered as he pulled Sara in a tight hug and kissed her head multiple times.

"I love you, dad."

——

Once Sasha got back home, she continued to do laundry. Before Joseph walked in.

"Joseph, Rhianna is at her friends house to do a important project for school."
"She went without asking?"
"She asked me. I told her she can go, because I didn't know when you are coming back and she had to go immediately so they could finish the project before 8pm." Joseph slapped Sasha over her face, making her shut her eyes closed.

"Who do you think you are?!"
"I had to do it."
"Answer me."
"I'm th- no one." Sasha knew she can't argue with him. She also knew the consequences when she told Rhianna that she can go. But she didn't care.

"Good. If you're no one, then why the fuck do you think you can let her go somewhere without my permission?!"
"I don't know. It's a really big project, and it effects her grade a lot. It was really important."

Again. The same process again. And again. And again. The cycle that never ends.

And there is no one that can change it.

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