Yours Truly ❁ n.k.h

• chapter twenty two •

"What are you gonna do to her hair?"

We were walking around the house and loosely avoiding each other until Angel woke up. It was almost as her voice was its own dose of energy because we were shocked back to normal and assimilated into a groove. I made her breakfast while Dinah helped her get dressed. Dinah combed through the house and made sure it looked presentable while I sat and colored with her. And then, Dinah started doing her hair until I finished getting dressed for the day.

Now that I was done, all that was left was to wait for her mom and Regina. I felt like I was twiddling my fucking thumbs.

The blonde just kept alternating between spraying Angel's strands with water, leave in, and then oil until all of her hair was saturated layer by layer. She pretended I wasn't talking until she needed what I had in my hand.

"Can you pass me the rubber bands?" She pointed without even looking in my direction.

She forgot them when she was grabbing her hair supplies so I initially came in to give them to her. But then I got caught up in watching her.

I reached out, placing them in her hand. She took two out and gathered up all of Angel's hair into one ponytail to secure it. After doing so, she took her hands and smoothed her roots upwards.

I started to say something else or call it pretty or something to take away the tension when I heard a harsh knock on the front door. I looked from my ex wife to the hallway that led to our front door.

"It's probably my mom and Regina. Can you let them in?"

I gave a soft nod and turned my back on her to leave the room. My walk was tentative. I knew I had to mentally prepare myself for two more people who were bound to have thoughts, issues, and opinions at seeing me at the front door.

My annoyance was already eating away at me but I shrugged it off. I slid the locks out of place and opened the door.

Regina and Mrs. Hansen looked to be in a heated conversation until they saw me standing there. My mother in law's face went from surprise, to her mouth forming into a line, and then a small and cautious smile. Regina on the other hand just narrowed her eyes. I couldn't tell what she was feeling but I could see the gears in her head turning. She plastered a smile onto her face that was visibly fake.

I gave her one to match.

"Hey, Normani. I didn't know you'd be here today, it's nice to see you." Her mom started. She clutched the reusable bag in her hand tighter to her body. "Is my daughter here?"

"Uh, yeah." I looked back, hooking a thumb towards the hallway. "She's in Angel's room."

"Okay, great, thanks." The older woman smoothed past me and walked in the direction of my daughter. Meanwhile, Regina stood stationary where she was, looking me up and down and letting in all the cold fucking air.

I tried to hold back my scowl. Her smile had long since left her face but it was just replaced by a weary expression. I didn't let myself think too hard about it.

"So, hey, can I talk to you outside really quick?" Regina said, still making no effort to walk inside. At this point I wanted whatever option meant she would stop letting all the wind in.