single dad: v.h

chapter forty-five

"So pretty." Vinnie whispered, brushing a finger down Aaliyah's cheek bone.

Vinnie had gotten into yet another argument with his grueling brother. Maria encouraged Vinnie to go take some time to clear his head but to be back before the kids went to bed so he could kiss them goodnight.

In return, he thanked his mother and took her advice. He called Aaliyah, asking if she wanted to get dinner with him and she accepted, realizing that he needed her from the tone of his voice. Now they were back at her apartment and laying in her bed with the lights off and air conditioner on.

"You're really pretty too." Aaliyah smiled.

"Not as pretty as you are." Vinnie said softly and leaned forward to lay a kiss on her nose.

"When do you have to leave?" Aaliyah asked.

Vinnie looked at the time on his phone, seeing that he had been there later than he intended. Not that long, he still had a couple hours before his kids went to bed.

"Probably now. I should go hang out with my babies. We're gonna go to the zoo tomorrow." Vinnie said, stretching and standing from the bed.

"Well have fun baby, give the kids kisses for me." Aaliyah smiled, hugging his neck as he leaned down to give her a goodbye kiss.

——

"Daddy we know where you were." Bear said as he walked through the door.

Following Bear's voice was a loud "yes" from Kaiser who giggled when Vinnie looked over at him with a smile.

"Am I in trouble?" Vinnie asked as he sat on the floor in front of his kids.

"No, we're just disappointed." Bear said, giggling loudly when Vinnie started dying of laughter.

"Tell me where I was then." Vinnie answered.

"You went to Miss Aaliyah's." Bear said.

"Nope, wrong." Vinnie teased.

"Yeah huh, daddy." Bear said.

"Well how did you know?" Vinnie asked.

"I didn't, you exposed yourself." Bear said, giggling when Vinnie pulled her up and started "beating her up."

All the fun stopped immediately when Reggie walked in though. He walked past them, "accidentally" kicking Vinnie in the side.

"Daddy don't." Bear put a hand over Vinnie's mouth so he couldn't say anything to Reggie.

Vinnie nodded at her and left a kiss on her hand. Bear smiled and removed her small hand from Vinnie's mouth.

"Let's go watch movies okay?" Vinnie asked.

"Of course! Kaiser gets to pick this time." Bear said, rushing down stairs followed by Vinnie and her younger brother who was chanting "Nemo" over and over.