𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 ✍︎

47| 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

Dove/Ayla's POV
Age: 10
Location: Ricci's Mansion, New York

I smile as I pass the giant Christmas tree in the living room.

Marcus and Lorenzo went out to get one for us the other day. They've been taking advantage of our returned freedom. We were shocked when one day they came home with a huge Christmas tree.

Now everything in the living room smells like pine.

Presents have been gradually appearing under the tree. I never actually see anyone putting a present under it, meaning everyone has some secret system of getting their presents downstairs without anyone knowing.

Shotgun and Shorty, who are my personal guards now, assures me that they'll help me sneak down some of mine.

"Morning!" Daniel calls out to me as I walk into the dining room. He hands me a bowl of Fruit Loops, freshly "made", judging by the looks of it. "Don't tell Mama."

At that moment, Mama enters the room. "Don't tell me what?"

I run to the table and shove my mouth full of the sugary cereal as she looks at me expectantly. I give her an innocent smile, even though I'm literally holding the evidence.

"Oh nothing," Daniel says nonchalantly. "Just feeding Ayla a healthy breakfast."

Mama hums skeptically. She glances at my bowl, which warrants another innocent smile from me.

"And how is that healthy?" She asks my brother.

"There's the word "fruits" in the title! Just looking at the word will make you healthier."

Mama raises her eyebrows and shakes her head.

"That's not logic," she tells Daniel. Then turning to me, she adds, "Have a piece of actual fruit with that, please."

He playfully salutes and hands me a banana from the fruit bowl.

"Oh, we're having a Christmas party tonight," Mama says suddenly.

I swallow my mouthful of cereal, wincing as I realize I didn't drink enough milk with it. The dry cereal slowly inches its way down my throat, making it hard for me to choke out my single question.

"What?"

"Since when?" Daniel asks.

"Since your Dad and I decided last night," Mama answers with a cheeky grin. "It's not going to be as big as usual. Just your cousins and their parents. And any partners."

I eye Daniel mischievously.

"Will Kaiah come too?" I ask.

Daniel chokes on the water he's drinking, making Mama snort quietly.

"M-maybe," he answers quickly. "Why? It's not like she's dating Dante. Or me."

"But you like her, so shouldn't she come?" I prod innocently.

Mama laughs out loud this time. She grabs her coffee from the counter and kisses my head as she leaves.

"You're a little troublemaker," she whispers in my ear. I grin in response.

"Actually, maybe I will ask her to come," Daniel mutters to himself. "I could tell her you want her to come...yeah..."

"Why don't you tell her that you want her to come?" I ask. "Don't you miss her?"