What This Could Be | A Joe Jonas Fanfic | Book One

Chapter 54: Used to Be

*Joe's POV*

Time felt slower with each minute passing by. I wished I had accompanied them to know what they were talking about, but every time I was in the presence of Sophie, I was reminded just how much we were strangers raising two beautiful daughters together. I was reminded that this was what was going to be my future. Living permanently in London, making our own family traditions in our white countryside home with sky blue shutters, with my immediate family.

I was just glad her house wasn't our planned dream home. That would've been the lowest of the low of sharing our home with that other guy instead.

"Why are you sad?" Willa threw herself in my lap as I sat on the floor crossed-legged, "Do you want Mr. Pony? He makes me feel better."

I gulped, mentally shaking out the thoughts that were consuming me to the point where I was visibly displaying my heart breaking, "I'm okay, baby girl. I'll gladly take a cuddle from Mr. Pony though."

She quickly grabbed her stuffed pony from off her bed and handed it to me, "Okay, but you have to give him back."

I faintly smiled, "I don't know. I think he's my Mr. Pony now."

"No!" she tackled me, snatching her stuffed animal out of my hands, "He's mine!"

My eyes widened, taken aback from her strength, "Okay, you win this one, Tyson!" I knew she wouldn't get the reference. It was more for myself to lighten my mood.

After tossing Mr. Pony back onto her bed, she clung to my neck, sitting back down in my lap, "You can have a cuddle from me instead."

"I'd much rather a cuddle from you and Del," I scooped up Delphine into my arms, the both of them now in my lap, "You know I love you so, so very much, right?"

They both nodded before the sound of Sophie and Taylor's voices filled the air as they walked in with bright smiles and laughter, a comforting sign that their time alone went better than well.

"Mummy, can I have a biscuit, please?" Willa asked, adapting more of a British accent by picking up from those around her environment. It didn't come as a surprise considering she was spending more time here in London more than the States.

"No, Willa," she replied, "It's almost time for supper. If you have a biscuit now, you won't have any room left in your tummy."

Willa turned to me, "Are you having supper with us?"

I looked at Sophie, not sure how to answer, or even what the answer really was. We weren't invited for an evening meal.

"Please, Daddy?" Delphine's brown eyes stared into mine trying to persuade my hesitancy.

"Um," I bit my lip, "I don't know if we can."

"Do you?" Sophie glanced between Taylor and me.

"Do I what?"

"Do you want to stay for supper?"

I blinked, thinking if that would be the best choice or not. I would be spending more time with my girls, but that also meant spending more time with Sophie.

"What are we having?" I asked. At the end of the day, it was an easy decision to make.

"Takeaway?" she suggested, "We can order in pizza?"

"Only if you put pineapple on it," I joked, a tiny smirk appearing on my lips. If I was staying any longer, I knew I had to act cordial for the sake of keeping some peace.

"That is absolutely foul," she responded in disgust, "Fruit doesn't belong on pizza. I think we all can agree with that."

"Fruit absolutely belongs on pizza!" Taylor exclaimed.