It's Just You and I...

Chapter 11-Are We Strong Enough?

"I know." I whispered in reply. I stroked Maria's cheek and kissed her petite and delicate hand. I dragged myself to the kitchen and made myself some toast. Burnt toast, may I add. Once I had finished vanishing my appetite, I travelled back to the bedroom to check on the two babes of my heart. Ricky had already put Maria back to sleep and Ricky was just lying down, staring at the ceiling with an emotionless face. "What's up?" I questioned while slipping myself under the covers. Wow, it was cold. I snapped my head to the side to await Ricky for an answer.
"Sorry, what?" he jerked out of his daydream. I giggled and hugged him. I heard my phone vibrate so I turned around to check it.
From Jake: I miss you. You're still mine. You're still my girlfriend so why aren't you here anymore? :( xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My heart had stopped for a second but continued to beat without any hesitation to skip one while doing so. Jake was my boyfriend from a year ago. We broke up about only three months into the relationship because he was pathetic. He had 'feelings' for his cousin and I thought that was totally unacceptable! They were blood related! That's when I called it quits. I had never told Ricky about Jake because I never thought it was worth our time, I didn't really count it as a 'relationship'.
"Who is it?" Ricky shuffled towards me, dropping one of his arms above my head. I took a small gulp.
"Oh. Don't worry. It's nothing important." I stated as I softly placed my phone back down and cuddled into Ricky's armpit with his arm being my pillow. I felt him nod and with that, we both drifted off.
I woke up, in the same position I had fell asleep in, to the irritating sound of the vibrating of my phone again. I had four more messages from Jake.
Jake: Good morning beautiful xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jake: How did you sleep? Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jake: Please can you ring me? Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jake: Look, I care so much that all of my messages have 13 kisses, your favourite number! Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I rolled my eyes and turned around to see Ricky's eyes fixed on my phone. He had frowned eyebrows and blood shot eyes.
"Ari, who is this?" he asked with a firm tone.
"There's nothing to worry about!" I giggled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Stop saying that. Who is this?" he slightly raised his voice as I dropped my hand down from his cheek to my side.
"It is Jake if you must know. He used to be my boyfriend a year ago and we broke up after 3 months so I don't even know if you could label it as a relationship." I shrugged my shoulders emotionlessly. His face became more intense.
"Why have you never told me about him, Ariana? How did you break up?" Ricky started to grill me.
"Wow Ricky! I didn't realise I was at the police station giving a statement! Tell me all about your ex girlfriends then? Hmm?" I stood up.
"No, Ariana I asked you first. How did you break up?"
"He had 'feelings' for his cousin. One: I thought that was really wrong-they are blood related! Two: he was supposed to my boyfriend so he shouldn't love any other!" I explained with my arms crossed over my chest and emphasised 'feelings' with mimicking quotation marks. Maria started to cry. Ricky chucked me an uneasy look as he made his way over to Maria to comfort her. "I'm sorry was that not enough of an explanation? Because that's all I got." I said sarcastically. I left him to think about that as I slowly walked out of the room and appeared in the kitchen and started to make a new bottle of milk for Maria. Ding-dong! The doorbell rang. Ricky came and sat down with Maria in his arms and passed her to me as he went to the bathroom. I cradled her in my arms and began to unlock the door. Once the door had opened, my heart sank. No way. I slammed the door but failed miserably once Jake had placed his foot in the way. "What do you want?!" I shout- whispered so Ricky wouldn't hear me. Jake smirked and walked into the house, unwanted.
"I think we both know what I want. You're still mine!" he continued to beg. His eyes were watery and his voice had started to crack. I felt super bad. There was one chair out, which he was sat on. I set down Maria in a highchair and gave her a toy. I walked over, sat on his lap and gave him a hug.
"I'm sorry but I have a boyfriend and a beautiful baby." I whispered with my head resting on his shoulder. Just at that moment, Ricky walked into the room as I gave Jake a kiss on the cheek.
"WHAT IS THIS?! " he yelled as I jumped away from Jake.
"It's really not what you think it is, Ricky!" I calmly stated as I walked over to him.
"Are you sure because you were just sat on this man's lap, giving him a kiss on the cheek!" Ricky gestured towards Jake. "Who is this anyway?" I swallowed another gulp, this time it was so large it nearly blocked my airways.
"It's.. It's um J-J-Jake." I stuttered nervously.