Something Always Brings Me Back to You

18) The Best I Ever Had

JUNE 2008
Sophie's POV

"Mariana, don't touch that, silly girl," I told my baby off for dipping her fingers in the tomato sauce I was cooking on the stove. Luckily the sauce wasn't too hot yet, having just been put on the heat. "Mari, hahah! Mari!" I laughed as she continued, dipping her fingers one by one into the sauce before beginning to smear it on her face. I leant over to pick her up but she surprised me by touching her tomato-sauce-covered index finger on my nose, covering my nose in the red sauce. Instead of irritating me like it, well, probably should, I just giggled uncontrollably.

Tonight was going to be a girls night, just Mari and I, like old times before all of the craziness of summer 2008; before a certain someone had come into the picture and complicated all my life up, once again. Complicated it for better or worse? That was still up for debate.

Hannah and her boyfriend Wayne, who was completely unsuspecting of Hannah's little, let's call it "crush," had gone out to a trendy restaurant in the city, so the huge house was left to just us. To be honest, I was so excited. Mariana was inching closer and closer to one everyday, and I could tell my little baby was growing up, slowly but surely, and I wanted to be there every step of the way and not let my drama interfere with my daughter's very important first year of life.

Coming down from my fit of giggles, I heard the doorbell ring. Mariana, ever the social butterfly, started clapping her hands together, over and over. I raised my eyebrows in a funny sort of way at her and said, "Who might that be?" in a very motherly tone. I picked Mari up and started walking over to the door. When I picked her up, she smeared tomato sauce on the shoulder of my skin-tight long sleeve white shirt, which I had casually paired with some jeans, my blonde hair in a loose bun. I began giggling profusely again.

I opened the big door to find someone I was not expecting.

"Cristiano?" I laughed out, adjusting Mari in my arms.

His eyes seemed to light up at the sight of me and my daughter. I'm not going to lie, it made me blush and smile to myself. He coughed and spoke. "Soph, I'm here to, uh, pick up Mari," he smiled and looked at our daughter, holding her hand and cooing at her for a minute.

After observing the two of them for a few seconds, I replied, "What do you mean?"

"I'm picking her up. For our night together. Remember, you said tonight I could take her," he smiled at me.

I jokingly smacked myself lightly on the forehead. "Of course! I completely forgot, I'm so sorry."

He breathed out a light laugh and said, "That's fine."

"Well, I've made some spaghetti with tomato sauce, so you're welcome to come in and join us. I'm sure Mari would love it," I said, looking at Mari briefly before turning back and smiling at Cris.

I don't know where this bright attitude toward my ex-boyfriend came from, but I was feeling a positive outlook ever since our argument turned conversation.

"I would love to," he replied smoothly.

"Come in," I said, stepping aside to make way for his large frame and leading us into the kitchen.

"Soph, are you sure this is alright? Me, staying here tonight?" He asked while we walked, before adding, "I mean staying for dinner, of course." I wasn't even looking at him, but I could tell he was grinning. I rolled my eyes lightly to myself.

"Of course you're welcome, Cris. I can tell Mari's happy about it already, aren't you baby girl?" I smiled at Mari and bounced her up and down a few times, making her giggle and smile.

Arriving at the kitchen, I placed Mari down at her spot from before and returned to stirring the sauce. Cris stood awkwardly across the kitchen island from his daughter and ex-girlfriend.