Divorced Love (Stauren) {Book 1}

Chapter 3

Saturday.

My favorite day of the week.

The day that my little girl would come over to spend the night with me at my house. Nothing was better than getting to spend quality time with Bella. My daughter was one of the only things keeping me sane, for she kept me happy through every shitstorm that blew my way.

Deep down, I knew that some part of me was excited to see Lauren as well every Saturday morning. It was clear that Lauren hated me for most obvious reasons, but I didn't hate her. I had hoped for things to be normal between us after the divorce, but it was childish of me to think that such a thing would happen. Lauren never understood or even let me explain my reasons for divorcing her. Maybe if she would have, she would've realized that those reasons were gone.

Suddenly, I was snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

Out of excitement, I jumped up from the couch and rushed over to the front door.

"Daddy!" Bella squealed, jumping up into my arms after I had fully opened the door.

"Hey, peanut!" I said back while kissing her little nose.

Then, I noticed Lauren slowly trailing up the driveway and over to the door, an annoyed expression present on her face.

"What time should I pick her up tomorrow?" Lauren asked with a small huff. "She's got a doctors appointment tomorrow night at six thirty in the evening."

Confused, I asked, "Doctors appointment? For what?"

"Her cough that she's had these past few weeks." Lauren's hand went to her hip as she spoke.

"I guess six is cool then." I replied. Although Lauren refused to smile at me, I smiled anyway. "See you tomorrow."

She turned around before muttering, "Yeah, see you then."

I then shut the door, placing Bella down on the ground. "So what do you want to do this weekend, peanut?" When I was around Bella, I never let whatever Lauren does get to me.

"Hmm." Bella softly tapped her finger on her chin while pondering my question. "Can we go to the shopping mall?"

A smile spread across my face and I replied, "Sure!" I glanced at my watch for a brief moment. "After lunch we'll go."

•°•°•°•°•

"Where are we going?" I asked with a chuckle as Bella pull me along by the hand through the shopping mall.

"To the toy store!" She giggled. "I told you that already, daddy!"

When we finally arrived at the toy store, I picked Bella up in my arms. "I'll buy you one thing, Bella. So pick out what you want the most."

"M'kay." Bella gave me a smile before I set her back down on the ground. She immediately took off, looking at all the toys while I waited at the front for her to pick something out.

It had been about ten minutes since we arrived at the toy store when a man a few years older than me came over. He had brown hair that went down almost to his neck with a slight stubble on his lip and chin.

"Got persuaded into coming in the toy store, huh?" The man asked with his low, rough voice.

"Yep," I replied, a small laugh escaping my lips. "I only see her on the weekends, so I like to do what she wants to do."

"My youngest son is just plain stubborn," he chuckled back. "I'm Norman. Norman Reedus."

I reached out and shook his hand. "Steven Yeun."

"What's your daughter's name?" Norman asked.

"Isabella, but everyone calls her Bella."

It was then that a young boy around Bella's age ran over holding a toy dinosaur. "Dad, can I get this one?" The little boy asked Norman.

"Sure, bud. You go find Mingus and I'll pay for it." Norman pulled out a twenty dollar bill and turned to me. "Well it was nice meeting you, Steven."

"You too." I gave him a smile before wandering off to find Bella.

•°•°•°•°•

Late that night after getting home and having dinner, Bella and I decided to watch a movie together, resulting in her falling asleep halfway through on the couch next to me. Not that I minded the fact that my little girl always fell asleep in my lap.

I was about to fall asleep myself when a phone started buzzing somewhere buried in all the blankets. Careful not to wake Bella, I found the phone and lifted it up to find that it was Bella's.

Since Bella and Lauren lived in a more dangerous part of town, I had decided a few months back that I would get her a phone just in case something were to happen. It was also nice to have her call me during the week since I rarely ever got to see her until the weekends.

I glanced at the contact to see a picture of Lauren holding Bella.

Sleepily, I answered, "Hello?"

"Bella.....wait Steven?" Lauren's voice said through the phone.

"Hey, Lauren," I replied with a huge yawn.

Lauren wasted no time with responding. "Where's Bella? Why didn't she answer? Is she okay?"

"Lauren she's fine," I began. "You don't need to be all frantic every time she's with me. It's not like I'm a horrible father. I've been one for over five years now." I heard her huff through the phone as I spoke. "She just fell asleep. She's literally right here, okay?"

Lauren was silent so I spoke up again. "Lauren, are you okay?"

Immediately, she snapped back by saying, "I'm fine!"

"Lauren, I know when you're not okay. What's going on?" I tapped my fingers on my knee, waiting for an answer.

"I-I've.....gotta go....." She stuttered out. "Bye, Steven."

Before I even had the chance to respond, Lauren hung up the phone.

Every day Lauren became more distant from me, when all I wanted to do was become closer again.

A/N
How was this chapter???? I'm sorry that it was so rushed and random, but I had to get something up for you guys! I hope you all had/are having an amazing day!