L O U I S V I L L E || A Bryson Tiller Story

§ Chapter Eighteen §

~...you're getting so big now and you're making me so proud...~

"Thank you for making breakfast baby boy," Grandma Ann smiled pinching my cheeks.

"No problem little lady," I kissed her on the forehead before sitting down at the table next to Harls, with my plate full of pancakes, sausage, and sunny-side up eggs.

"Harley Marley," Eric called Harley's name from across the dinner table.

He had spent the night last night because we stayed up so late catching up and playing video games. I almost forgot what it felt like to truly enjoy my brother's company. It's been a while since we've bonded like that in person.

Harley looked up at him, batting her long eyelashes.

"Huh?" She said looking all innocent.

"A little birdie told me your birthday is this Saturday," Eric smiled shoving syrupy pancakes in his mouth.

Harley held up four fingers,"I'm going to be four."

"Time sure does fly. What a big girl you are growing to be," Grandma Ann said.

"What do you want for your birthday?" I asked her gulping down orange juice. I knew I'd soon regret this question.

"I want...," she thought tapping her chin,"...a princess party!"

I looked at her from over the rim of my glass,"More like what do you want as a gift."

"The Barbie car!"

Harley began to say her long list of Daddy must buy because I said so. She continued as she counted on her tiny fingers," Then I want a pony, a puppy, an American Girl doll, a new purse, make up, clothes, my nails done..."

"Woah there kid," I interrupted her," no make up--no none of that until I'm dead."

Grandma Ann laughed at me," Bryson, she's a girl."

"A little girl," I reminded,"Who all do you want at your party? Swan's niece and nephew?"

"Yes and you, Uncle Eric, Grandma, Uncle Swan and his girlfriend, and oh yeah...mommy," Harls answered with a mouthful of sausage.

Everybody fell silent at the mommy part. All you heard was the clacking of forks and knives on plates.

Grandma was eyeballing me from across the table waiting for my response. Eric kept his head down. I looked at Harley eat eggs with her bare hands.

"Uh, mommy is in Florida, remember?"

Harley nodded,"She can still come on the plane like we did with Uncle Swan."

"I don't know about that," I sighed," See your mom, she..."

"No," Harley crossed her arms," You're a liar Daddy."

"Huh?" I looked confused.

Harley had never gotten so hostile with me before.

"You don't want to see mommy! Cause you're mad at mommy. You broke up with her," Harley explained with tears in her eyes.

"W-who told y-you that?" I stammered.

"I know," Harley stated getting out of her chair, "you don't love mommy anymore and she doesn't love you."

Harley took off running for the bathroom crying.

"I'll go check on her for you," Eric offered.

I shook my head and stood up," Nah, I should do this."

"Harley," I called her name lowly from the outside of the bathroom.

She had had the door closed, but I could still hear her sniffles.

"No," she simply replied.

"Open the door, please," I begged rubbing my face.

This is already a start to the worst day ever. Later on this evening I had to go to the studio, too to meet up with Drake.

Harley opened the door and stood there with a wet face. I picked her up in my arms and set her down on the seat sealed toilet. I closed the door behind me before kneeling down in front of her.

I wasn't the best with words sometimes either so help me God with this one.

"You know I love you and your m-mom very much," I began as I wiped her face off with a tissue.

Harley hung her head down," Well why'd you break each other's heart?"

I licked my lips,"Sometimes people just...grow apart Harls."

That was so cliche of me to say, but yet it's the truth.

"But why?"

"There's not always a reason why baby."

Harley frowned.

"Hey," I said grabbing her by the shoulders," but I love you to the moon and back kid. You always will have me and mommy together or not. So don't be a dope."

Harley began to laugh as I tickled her. She almost fell off the toilet seat but I caught her.

"I love you too daddy," Harley told me kissing my cheek.

"You better," I replied pecking her a thousand times all over her light face.

"I want one more party guest Daddy," Harley mentioned holding up her index finger.

"And who would that be?" I asked opening the bathroom door so we could return back to the table.

"Your girlfriend, the one from the store," she sang skipping ahead of me,"Her name was Naomi, right?"

--------------------------------------------

Harley💁🏽❤️

Comment and Vote💕