Free (Sequel to Trapped)

Ch. 3

Ariana

Saturday, 3:56 pm

I sigh, scrolling through Twitter. We were at Walmart, where we had been for all of 5 minutes before Justin saw someone he knew from ten years ago or whatever. I wasn't really listening when he told me. Aviella had made the place where kids are supposed to sit in the Walmart basket (AN yes, its called a basket. Not a basket on wheels or a rollie basket, just a basket. Deal with it) her makeshift bed. She looked really comfortable with her blanket and the heart eyes emoji pillow that she found in the 2 seconds she was awake when we first got here.

She was small for a 5 year old, which is why she could fit in the small space comfortably. But we were forced to buy the pillow because she wanted it and she's spoiled.

"Ariana, this is Max. We were friends in middle school." Justin says.

"Hey." I turn my phone off and smile at the tall guy in front of me.

He was literally 7 feet tall and I'm only 5'3. Luckily, I was wearing heels which added some extra height.

"Nice to meet you." I shake his hand and Justin wraps an arm around my waist.

"Max, this is Ariana. My wife." He says.

"That's great. Since when?"

"Yesterday, actually."

"Oh, congratulations."

"Thank you." I remove Justin's arm from my waist and turn around to face Aviella.

I stroke her hair and she sighs. She's adorable when she sleeps, and when she's awake.

She turns over and sticks her pointer, middle, and ring fingers in her mouth, something she had been doing for a couple years now. It was literally the cutest thing ever.

"Well, I guess we better get going. Ariana's very impatient." Justin says.

I look at him and roll my eyes. He chuckles and says goodbye to Max before we walk away.

I push the basket (AN yes its still a basket. Deal with it.) alongside Justin while he picks up random stuff, including a bunch of snacks that he spends more than half his time eating.

"What is man stuff again?" I ask.

"Food that I want to eat."

"Food that you eat too much. You're gonna get F-A-T."

"That's why I work out." He says.

I shrug and he picks up a bunch more junk before stopping to look at me.

"Do you need anything?"

"No." I say simply.

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure."

"No lady things?"

"Justin, I can't even get a period while I'm pregnant. Didn't you learn anything in biology?"

"I hated biology. Especially the reproductive cycle."

"You seem to have a lot of fun reproducing, though." He chuckles and we walk to a short check out line.

"Find everything okay?" The cashier says, looking up at Justin.

He just had to pick a line with a girl, didn't he?

"Yes, thank you." He says.

He unloads the basket, (AN dont make me say it again.) and having to take Aviella's pillow away, I pick her up and she lays her head on my shoulder. I'm pretty sure her eyes were open, though, so I guess she's finally awake.  He looks at his phone while she scans everything, and she takes every chance she can get to stare at him.

Excuse me, I'm right here!

I roll my eyes as she tells him the total. Justin gives her two $20 bills and she winks at him.

My God, I'm about to punch her.

Justin looks at me and I just stare at him. Aviella lifts her head up and rubs her eyes before sticking her fingers back in her mouth. But she's not laying her head down anymore. We just have to wait a few minutes for her to wake up fully, because right now she was still half asleep.

Justin grabs the three bags and we walk back to the car. It was a white Infinti QX80 Limited. Literally the best car in the world, and it better be, for almost $90,000.

I buckle Aviella into her car seat and she looks up me, blinking rapidly.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Hi." She says.

"Hey, babe. Sleep good." She nods.

"Hope so. You were out for 2 hours." I kiss her forehead and close the door before getting in the passenger seat.

"I'm hungry." Aviella says.

"I'm guessing you want McDonalds." Justin replies.

She nods happily and he turns into the nearest McDonalds.

"Nuggets!" She squeals.

Justin orders a chicken nugget happy meal, a cheesburger for me, and a big Mac for him. I didn't eat McDonalds as often as they did, but when I did, it wasn't a lot.

"Mama, when is soccer?" Aviella asks.

"I believe you have a game tomorrow at 3. So you can't take a 2 hour long nap like today." She giggles.

Justin gets the food and gives it to me. I check the bag, making sure everything is there, before he drives off.