Ugly Love

Chapter 12 Sorry

The next couple of days had been miserable for both Babi and Max. They both took it upon themselves to avoid one another at any cost. Babi made sure to either get up early enough that he was still in bed or late enough that he had already gone to work, but with Tempest birthday right around the corner, Babi knew that she would have to face him sooner or later.

Max unlike Babi had wanted nothing more than to catch her sneaking up the stairs, or scoop her up before she ran off the school, but Babi had made it her mission to always be one step ahead of him. Max was always one minute too late. The days that he did wake up early enough, she would stay in her bedroom, until she knew he had waited too long and was late for work. It was as if they were playing a game of who could out wait who?

So far...Babi was winning.

But not for long. Max was was the one to call it quits before anything actually started, but that was a mistake. A big mistake. He just needed a chance to make it right.

The last three days resulted in sleepless nights, no appetite,  and useless loneliness that only aided the ghosts roaming aimlessly around in his head. Tomorrow would be the perfect occasion to make things right, but he knew that he had a chance to get to her before Tempest's birthday.

He didn't care it it didn't lead to anything. All he wanted was for things to go back to normal. The undesired tension between the two was unnecessary and uncalled for. He just wanted to wake up in the morning and walk out of his bedroom and hear her perfect laugh echo throughout his house like before. Now she was living two doors down and the house somehow felt more empty than it had only two weeks ago.

"Daddy?' Max heard Tempest ask from behind him. He turned around and found Tempest wearing her cheerleading uniform. Again, she had another football game to go to, but this time it was a go away game.

He hated those. She would normally leave on a Friday and wouldn't get back until Sunday afternoon. Max on occasion would go to those games and take a day off, but he couldn't this time, which only made him more anxious. He was normally good with her going away, but he hated being alone in his huge house with no one to share it with.

"Tempy, que pasa nena?" he asked, smiling at his little girl, but instantly feeling guilty for wanting something that belonged to her. Even more so, when her eyes lit up with happiness.

"I was thinking about tomorrow. Quiero una fiesta...well not a party, but a small get together. I was wondering if you would mind if I invited a few people over." she asked, already knowing the answer.

"Whatever you want güera" he smiled, leaning down and kissing her forehead. "I can't believe you're going to turn eighteen...time is a cruel thing." Max said, resting his hand on her cheek.

"Agreed." Tempest smiled sweetly. "Just take yourself for example...you're getting old." She said, poking his side teasingly.

"Ah-huh. Believe it or not, your father still has his charm." he said, sending his daughter the same smile that made Babi's heart flutter.

"Uh-huh...what ever you say old man." she said, leaning up to kiss his cheek before heading off to school.

Today, they only had a half day. In four hours, Babi would be back. Max had called in to work and he had informed his boss that he would be working from home, only taking calls from those who needed a private doctor. Tempy would be at practice and knowing Babi, she would come back early to try and everything perfect before they left for the game.

That's when he would take a chance. He would apologize for being an ass, but be firm with his decision to keep away from her. Now all he had to do was wait, which had already proven to be a bigger challenge than he was comfortable with.