Free (Sequel to Trapped)

Ch. 42

Ariana

Saturday, 10:46 am

"Do you wanna go out there?" Justin asks.

Aviella nods and Justin makes sure she can walk okay before letting her go out into the field to say good job. She walks back to the bleachers and Justin picks her up. She was walking okay since she didn't twist it that bad, but she was upset that she didn't get to play.

"Wanna go home." Aviella mumbles.

"Alright. Let's go." I pick up her bag and put it on my back.

After saying bye to Olivia and Jonatha, I follow Justin to the car. He puts Aviella in the backseat while I put her bag next to her and get in the passenger.

"Aviella, it's okay baby. You'll play tomorrow. If you played today, you could've hurt your ankle even worse." I tell her.

She doesn't say anything in response but I hear her sniffling. She was crying.

Soccer holds a special place in her heart, she's been playing for so long, and with the same team and same girls. It broke her tiny heart any and every time she didn't get to play, and mine. And she was only five, so that mafe it even worse.

"Princess, don't cry. I hate it when you cry." Justin says.

"I-I..." Aviella tries to talk, but she fails.

She cries the whole way home, falling asleep as Justin drives down our street.

When we get home, Justin takes Aviella out of the car and I unlock the front door. I let him in so he can take Aviella upstairs to her room. After locking the door, I put the keys on the hook and walk into the bedroom.

I plug my phone up to the charger and sit on the bed.

"She's still asleep." Justin walks in, sits on the bed, and sighs.

"Good. She needed a nap." I say.

"You need one too." He says.

"No I don't. I'm fine." I reply, trying to stifle a yawn.

My sleep schedule still wasn't the best, so I was a little tired from all the hours of missed sleep.

"Yes, you do do, Ari. I know you're tired."

"Maybe a little." I shrug, and he pulls me into his arms.

"I'll lay with you until you fall asleep if you want me to. It's not healthy for you or the baby if you don't sleep."

"I'll sleep until my body wakes me up." I mumble.

"That's fine. Just get some sleep." I lay down and Justin lays next to me.

I run my fingers through his hair, and he leans over to kiss my cheek.

"Sleep tight, baby." He whispers.

I close my eyes, and my hand slips from Justin's hair.

Justin

11:18 am

Once Ariana is asleep, I'm almost asleep myself, but I have work to do, so I get up and stretch before walking into the living room.

My boss told me he wants me to look at the photos I took this week and see what I think.

Most of them are pretty good, but there's some that I don't like so I send him my decisions and close my laptop.

30 minutes have passed since I came in here but it takes only 3 minutes for my boss to reply.

Has Ariana decided on the maternity shoot?

I'm pretty sure she said yes, so I e-mail him back her decision and close my laptop. I don't have time to wait for his response because I'm hungry. I barely had any breakfast and my stomach is reminding me of that.

I look around in the kitchen until I decide to be the great cook that I am and make hot dogs and mac and cheese.

Ariana and Aviella can eat when they wake up but I'm hungry now.

11:47 am

"Daddy." I turn around and see Aviella in the doorway of the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey, princess. Feel better?"

She nods, lifting her arms up.

"What are you making?"

"Hot dogs and mac and cheese."

"I like it." She smiles.

"I know you do." I kiss her forehead and sit her on the counter.

"Can I stir the cheese?"

"There's no cheese in it yet. You can stir the noodles that the cheese will go in, though."

"Can I put the cheese in, too?"

"Sure." I give her the spoon and help her stir the noodles.

When they're done, I pour out the water and Aviella stirsin the cheese.

"Where's mommy?" Aviella asks, sliding off the counter to play with Tommy on the floor.

"Taking a nap. She was tired."

"Oh. Is she gonna eat?"

"Probably. When she wakes up."

"Can I to wake her up?"

"No. We have to let her sleep. She needs rest for the baby."

"Is it a girl?"

"We don't know yet."

"I hope it's a girl."

"I know you do." I smile, fixing both me and Aviella's plates.

"Thank you, daddy." Aviella grins as I place her in a chair by the island.

We hardly ever eat at the dining table because we're always in a rush so it's usually the island.

"I like this thing. It's pretty." Aviella says, sitting Tommy next to her plate.

"I like it to. It was mommy's idea."

"Mommy has good ideas."

"She does. Always."