Life After (Sequel)

16

I really appreciate alllll of the support and comments you guys gave me.  I honestly didnt know where I was going with this book and was going to end it at 20 chapters but thanks to you guys I'll extend it to 30+ and make them longer. Depending on how that goes I might do another book.

"You feel aight'?" Ajayy frowned as he examined Lauren's glossy eyes in the fluorescent light, across the table from him. Lauren looked very uncomfortable and he couldn't figure out why.

Ajayy and Lauren were aggressively working on repairing their relationships. They agreed to have a weekly date night to help tear down the wall that had been constructed in between him.

"I'm fine." She dipped a tortilla chip into her steaming hot spinach dip. Lauren had been craving spinach dip for a while and wouldn't stop whining for it, which made Ajayy bring her here to Houston's.

The couple's date was drowned in laughs and trips down memory lane, they were genuinely enjoying their date but a weird feeling came over Lauren all of a sudden and she just wasn't feeling it anymore. It was as if a rain cloud was covering only her.

"Are you sure?" Ajayy decided not to press because he was well aware that she could quickly shut him out and that would ruin the rest of their date.

Lauren nodded forcing herself to take a bite of the food. Thoughts of the night Wayne came close to taking her life clouded her vision and her breathing began to hike.

Ajayy could tell she was having some sort if a panic attack. He didn't want to cause a scene and make Lauren feel worse so, he stood behind her seat and wrapped his arms around her in a very comforting way. Using the pads of his fingers he massaged her sides. "I'm here, I'm here." Ajayy whispered kissing the shell of her ear.

Lauren tried to run away from the thoughts but it was to difficult. The abuse had left a permanent mental and physical mark on her life.

Ajayy continued to soothe and comfort Lauren until she was calm enough to rationally think.

"Can we go home?" Lauren sniffed glancing down and realizing she had soaked her shirt. She just wanted to shower then curl up in bed with Ajayy and Addie, that's the only thing that could make her feel better right now.

Ajayy nodded grabbing her shaky palm.

—

"Goodmorning momz'." Addie smiled at her mother while preparing to leave for school. 

"Morning Addies. Lauren wrapped her night robe tighter before placing a kiss onto Addie's lips. "Have a wonderful day." She tweaked Addie's pair of puff balls and rubbed a smidge of shea butter onto her chocolate face.

"You have wonderful day too." Addie watched as her parents engaged in a hug. Addie didn't know if they were together again or not. She had badgered her daddy with questions about their relationship on her way home from school but he he wouldn't answer any of them. Whatever they had Addie was grateful that they had it again.

"I'll be back." Ajayy kissed the shell of her ear before opening the front door and allowing Addie to patter through.

Lauren locked the door behind them and retrieved her laptop and cellphone. She didn't have any campus classes today so she could get her virtual classes over early.

She found herself in a secluded part of the house, where she always came to do her school work, or for a little peace, then powered up her MacBook.