Hidden Feelings

28.

Valencia Carter

"What animal is that?" I asked Elias, pointing at the lions.

"Lions!" His eyes were huge from excitement.

"Yeah, I'm gonna throw you in there." Sebastian picked him up as Elias kicked his legs whining.

"Stop it." I hit his arm making him only laugh harder. "Sebastian."

"Alright I quit." He put Elias down and he kicked him in the leg. "Aye I'll fuck your little ass up."

Elias just gave him a blank stare, blinking every few seconds.

"Valencia get your bad ass son." Sebastian mushed his face making him bump into me.

"Stop putting your hands on my baby." I mushed him back and he sucked his teeth.

"Mommy I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a man." He patted his chest proudly.

"You a man, huh? Pay my car note then."

"I gotchu' mom." He said making me laugh, but I was a little sad that Elias was growing up so fast. I never got to experience a lot of things with him.

"Where to next?" Sebastian asked, grabbing ahold of Elias' and my hand.

"The bears. Look, it's daddy." He pointed at the Orangutans as we strolled to get to the bears.

"I'll throw your ass in there too. You think that's funny?" He looked over at me me who was almost in tears.

"Aww, baby I'm sorry." I grabbed his face and kissed his cheek. He wiped it off so I kissed him again. "Don't wipe my love away."

"Daddy, my shoe." Elias tugged on Sebastian's arm.

"Better not trip and fall."

Elias managed to pull his hand away and bent down to tie his shoe. I told Sebastian not to have him wear shoes with laces, but he said his son wasn't about to be walking around in velcro.

"You should've listened to me." I told Sebastian as we patiently waited--well I patiently waited. Elias could tie his shoes but it took him a while and we don't help him.

"Shut up." He flicked my bottom lip. "You take forever."

Elias looked up at him and smiled  before looking down and undid his other shoe to retie it.

He grabbed onto Sebastian, "I'm ready now."

"You really be testing me. You get that shit from your mama."

"Me? If anything he's like you."

"Hi Alana!" Elias waved at a little girl standing at the flamingos.

"Hi Eli!" She waved back making Ava turn around and look at us. She took Alan's hand and walked off.

"Ain't that Ava? She got a kid?" Sebastian questioned.

"Yeah, with Tobias." I forgot to tell him that piece of information while telling him about my visit.

"Small world."

We looked at a few more exhibits before leaving. I was starving and the last thing I was doing was spending money on that high priced food.

"Stop it." I pushed Sebastian's hand from my bare upper thigh for the thousandth time. "Focus on the road."

"You can't be stingy with what's mines." He placed his right hand back on my thigh and I removed it again.

"Mommy can we have some Popeyes?"