Kindergarten Teacher; kyrie irving

c h a p t e r - n i n e t e e n

Cassie

"Livvie!" I yelled, causing Olivia to run out of my guest room towards me.

"Yes Ms. Cassie?"

"Your dad is here!"

Her eyes and her smile widened. She had been staying with me and Xavier after her mom went back to New Jersey. There was a knock on the door as Olivia ran and opened it, immediately jumping into her dads arms. He smiled and dropped his bags, hugging her back. She jumped down as he walked in. I took her place jumping into his arms as he chuckled and hugged me.

"You're a big child." He smiled, kissing my lips.

I kissed back and smiled.
"Shut up, I missed you!"

"I missed you too, but we have a 7 game home stand so we won't have to miss each other so much."

I smiled and hugged him, getting down.

"I'm surprised Michael isn't here." He smirked.

"Shut up a hole." I joked, censoring myself for Olivia and rolling my eyes, knowing about his disdain towards my friend.

He chuckled.
"Where's Xavier?"

"Over his cousins house."

"When is he coming back?"

"Today. I'm actually about to go get him. I'm sure he's excited to see you."

"Yes!" He smiled. "I haven't seen kid #2 in so long."

Olivia hugged her dad again.
"Daddy in school I got to be line leader for the first time! And Ms. Cassie said I did so good!"

"Oh is that right?" He smiled.

She nodded.
"Yeah. I missed you so much! I don't like when you leave daddy."

"I know baby. We can talk about it after we pick up Xavier okay." I said, picking her up.

She nodded and leaned her head on my shoulder. We walked out to my car and made our way to my sisters house. We all walked up to the front door and I rang the doorbell.

Cleo opened the door with a smile.
"Aw look at the Irving's."

"Shut up C." I chuckled.

Kyrie wrapped his arm around me.
"We're just missing one."

"Mommy!" I heard Xavier yell as he ran into my arms.

"Hey baby!" I smiled, hugging him.

He pulled away as his eyes widened.
"Kyrie!" He yelled, running to hug him.

Kyrie put Olivia down and chuckled.
"What's up X." Then pulled away and did some handshake that I didn't even know they made. "How you been little man?"

He shrugged.
"I'm okay."

I picked him up and looked back up at Cleo.
"Thank you."

"No problem girl." We turned to walk away when she stopped us. "Oh! Have you told him about the Christmas Eve?"

I sighed and glared at her, wondering why she brought it up.
"No I haven't, I don't think I'm coming."

Cleo pouted.
"Cass, it's tradition! You know mama would want you there."

"What is it?" Kyrie asked.

"Every Christmas Eve our entire extended family comes to our parents house-"

"It's huge! Like a castle!" Xavier interjected.

Cleo chuckled.
"Yeah, we do a gift exchange with the kids, we have dinner, we all just interact after not seeing each other all year."

"That sounds like fun!" Kyrie smiled.

I sighed.
"I don't kn-"

"That sounds great Cleo." He said, cutting me off. "I can't wait."

She smiled.
"Great! I'll see you guys then."

I rolled my eyes and sighed as we got into the car. Kyrie noticed as we drove off and turned to me.
"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to go. I made that clear in my reaction, yet you still said yes."

"Why not? Why don't you want to go? It's your family."

"I just..I don't like being around my extended family. I don't understand why it can't just be me, you, and the kids."

"Cassie, you've met my messed up family, it's time I meet yours."

"That's not the same." I scoffed.

I could tell he was getting irritated with my attitude but I didn't care.

"We're going to the dinner, and I'm going to meet your family. That's that." He said, turning back to look straight at the road.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
He's going to regret it...