Never giving up on you - Completed.

Surprise extra chapter

[Just because this idea was unfolding in my head and I just needed to write it down haha]

Los Angeles, California

August 2027

Austin

'Daddy?' I pulled my gaze from my laptop and watched up to see Ava stand in the doorway to my studio.

'Yeah sweetie?'

'Can we go buy cookies?' I let out a laugh and pushed my glasses up my head and rubbed my face, looking at my youngest daughter grin at me.

'Why?'

'Because the jar is empty.'

'Did you steal the last few again?'

'I did not!,' Ava let out. I cocked an eyebrow at her and she giggled, walking up to me and jumping on my lap. She had always been a cuddly kid, and even her turning ten years old last month didn't hold her back in snuggling up to me or Caity every now and then. I loved it when she did that, because it reminded me of when she was little. They grew up way too fast...

'Yes you did,' I teased her. She laughed while I tickled her and shook her head. 'Well, I think your mother will bring new ones when she comes home from work.'

'Yeah, but that's tonight. I want them now.' I laughed.

'Too bad, baby.' Ava sighed and got off my lap, sitting down on the couch in the corner.

'Can we go do something together?,' she asked in a bored tone.

'I am busy now, so no, sorry.' I put my glasses back on and tried to finish the email to Shayley I was half way through. 'Maybe Hailey wants to entertain you,' I added while taking a sip of water.

'Hailey is in her room with a boy and I am not allowed to come in,' Ava muttered. I choked on my water and stared back at her, horrified at her words.

'What?!'

'She said they're making homework.' Homework? My ass, it was still summer break. Oh Ava, you really have the obliviance of your mother... Ava pulked at her shirt and looked at me. 'Why are you looking so weird?' I got up and barged out of the studio, running up the stairs and throwing Hailey's door open, not taking note at the 'Knock first or fuck off!' sign she had put up a while ago, as the stubborn sassy fifteen-going on-sixteen year old she was.

'Hailey –'

'Dad!,' she let out in shock after quickly pulling away from kissing the boy in front of her. 'Oh my God! Get out!!' She stared at me with big eyes and I looked back at her evenly as shocked.

'Excuse me, but what is happening here?!,' I demanded.

'Haven't you ever heard of fucking knocking?!,' Hailey screeched. I raised my eyebrows at her.

'Mind your language to me, Hailey.' She grunted and let herself fall back on her bed, hiding her face in a pillow. I looked at the boy, who smiled a bit and waved at me awkwardly.

'Hi mr. Carlile.'

'And you are?' I asked him all confused.

'I – I am Kyle,' he stuttered. He put out his hand to me, and I shook it, trying to calm myself down. He didn't seem like a bad kid. They're just teens, I thought to myself.

'Hi Kyle. I think it's time for you to go home, don't you?' Kyle nodded his head awkwardly.

'I guess.' He quickly gathered his books and threw them in his backpack. 'Bye Hailey.' He scurried out of the room. I waited until I heard the front door open and shut again before I pulled Hailey's pillow from her face.