Not in the Same Way

Eight

"Have you seen the stuff about this virus?" Luke asks.

"Yeah, it's getting scary. Darby has been stressing about it. She said Delta is probably about to severely reduce flights and she isn't sure what that's going to mean for her job. How did this shit even start?" I respond.

"I guess some guy in China supposedly ate a bat. My mum told me about it. Said the news in Oz is saying to be prepared for mass restrictions and possibly a national quarantine there."

"Shit. You think it'll mess with the album stuff? That's only two weeks away now." I ask him, scratching at the short stubble covering my chin.

Ava's giggles draw my attention over to the small grass portion of my back yard where she and Duke are playing.

"I certainly hope not but there are cases in the US now and that's concerning." Luke continues.

"Mm." I hum in agreement.

"How are things with Darby? Ash said he tried to set you up a few weeks ago and I imagine that went about as well as I'm thinking?" He chuckles, his eyes wide as he awaits my reply.

"That fucker." I shoot back, my hand moving to scratch at the back of my head. "He told me we were going to dinner, just us. I get there and Kay's there and some girl I think he thought looked like Darby. I don't know what he was thinking. I was humiliated."

"Sure he was just tryna help." Luke defends him.

"Yeah." I say, twisting my mouth to the side. "I think his intentions were good, just a bit misguided."

Ava stands and toddles over to me. I reach down and pull her onto my lap and she immediately cuddles into my chest.

"Aves, can you tell Uncle Luke hi?" I ask her as she looks up at me before looking over to him. She smiles and then turns back to me, attempting to hide.

"Aw, Ava. You know me! We hang out some, it's Uncle Luke. Remember when you came to my house and you met Sierra and Petunia?"

Ava only clings tighter to my shirt as I chuckle.

"She's just shy mate." I tell him as I rub at her back. "If it makes you feel better she didn't even like me for the longest time and she still refuses to say dada. Darby gets a kick out of that." I scoff.

"You guys got plans for the day?" He asks, scrolling through his phone, he'd come over originally to bring by some paperwork the label needed me to sign for our album that was due to be released in just over two weeks.

"Um, yeah, actually. I'm gonna take Aves to the zoo. Figured we could use some fresh air and she loves animals so I think she'll like it. You and Si got plans? Y'all could join us." I offer.

"Thanks, but I'll let you have your daddy daughter date. I've got a date night of my own planned. I know shit's about to hit the fan when this album drops so I figured we could use one."

"Sounds good. Thanks for bringing that stuff over so I didn't have to get Ava all loaded up and over to the studio. Makes my life a lot easier."

"No worries. Y'all have fun! Bye, Ava!" He waves as he heads for the sliding back door.

She lifts up from against me and opens and closes her fist. "Bye bye." She says and Luke whirls around, his arms in the air victorious as he returns her wave before disappearing into the house, the sounds of the front door being open and closed followed by his car starting up follow.

"Ava Kai!" I say looking down at her. "You tell uncle Luke bye but won't say dada?"

"No."

I roll my eyes.

"I thought you weren't supposed to get sassy until you were a teenager. I am grossly unprepared." I say to her as I call out for Duke and head into the house to grab her things and get her ready to head to the zoo.

When Duke has fresh food and water, Ava has a clean diaper and a packed diaper bag I load her into the car and we begin our drive.

The zoo is relatively uncrowded, I picked a week day in the hopes of us being unbothered on our excursion. So far the hat covering my face and the lack of visitors in my band's usual fan demographic have allowed us to explore the first part of the zoo in anonymity.

"Look Ava, Lions." I say, holding her in my arms her back to my chest because I refused to bring the stroller. "Do you know what the Lion says?" I ask her.

"Rawr!" I say into her ear as she giggles and leans away from me before I pull her back and kiss her cheek.

We wander through the exhibits, Ava's eyes growing wide as she sees elephants, zebras, giraffes, and more all in person for the first time. She kicks against me and whines until I put her down, clinging to my hand as she pulls me towards the loud noises coming from the sea lions. She presses her nose against the glass to watch as they swim below the surface and I'm entranced watching her eyes filled with wonder.

She sips on a lemonade, the March air warm thanks to Los Angeles nearly constant beautiful weather as we head towards the indoor aquarium as the sun reaches it's highest point of the day and I notice her beginning to get tired.

She forces her eyes open to take in the jellyfish and the myriad of bright colored species in the big tank.

She's sitting on the ledge of the tank with several other kids as I watch from only a step away. She loses her balance and falls back against the soft carpet but immediately her eyes search from me as she begins to cry.

"Hey,hey. No tears, you're okay. Daddy is right here." I say scooping her up and pressing kisses to her as I hold her, rubbing her back in an attempt to cease her cries.

"She okay?" A feminine voice asks behind me and I turn to see a woman, about my age, looking at me.

"Oh yeah, she's fine. Just lost her balance and wanted to be held is all."

"How old is she?" She asks.

"Um, she turned one on Valentine's day."

"Aw, that's such a fun age. Mine, the one in the blue shirt." She says pointing to a little boy sitting next to where Aves had been. "He's about to be three and he's so independent now. Doesn't want much to do with mommy anymore."

"God, I hope she never gets like that. I don't know if my heart could stand it." I admit.

"Parenting is hard. Doing it on your own is harder."

"You a single mum?" I ask and she nods. "Aves mum and I, we just haven't found a way to make it work. I keep hoping though."

"I just wish Ty's dad cared at all. Your daughter is really lucky to have you."

I smile politely at her as Ava begins to snore on my shoulder. "Guess that's my cue to get my girl home. Nice speaking to you." I give a small wave as I proceed out of the exhibit building and back to the car lot.

Ava doesn't wake up as I settle her into her car seat or on the drive home. The woman's words weighing on my mind.

This bullshit with Darby is costing me time with Ava. Time I will never be able to get back. She's only going to be little once and I have to find a way to make things work.

AN: dad Cal 👉🏻👈🏻🥺

Hope you're enjoying the story 🖤

Ily,
Sav