Not a toy but love to play

Chapter 9

It was about a month ago when Ashton found out I'm a fighter. I had been ignoring him for the past couple of weeks. He tried to talk to me multiple times, but I was just angry at myself for letting him get this close to me. I was walking to my car in the parking lot when I heard someone yell my name.

"Please Lexa, wait." he begged me. I stopped in my tracks but didn't turn around. I heard his quick footsteps coming closer until he was in front of me. "I'm really sorry. Please, let me make it up to you." he said, not looking me in the eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you." he said quietly.

I looked up and saw his pleading eyes, but I couldn't give in. I had let it come way too far, and now I had to live with the consequences. "I'm sorry. I've got to go." I said before hopping in my car and driving away.

I picked the girls up from school and we were currently driving to Elija's daycare. I parked my car and helped the girls get out. We opened the door and walked in.

"Hi, Mia." I said to the lady standing at the classroom door. "Hello. I'll go get him." she said, turning around. She walked back to us with Elija in her arms.

"Hello, handsome. How was your day?" I asked Elija as she handed him to me. "See you on monday. Come on girls." I said, waving goodbye. I placed Elija in his baby seat while the girls got in their car seats as well.

"So what did you learn today?" I asked them as we drove home. "We learned about the animals." Nova said excitedly. Oh god.

"We were thinking about adopting a baby elephant." Nala said seriously. "A baby what?" I choked out. "Well, we really want an elephant but it's too big. So instead we were thinking about a baby elephant." Nova explained. "You girls know that baby elephants eventually become big elephants right?" I asked them seriously.

They looked at each other and then at me. "Oh, didn't think of that." Nala said. "And we don't have room or time for an animal." I continued. "I know." they quietly signed.

I parked the car and got out. I walked over to the other doors and opened them so the girls could get out while I picked up Elija. I had just closed the door when the bell rang.

"Girls, place your bags in the kitchen and go upstairs please." I said as I walked over to the front door. I slowly opened the door with Elija in my hands. When I looked up I saw Ashton standing there.

My eyes widened. "What are you doing here?" I asked him. His eyes kept going from me to Elija and back to me. "I-Is he... Is he yours?" he asked cautiously. "Of course he's not mine." I said, a bit offended. "He's my brother." I explained slowly.

"Did you follow me?" I asked. He nodded but didn't look me in the eyes. Before I could say something else I heard a crashing noise and a scream. I turned around and ran inside, unaware of Ashton following me inside.

I ran into the kitchen and saw broken glass everywhere. The girls were crying in a corner of the kitchen while my mother stood there looking at them with an angry glare. I walked over to my sisters and helped them get upstairs. I turned to my mother with Elija still in my arms.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?" I yelled at her. Hurting me was one thing but turning to my sisters. "THOSE ARE YOUR KIDS! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?" my mother's face turned back to her normal emotionless one. She turned around and left for her room.

I turned around and realised Ashton was standing behind me. "You need to leave." I said trying to calm down. "Are you serious? I'm not leaving like this. At least let me help you clean up." he asked quietly. I swallowed and nodded. I signaled for him to follow me upstairs. I walked to the girls room where I could hear their quiet sobs.

I took out my key and unlocked the door. "Shhhhh. It's fine. Nothing happened. I won't let her touch you again, I promise." I cooed at them.

They slowly nodded as they looked up to Ashton. I signed, "Girls, this is Ashton. Ashton, these are Nala and Nova my sisters. And I believe you already met baby Elija here." I explained. Ashton gave the girls a sad smile. Nova jumped off the bed and slowly walked over to him before giving him a big hug. Ashton looked at me surprised, "What can I say? We're cuddlers." I said with a small smile.

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Ashton and I were cleaning the glass of the floor in silence. We had just put the girls to bed after making a quick dinner for them. I dumped the last bit of glass in the trash can and sat down. "So, I guess I owe you an explanation." I quietly said.

"You don't have to if you don't want to. You shouldn't have to feel compelled to tell me anything." he shrugged.

"I want to." I answered.

"Where to start?" I asked myself. "What about the beginning?" Ashton asked as he took my hands in his. I swallowed and nodded, ignoring the little sparks going through my body.