The Writer And The Artist

Chapter 9: Explain yourself married woman!

I stare horrified at the little girl who had her eyes bugged out, watching the both of us like a hawk. I spring away from Austin to the end of the couch, clearing my throat. Austin sits up and glares at Layla. She smiles at him and sits down on her tiny chair like a princess. She crosses her legs and stares at the TV, humming under her breath.

I look at Austin and find him staring at me with an amused smile on his face, I blush and look at the TV, slapping myself mentally as his soft deep chuckles cut the awkwardness.

I turn and glare at him, folding my arms and focusing on the TV.

But it's kinda hard to focus on something in front of you that doesn't take as much attention as the thing that's beside you.

Like you're made to eat a whole plate of cold hard oats, while there's a whole cookie jar and a cake beside you, but if you're caught looking at the sweet heavenly blessings, you'll be so dealt with.

So yes.

After a while, Layla's yawns start getting louder and longer until she stands up, rubbing her eyes.

"Goodnight April, I'd have stayed till you left but it's way past my bedtime and mom's gonna kill me if I'm still asleep by twelve tomorrow." She murmurs and I smile at her, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight sweety." She smiles tiredly and staggers away. I stand and start to follow her but Austin tugs the sleeve of my jacket.

"No, she doesn't let anyone in her room except my mom, I was only allowed because it's my house. And she hates bedtime stories, she'd get bored and pull out a box of nail polish and start painting her nails." He says and my brows shoot up.

Savagery.

I slowly sit down and pull out my phone, checking to see if I got any message from anyone at home.

"Hey, you hungry?" He asks and I look at him, shrugging. He stands up and holds his hand out for me.

You know that moment when you're already in a comfortable position on the couch and someone tells you to stand up and you start pushing yourself into the couch even though you know you can't get any further into it?

Yeah.

The look on Austin's face says it all, I'm not going anywhere.

I sigh in defeat and hold my hand out. He stiffens and throws a pillow at my head softly.

"Hey!" I yell and hear his laughter.

Now I lost my comfy spot.

Ugh!

I stand up and follow him into the kitchen, biting my lip from yelling at him. I don't think I want to know what will happen if Layla wakes up from her sleep.

That girl could be Temi's replacement and you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference... well except the height.

I see him digging his fridge for something and I'm tempted to drop-kick him into the fridge. Talk about coming up next on WWE, am I right?

He pulls out a fruit cup and I immediately melt, my lower lip quivering.

These things are heaven.

He hands it to me and I pout, collecting it from him and I sit down.

"Thanks." I whisper and he does a shoulder shrug, grabbing his cereal box. We stay in silence, enjoying our snack until his phone starts ringing. He looks at it and a bright smile stretches across his lips.

"Hey," he starts as he answers the call. I tune out of his conversation, looking around.

I pull out the pencil I always keep in the jacket and grab the napkin, drawing lines against the surface.