Bunny

83

I arrived at the store and got out to find hot chocolate, popcorn, and marshmallows.

I walked in and froze when I saw someone walking out of an aisle.

"Come on, Mia." he stated.
Some little girl stumbled out of the aisle with a pack of candy in both her tiny hands.
I watched him bend down and pick her up.

He prepared to turn around to face the register but we locked eyes and he froze too.

I looked at the floor instead.

"Hey, Bunny." he greeted.
"Hey..." I replied.

I hadn't thought about him in...a year. Over a year actually. Maybe even a year and a half. I hardly knew what to say.

I guess I couldn't be shocked since his mom lived so close to my dad.
Of course we'd go to the same stores, but did it have to be at the same time? Was that really necessary?

I looked at the pretty little girl in his arms that was admiring her pack of candy.

"She's beautiful." I told him.
He looked at her. "Oh...uh...she's not mine." he stated.
"Oh..."
"Yea, Andre's. I'm a godfather. She got here a few months after me and you...split. Andre ain't even know until like half the pregnancy was over." he scoffed.
I nodded.
"How you been?" he asked.
"Fine. How are you?"

Isaiah was next in line and the cashier wasn't patient so he took a step forward.

I walked down the aisles to find what I was here for.

I grabbed the box of hot chocolate and luckily the marshmallows were right next to it.

I found popcorn then headed for the register.

Isaiah was getting his bags and change.

"Next." said the cashier.

"I'm doin' alright." Isaiah continued.
"That's good."
"I don't see you as often as I thought I was goin' to."
"Oh...yea, I kind of moved." I snickered as I paid.
"Oh."
"It was for work."
"Damn. What you do now?"
"I'm uhh..." I was handed my bag and receipt then we both walked to the exit of the store.

"I got an assistant job for this director." I stated.
"For real? That's crazy."
"Yea. And then I moved again for a little bit. Also for work."
"Why twice?"
"My job changed..." I explained casually.
"So then what is it now?" he wondered.
"I'm uhh...I'm acting."
"You serious?"
"Yea..." I smiled.
"Wow, that's great. So like...for what? Like tv shows?"
"I'm in a movie." I replied.
"A movie?! Yo, that's awesome."
"Thank you." I smiled.

I watched Mia lay her head on Isaiah's shoulder and close her eyes.
"I know, we're about to bring you home." he told her.

"What made you get into acting? I thought you wanted to be behind the scenes." he stated.
"It's...a long story..." I scoffed.
"Oh..."
"I mean I'd love to tell you, but..." I looked at sleeping Mia.
"Yea. Some other time."
He went to his car and opened the door.

I saw he had a little car seat for Mia in the back behind the passenger seat.

He began gently setting her inside and she kept a grip on his shirt.
He snickered. "Come on, little mama, I can't lay you down if you holdin' onto me." He gently took her hand off his shirt and she wrapped it around his finger. "There you go." He kissed her hand then began buckling her in.
He's always been good with kids.

"I'm uh...I'll be here for a week. Before I have to go back for filming."
"Really?" he asked me after gently shutting his door.
"Yea. Me and my dad are actually having a movie night tonight. I don't know if...you're busy...maybe I could tell you then..." I immediately regretted saying that right after it left my mouth.
"Yea, definitely. Your dad still stay in the same spot?"
"Yea."
"Okay, yea, I'll stop by. I haven't seen him in a minute. I just gotta bring her to her dad. We spent the whole day at the zoo and stuff so she's tired."
"That's sweet." I smiled.
"Yea, I never knew how badly I wanted a kid. But um...Yea, I'll see you in a bit."
"Okay." I nodded.
"Alright." He smiled and began backing away to go to his driver's side.

"He's still so fucking FINE!" I mumbled to myself on the way to my car.

~~~

I made it back and stormed into my dad's house.

He was already in the kitchen.

"Can I help you?" he asked sassily.
"I saw Isaiah at the store..." I huffed.
"Oh...and how did that go?"
"I invited him here." I looked at him and he just stared at me.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! I WAS SO CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND WE STARTED TALKING AND I JUST INVITED HIM!"
"Well alright."
"Are you mad?" I asked.
"I'm not mad. There's no bad blood between you two, you just broke up. It's not like the boy hit you or cheated. But damn that's awkward."
"I knoooowww." I groaned then fell onto the couch.

"Well when's he comin'?" he asked.
"After he drops his goddaughter off at her dad's house."
"He has a goddaughter?"
"I'm proof that a lot happens in almost two years. Yes, he has a goddaughter. Her name is Mia."
"Hm."

I noticed he'd walked over and he took the bags out of my hands.
"Good luck." he stated and walked back to the kitchen.

I groaned and sunk deeper into my seat.