"Why isn't the girlfriend coming?" Cevyn asked after he stopped at a red light.
"I'm not sure," Analise answered.
"Your ex is a real asshole. At least she's able to calm him down."
Analise shrugged. "He's overprotective over Alani. I don't blame him when I've already fucked up. Twice. The way I treated them both before I left wasn't right."
"Why are you defending his behavior? It doesn't matter what you did. That doesn't give him a right to talk to you the way he does because Alani is your child, too. You're here now, so he can get over it."
"Only biologically. I have no rights, and I've played no part in raising her so far. I'm not defending him, but I don't think the treatment is unfair. To be honest, I expected him to be harsher, and I'd much rather deal with Daniel over Jakiyah."
"What do you have against her?" Cevyn asked. "Yeah, she's the reason you and him broke up, but that doesn't matter anymore. She's much more respectful to you than he is."
"I just don't like her," Analise answered.
"Yeah, well, at least she isn't going to verbally abuse you like your ex."
After the dinner with Jakiyah and Daniel, Cevyn went on a rant about both of them. In the beginning, Analise held a grudge towards both of them-especially Jakiyah. However as the conversation progressed, Analise understood everything. From why Jakiyah became Alani's mother figure, to why Daniel didn't trust Analise with Alani alone. All of it could be justified, and none of it was to spite Analise. Everything Daniel did and would decide to do was for the benefit of Alani; not anyone else.
Analise realized with becoming apart of Alani's life, she had to put personal thoughts and feelings to the side. She needed to put what was best for Alani ahead of herself and even Cevyn. Seeing Jakiyah and Daniel together helped Analise see how a child had to come before your relationship and your significant other. It was something Analise wished she would've realized during her pregnancy. She remembered how all she focused on was Daniel, even before thinking about Alani. That was a habit she needed to break to prove her readiness for being some sort of mother figure to Alani.
