"We'll be fine. You wanna know why? Because were Nikki and Vanity."
She nodded, staring up at him with eyes full of hope and love. "...And we get through everything. We'll be okay."
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Nikki's hand felt like a damn weight wrapped around mine as we walked into Arianna's school to drop her off. It was the first day back from winter break and she wanted the both of us to escort her in. She walked in front of us smiling big as other teachers greeted her as we forced our smiles and pretended like everything is a-okay.
His hand kept twitching around mine, well squeezing lightly as he knew I didn't want to be holding it. Why would I? It's been a week since everything and all we've done is argue after Arianna goes to sleep.
We arrived at her kindergarten classroom, Arianna excitedly running to her cubby to put away her backpack and give her lunchbox to Miss. Martinez to put in the fridge for later.
"Bye mom!" Arianna came over, crushing her face into my knees as she wrapped her arms around me. I bent over and kissed the top of her head.
"I'll see you after school, alright? Be good today." I smiled at her, smoothing my hand over her hair to tame it.
"No auntie?" She asked me, out of the corner of my eye I saw Nikki rolling his. I elbowed his side before crouching down to her level.
"We talked about this Ari." I spoke softly as I held her hand, "Auntie will only be picking you up if me or daddy can't. She's living with Tommy now, so we need to be big girls and do things without her. You'll still see her later this week maybe, okay?"
She nodded with a pout on her lips, "Okay...bye daddy." She mumbled raising her arms up as he scooped her up in his arms.
"You have fun today babe and I'll see you later." Nikki kisses her cheek and ran his hands up her sides, making her giggle as he put her back down. She waved to us as she went to go sit at the table with her other classmates.
"Vanity, it's nice to see you. Happy holidays." Her teacher came up to us, peppy as always.
"You too, Elaine." I smiled at her, "I had to tell Arianna she couldn't bring all the toys she got from Christmas to school."
"Of course, it's nice to see you again Nikki. I hope to see you more this semester. Could always use another dad on the PTA, I know Vanity has caught a few of our meetings."
I smiled at Nikki, watching his nose wrinkle up in disgust, "No thank you. I'm sure I would scare them but yes you'll see me more. With Arianna's aunt out of the house, I'll probably be the one picking her up from school because Vanity will be at work, right doll?" He snaked his arm around my waist and kisses the top of my head.
