Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Two

Demi

"So, is Max coming today?" I shrugged, leaning back against the counter as I sipped at my water.

"I haven't a clue."

"When did he last see the girls?"

"Last week, he only took Ayla, apparently two children at once is too much for him" Dallas sent me a smile that was laced with sympathy.

"When did Kyra last spend time with him?"

"Like 2 months ago and every time he takes her, it's like he isn't interested in her. It's like he doesn't care and he's just taking her because he has too, because she's his daughter" I rolled my eyes and groaned my frustration, running my fingers through my hair. "She calls Kobe daddy and I think that pisses Max off more because he's heard her say it, she refers to Kobe as her daddy even when Max is around."

"He's not there for her, what does he expect to happen?"

"I don't..."

"NO" I sighed, lowering my glass down onto the counter and beginning into the living room. Ayla was staring down at Kyra who was on the floor, moments away from bursting into tears, her lower lip quivering. Ayla had her baby doll clutched into her chest.

"Ayla?" she jumped, turning to look at me, her face the most serious I've ever seen it.

"Mama" Kyra toddled towards me and instantly cuddled into my side. I wrapped my arm around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, running my fingers along her back.

"Did you push her?" Ayla shook her head but there were plenty of witnesses in the room for me to get the honest answer. "Baby, you don't push people, okay? That's not nice."

"She took baby" she thrust the baby doll into my chest.

"Peanut, she doesn't understand sharing, okay? She just wants to play with you, Ayla. You're her big sister and she loves you" she glanced down at Kyra who was cuddled into my side. "Are you going to say sorry?" her honey brown eyes met mine as she shook her head. "Do you need to go on the naughty step, Ayla Mackenzie?" she shook her head again in reply. "Then are you going to say sorry to Kyra?"

"I sorry" Kyra just nuzzled herself more into my side.

"Good girl" I leant to press a kiss to her forehead. "Go and play, okay?" she nodded, turning and running off towards Savannah. "You're okay, Angel" I lifted Kyra up onto my hip as I stood. I pressed a kiss the top of her head, beginning towards the front door at the sound of the doorbell. I pulled open the front door, surprised at the person stood on the porch. "Hi."

"Hi" his eyes briefly went to Kyra who didn't even react to him.

"Ayla's in the living room" he nodded and I stepped out of the way so that he could step in. He began into the living room as I shut the front door behind him. "Shall we go and find daddy, Angel?" Kyra nodded as she lifted her head off my shoulder. I began into the kitchen just as Kobe stepped through the back door.

"Daddy."

"Hi Baby Girl" she giggled as he took her and settled her on his hip. "You okay, Baby?" I nodded, smiling up at him as he stroked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Max is in the living room" he nodded, leaning to brush a gentle kiss to my lips causing my tension to instantly melt away. No matter how frustrated or annoyed or angry I get, Kobe is always able to melt it away. Max and Kobe do not get along and that's all on Max. Kobe has tried to at least be civil with him but it always goes to shit because Max is an asshole and wants nothing to do with him. Kobe and I have been together for two years, you would have thought Max would be over his pettiness by now.

"Don't let him stress you out, okay?" he lightly caressed my cheek. "I love you, Baby."

"I love you too" he wrapped his arm around me and held me against him, his lips pressing against the top of my head.

-

"What is it, Peanut?"

"A house" everyone lightly chuckled at her confusion.

"It's a dollhouse, Baby" I pushed myself off the couch and settled beside Ayla on the floor. "Look" I opened the doors on the dollhouse and Ayla's eyes widened in wonder. "We need to keep this from Kyra though, okay? Because she's too little to play with it, so we're going to keep this in your room, Peanut" Ayla nodded as she pulled two of the wooden people from the house. "You going to say thank you to nana and papi?" she ran towards mom and climbed up onto the couch, giving her one of her famous Ayla cuddles. Everyone loves an Ayla cuddle.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Ayla" she giggled and turned to Eddie who lightly chuckled as she attacked him with a hug. He pressed a kiss to her temple before she slid off the couch and ran back to the dollhouse. She leant into my side and I smiled as I pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Ayla, you want to talk to nanny and grandpa?" Ayla turned to Max who pushed himself up from the couch with his phone in hand. I'm surprised Max stayed for longer than 5 minutes. He's been here for an hour; he hasn't really said much but he's here for his daughter which is the main thing I suppose. Ayla moved herself away from me and headed to Max who lifted her onto his hip and then left the room. I shut up the dollhouse and then moved to settle on the couch beside Kobe. He wrapped his arm around me and pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. I cuddled myself into his side, smiling as I glanced to Kyra who was happily playing with Savannah. Ayla and Kyra don't always get along but Kyra and Savannah do, Savvy loves Kyra so much.

"I'm surprised he's still here" I whispered as I glanced up at Kobe.

"He's here for Ayla, that's the main thing."

"I hate that he doesn't care for Kyra like he does Ayla" he leant down to press a kiss to my lips. "I'm glad she has you" his mouth tugged into a smile.

"I love you."

"I love you too" I cuddled into his side, keeping my eyes on Savannah and Kyra until Ayla came back into the room with Max who excused himself and left less than a half an hour later.

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