Chapter 7

Sage

"Ari when you grow up, you'll be so much prettier than I am" I tell Ari as I dried her hair with a towel.

She gasps with wide eyes, I copied her face then I kiss her cheek, making her burst into a fit of giggles. I pick her up and we leave the bathroom.

Ari wanted pancakes for lunch, we were on that track, until she decided to throw flour at her brother, and thus, our fight began. I was still covered in flour, I'll have to ask Emily to bring me some clothes if she's not busy, or I'll have to take them him with me to clean up.

"Uncle Adrian!" Ari squeals happily, reaching her arms out before her.

I look up to see Adrian seated on her bed staring at his phone. He's home early today. He was still dressed in his suit, he could have at least changed his ogre law attire. Adrian stood up with a smile as we walked over to him, he took Ari from me and put her on her bed to stand.

"Hey, I heard you had a little party downstairs" Adrian says tapping her nose with his index finger.

"Yeah" Ari drawls out, keeping her eyes low as she smiles innocently.

She was so adorable, a little dimple popped up at the corner of her mouth making me smile some more.

"You like like crap" Adrian comments looking at me.

"Gee, I thought taking care of your kids was enough, you don't pay me to look pretty now do you?" I ask crossing my arms.

"What if I had guests over?" he asks making me roll my eyes at him.

"What is wrong with you two?" Adi's voice asks from the doorway.

We look toward her then at each other, I don't say anything and Adrian smiles in satisfaction, he didn't even win this round, I'll get him back sooner or later.

I was covered in flour from head to toe, Ari really went all out with that flour thing. She was giggling all the way, just enjoying her time. I'm glad they've kind of taken a different turn and were just happy, I know they lost their Mom, but I'm happy they've been coping better than a few months or weeks ago.

"I need to go home and shower" I tell Adrian.

"You can shower here" he replies giving a wide eyed Ari a pink medium sized shopping bag.

"I don't have any clothes here" I remind. "In case your head has grown bigger and you've forgotten" I finished.

"You can shower in my room" he suggests not looking at me.

"What am I going to-...." I start but he cuts me off by looking up at me.

With my head hung low, I walk out of the room and down the hallway to find his room. He can such a bother sometimes, I haven't known the guy for a month and I'm already tired of him. Pushing the tall white door open, I walked inside and my eyes met with a warm blue room, grey drapes and a whole family tree on the walls, he had pictures of the kids everywhere on the walls and by his bed, there was a king sized bed in the middle of the room, filled with grey covered pillows and a grey duvet.

I guess his room really was as dark as his soul, there was a reflection indeed.

I was lost in my thoughts just standing under the warm water, my relationship was swimming around my mind constantly, everything that happened with Malcolm and my sister, it was still a lot to process, the kids really took my mind off of it since we've met.

The fact it was my sister he cheated on me with made it worse, if was someone else I would have been angry yeah, but my sister?. I'm definitely was pissed off, and he had the audacity to hold me back when I wanted to kill her, I didn't even want to know how long it was going on for.

Liv was always that way, she always ruined something good for someone and thinks an apology would always work, if I'm not the one to fight her, then I hope she finds the person who would, when she least expects it.

A knock at the door pulled out of my thoughts, I turn the water off and grabbed one of the towels from the rack, it was really soft, like very soft, rich people always have nice things. Not that my family didn't have nice things, but...yeah, they had nice and comfortable things.

Emily peeked through door before walking in, I was confused as I took a small travel bag from her. I hadn't called or texted her, so how did she know I needed clothes?.

"Em, what're you doing here?" I ask.

"Adrian called me, said you needed some stuff, for a second I thought you two-..." she says, I cut her off by putting my hand over her mouth.

She laughs in response, removing my hand from her mouth.

"I'm kidding, he told me what happened, so I just went over to your house and grabbed some stuff for you, your parents were worried but I assured them everything was okay" she smiles looking around the marble tiled bathroom. "Wow" she says.

"Tell me about it" I say whilst getting dressed.

It was weird changing in front of Emily, we've known each other for years, and we're both females so I don't see the harm in that. Even after I left with no contact to her, she was over excited to see me again, that's a real friend, it wasn't really my fault that I lost contact with her, school became extremely busy after a year and I was busy with work.

Speaking of work, I haven't called my manager since I got home that night, he's been trying to get a hold of me but I'm just trying to clear my head a little bit, I might call him later in the day when I get home or tomorrow.

"How did Adrian get a hold of you?" I ask after finally getting dressed in my ripped jeans and hoodie.

"He used your phone, I guess he figured out your passcode" she answers shrugging.

"Or maybe Ari gave it to him" I say softly, she was the only one wo knew it besides me and Emily. "Thanks though".

"Don't mention on it" she smiles turning and walking out.

Emily and I made our way into the kitchen where the kids were eating pancakes and talking with Adrian, I'm surprised he knew how to use the stove, last time he had his chef making breakfast.

"Who knew you could turn a stove on" I say catching his attention.

"Who knew you could look presentable" he retorts looking over my attire.

"Aren't you trying to win this round" I say raising my eyebrow at him.

"I will, there's no question about it, anyway your boyfriend called" he says looking away from me and to his plate.

Emily and I look at each other, no freaking way.

He's not my boyfriend anymore, but I thought I blocked him, and not that I cared about what Adrian thought, but Malcolm calling me again after I blocked him was serious, I don't care what he wanted to say, I was already trying to get over him.

Even if it hurts like hell, I'll get over him.