Page 104 of Laws of Love
He listened as she filled him in on what she’d learned in class, the new friend she’d made, and the new game she’d played at recess. It sounded to Knox like Red Rover meets Freeze Tag.
When they made it home, Yasmine skipped to her room, and Knox took out his phone to schedule an order for delivery from her favorite pizza place. It was a tradition they’d fallen into when she’d started pre-K that after her first week of school, the three of them would have ice cream, cupcakes, pizza, and play some of Yasmine’s favorite games to celebrate a good first week.
He placed the order and was putting his phone back into his pocket when there was a knock on the door. Opening it, he stepped aside and allowed Mia to enter.
“I have cupcakes and ice cream,” she announced, passing him to the kitchen. “Where is Yas?”
“She’s putting her things away. I ordered pizza.”
He watched her put the ice cream in the freezer before she looked around the open space, her eyes settling back on him. “No girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Did you not tell her, or was she too busy to attend?” Mia asked, and Knox didn’t miss her clipped tone of voice.
“Yes, I told her, and no, she wasn’t too busy. She thought it best for us to keep the tradition to ourselves. To allow Yas something that she only has with the two of us.”
A look of shock quickly passed over Mia’s face but was gone as fast as it appeared, and she released a little hmph. Knox knew she hadn’t expected him to say that. Maybe she’d wanted him not to tell Aiva, or perhaps if his girlfriend were too busy, she would feel vindicated somehow.
When he’d brought up the tradition to Aiva and asked if she’d like to celebrate with them, she’d thanked him for the offer but stated it was something Yasmine was used to doing with her mom and dad, and she’d like them to keep the tradition for the three of them. It would be a way for them to spend time with their daughter with no one else present, but hopefully, also allow them to work on their communication and being around one another with no hostility or issues for Yasmine’s sake.
Knox didn’t hold any hostility towards Mia, and he didn’t have any issues with her other than her showing her ass and getting on his nerves. He dealt with her because she was Yasmine’s mother, and he did his best not to disrespect her for that exact reason. Whatever issues she had with him, she’d have to work through because he wasn’t purposely doing anything to piss her off. Well, minus his vacation stunt.
“I’m going to go get Yas and help her pick out games,” Mia stated, heading down the hall.
While they did that, he set up drinks, the bakery box Mia brought in, and napkins on the table where they would play a few games before the food arrived. A few minutes later, Yasmine and Mia returned withCandyland,Sorry, andHungry Hungry Hippo.
Knox sat on the couch, responding to Aiva’s text about Yasmine’s first week of school, when Mia entered the living room. It was a little after nine-thirty, and their daughter had asked her to help her get ready for bed and read her a bedtime story. None of which Knox had an issue with.
“She’s asleep,” she said, sitting on the other end of the couch.
“She’s been falling asleep pretty quickly at night. I think she’s still getting used to not having nap time since she took them occasionally during the summer.”
“Makes sense.” She paused. “I…thanks for letting me come over and continue this with her.”
He’d be lying if he said that hadn’t surprised him. He couldn’t remember when Mia thanked him for anything, even when they were still married. It must have been written on his face, because she rolled her eyes at him.
“Don’t look so shocked.” She sighed. “You could have easily celebrated her first week with just the two of you…or with Aiva. So, thank you for not excluding me.”
Knox placed his phone on the coffee table. “I have no intention of excluding you, Mia.”
“And filing for full custody was what?”
He raised a brow at her because she couldn’t be serious. “That was different, and you know it. I wanted Yas to be in a stable environment where she didn’t have a parent staying out all hours of the morning partying. You also didn’t give me much choice when you tried holding it over my head.”
“You used to like to party with me.”
“We aren’t kids anymore. My priorities changed the minute we found out about Yas. It was time to grow up.”
“And I haven’t grown up?”
“I didn’t say that. Your actions did,” Knox countered. “I’m not faulting you for wanting to live your life. I’m just not willing to allow you to do it at the expense of our daughter. If that means you are the fun parent with her every other weekend or when you have time, then so be it.”
She was quiet, and it felt unlike her. He’d expected her to have an immediate comeback. His phone pinged, and they both looked over to find a new text from Aiva.
“I guess it doesn’t matter what type of mother I end up being when you’re trying to replace me.”
Knox sighed because he didn’t want to have this conversation, but he knew they needed to, and regardless, it would have happened eventually.
