Page 113 of Laws of Love
Aiva took the purple one with a thank you, while Knox grabbed the red one. Mia walked over to the bounce house and called Yasmine out briefly to drink some of her slush. It was a good idea, considering she was sure it would melt by the time the little girl finished playing.
She was proven right when Yasmine ran over twenty minutes later to drink the now-melted drink.
“Did you have fun?” Knox asked.
“I did! I played different games with a bunch of the kids.” She yawned before taking another drink.
“I think it’s time to go,” Knox said, looking at his watch.
Aiva glanced at it and found it was a few minutes after nine-thirty. She wasn’t surprised she was tired. It was past her bedtime. They gathered their things, went to the car, and drove to Knox’s condo.
“Mommy, can you stay for bath time?” Yasmine asked when they pulled into the parking lot.
“Sure.”
Once inside, Mia took Yasmine to her room to give her a bath, and Aiva helped Knox sort through the candy she’d gotten. They took out anything that was coconut flavored and dark chocolate since the six-year-old didn’t like it. They also ensured none of the candy was tampered with. You could never be too careful with people nowadays.
They were sitting on the couch twenty-five minutes later, Aiva’s legs across his lap, when Yasmine walked in, freshly bathed, with Mia behind her. It was easy to tell how tired she was. Aiva removed her legs as the little girl came over to hug her dad goodnight.
“Night, Daddy,” she said with a little yawn.
“Goodnight, kiddo,” he responded, kissing her forehead.
“Aiva,” she started, climbing into her lap. “I want to call you Nomo. Can I?”
Aiva tilted her head. “Will you tell me what it means first?”
“Nother mother.”
Aiva’s stomach dipped, and the emotion that coursed through her was indescribable. There was a flurry in her stomach, a rushing in her ears, and a shimmering of something along her skin. There was so much going on within her, and she barely made out Knox asking where Yasmine had heard that.
“Tonight in the bounce house. One of the kids called their mom that. When I asked them why, he said it was because she was his stepmom, his nother mother.” She turned her attention back to Aiva. “So, can I?”
Aiva hesitated. Not because she was against it, but because she didn’t want to overstep. They’d barely gotten over the hump where Mia thought she was being replaced. Hell, she wasn’t even sure the other woman was completely over it, and the last thing she wanted to do was make her question it again.
“To pieces, right?” Mia asked in the brief silence.
“Sure, honey,” Aiva responded to Yasmine at the other woman’s words. “You can call me that as long as it’s okay with your dad.” They didn’t need to ask Mia because she’d given her permission.
“Absolutely,” Knox responded before the child could ask.
“Okay! Goodnight, Nomo.”
“Goodnight, sweetie.” Aiva hugged her tight. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” Yasmine responded before getting down and bounding down the hall.
“I’ll tuck her in,” Mia said, following her out.
A millisecond of silence and then, “Baby?” Knox asked.
“I’m not crying,” Aiva responded with a sniffle.
He chuckled but pulled her onto his lap and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “But you can if you want.”
“You’re sure you’re okay with—”
“I’m positive, baby,” he cut her off, cupping the side of her face.
