Chapter 4 4

Maisie's Pov

I didn't sleep well last night.

I kept wondering if Xavier would actually keep his word and show up to pick Aria from school.

I wasn't looking forward to the disappointment on Aria's face when Xavier wouldn't show up.

When a black SUV pulled up in the driveway, I was completely stunned.

Xavier stepped out, freshly dressed in a white pressed shirt and black slacks. He looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine. He looked madly handsome but cold as usual.

Aria ran to the window, gasping in glee. “Mommy, daddy's here.”

I gave her a weak smile. “Yeah, he is. Go and have your bag now.”

Aria raced to her bedroom to grab her school bag while I went to answer the door. I didn't say anything to him when I told him to come in. I only stepped aside and he took the cue to enter.

“Are you ready?” He asked Aria when she returned to the living room.

“Yes!” She replied sharply, running to grab his hand with a wide grin on her face.

When they left, I followed behind them in my own car. I didn't trust Xavier with Aria even though he was her father.

I arrived at the pack school and I spotted them — Kylie and Howard.

She looked extremely beautiful for someone going for a schoolrun. Her eyes lit up with a smile as Xavier approached them. Howard ran towards Xavier with a giggle. He caught the little boy and spinned him around with a laugh. I swore he'd never laughed around me.

Kylie joined them moments later, linking her arms through his like it belonged there and he didn't push her arm off.

Aria just stood there, watching them. Her smile had faded and she was beginning to fiddle with her fingers. When I noticed that, I rushed to her side. “Hey, baby. Why don't you go meet your teacher? I'm sure they'll be pleased to see you.”

Aria nodded without a word and walked into the other direction with her shoulders drooped.

I stood back up and marched towards Xavier with my clenched fists.

“I thought we had an agreement.” I said, pulling him away as soon as Kylie and Howard made it to the building.

“We did. I showed up as promised, didn't I?” he arched his brow.

“You completed Aria for Kylie and Howard. It made Aria upset.” I crossed my arms under my chest.

Xavier frowned. “And you think it's fair to ignore Howard and Kyle? They need me for heaven's sake.”

I wanted to argue that I was also a single mother and I also needed support but I didn't. Instead, I said.

“If you want me to sign those divorce papers, you have to neglect them.”

He scoffed with disgust. “You're unbelievable.”

“No, I'm a mother.” I lifted my chin. “and I'll do whatever it takes to make my daughter happy whether you like it or not.”

Xavier clenched his jaw then stormed off without another word.

I expected him to ignore me like always but to my surprise, he started ignoring Kylie. He didn't answer her calls when he was with Aria.

He started picking her up from school and came home to have dinner with her. He even attended her dancing class.

He wasn't warm like I'd see him around Howard but he was present and that made me content.

One day, he took Aria to the park.

The park was nearly empty save for the parents hanging out with their pups. Xavier sat stiffly on the bench while Aria spinned around him in circles.

I'd bought my sketchbook but I couldn't concentrate on drawing anything. My focus was all on Xavier watching Aria play.

Aria, out of breath, raced to where I sat and grabbed my hand.

My sketchbook dropped from my lap as she pulled me to my feet.

“What is it?” My brows knitted with confusion as she dragged me with her.

“Let's go play.” She looked at me with a smile. Then she stopped right in front of Xavier, whose brows were knitted.

“What's wrong?” He asked.

“Let's all play.” Aria's cheeks heated as she said.

Xavier's brows pulled together. “Play?”

“Tag, mommy.” Aria smiled.

I shook my head. “Oh, honey. I don't think…”

“Please, mommy…” she clasped her hands as she pouted then turned to Xavier. “It's just one game, daddy. Please, let's all play together.”

Xavier opened his mouth to object but Aria's hand was already on his.

“Come on.” Aria giggled.

Xavier and I shared confused looks before we complied. At first I thought things would be awkward like dinner but the next thing I knew, I was laughing as I ran after my daughter. Xavier joined in and was stiff as usual but Aria's laugh was so contagious that it made him crack a smile.

For a moment, we looked like a real family.

I turned to run but my foot tripped on a stone and I fell with a gasp right on top of Xavier.

We stumbled and I fell against him hard, my hands landing on his chest. Instinctively, he caught me, wrapping an arm around my waist.

We froze.

Our faces were only a few inches apart.

His eyes dropped to my lips and they parted willingly. For a moment, I don't know who moved first. Was it him or me? I couldn't tell but what I knew was he moved his face close to mine. Our lips had barely touched before Xavier's phone rang, interrupting us.

He snapped out of the moment and moved quickly, making me fall off him like I'd burned him. I staggered for a moment before catching myself before I hit the ground.

He didn't bother to look at his phone, instead he glared at me as if I'd slapped him.

“You always find ways to seduce me, don't you?” he hissed.

My mouth dropped. “What?”

Before I could say anything else, he answered the call, muttering into the receiver as he walked towards the exit.

“Wait… where's daddy going?” Aria asked as she ran up to meet me.

I forced my gaze away from him and went on my knees to wipe the grass off her cheek. “He just had some emergency but it's okay. We had some fun, didn't we?”

“Yeah,” she mumbled. “We looked like a family again.”

I blinked back tears at her words and hugged her.