Ashley's Pov
We are at Target right now and this child won't shut up and I can't even begin to think about how embarrassing it is to go around with a fake child.
Everyone keeps sending Aaron and I dirty looks for not making the child quiet and it's getting on my nerves.
My so called magic isn't working anymore and that is probably because Eli is hungry.
"Are you sure it's not there?" I ask Aaron.
"Yes Ashley, I'm sure. I've been looking for this damn bottle for the past ten minutes and I just can't find it."
We have to get a specific bottle for this baby because obviously its not a real one and they said we would find it at target, if not then at Walmart.
We got the rest of the necessities, the bottle is the only one remaining.
"Let's go to Walmart then and get more dirty looks," I sigh.
***
We are currently back at Aaron's house. We found the bottle we needed at Walmart and Eli is finally asleep.
We got a mini crate kinda thing and placed Eli in it.
Aaron looks like he is about to say something but I immediately cut him off.
"If you wake this child up Aaron I swear to god-" I whisper shout.
"Chill, I'm not. I was gonna ask, who is Eli staying with tonight?"
"You."
"I can't, I have a game tonight, you know that," Aaron whispers.
"Ugh you are one lucky bastard," I whisper.
I don't mind taking Eli at all, the only thing is.. my parents.
I'm scared my father will scream at me.. or worse hit me if the baby cries too loud.
"Actually can I sleep over tonight?" I say with a worried look.
Aaron is about to question me but notices the worry in my eyes and just nods instead.
I pick up my phone and check the time noticing it's almost 4.
"Hey, I'm going to go to work soon, so please just take care of Eli till I get back. After that, the night is yours," I whisper.
He nods understandingly.
"If Eli cries, feed it, if it doesn't stop, check its diaper and if necessary change it, if still no then it might be sick. Just do whatever you need," I explain.
"Mommy? Sorry," He smirks.
I sigh.
Is it bad that I kinda found it attractive.
"Okay I'm actually sorry. That was dumb."
I just shake my head in response.
"I'm going now, bye!" I whisper shout and leave.
***
Not even one hour after I start working my shift, I get a call.
I check and sure enough it's Aaron.
Gosh he can't do anything by himself can he?
He is lucky I'm on a break right now.
I pick up the phone and immediately hear cries in the back.
"What?" I sigh.
"He won't stop crying. I tried everything I swear, I fed it, I checked its diaper, I sang a fucking lullaby for him yet he won't shut up," He says annoyed.
"Aaron, you really are incapable of being a father, hang on, I'll be right there," I say and cut off.
I walk to the counter and find Xavier taking orders.
"Hey Xavi I have to go, my child is crying," I say pocketing my phone.
"Do I even wanna know?" He asks.
"Trust me, you don't. But I'll tell you about it tomorrow anyways. I have to go now, please cover for me."
"Wait, before you go, how is everything at home you know?" He asks concerned.
"Good, there haven't been much fights lately and plus I am hardly ever at home."
"Thats good, you know you can always call me if you need anything yeah?" He asks.
"Yeah yeah I know, thank you so much Xavi," I say and kiss him on the cheek.
I grab my stuff and walk out, to my car.
I get in the drivers seat and drive off.
The whole ride to Aaron's house the only thing I could think of was Tyler.
How bad I wanted him and yet he chose Melissa. Why couldn't it have been me?
Yeah, I probably should have confessed to him but he never showed much interest in me as a lover.
Until I started fake dating Aaron.
Anytime I appear with Aaron by me, his jaw clenches as well as his fists. He stays quiet for my sake but I can tell he is pissed.
I pull up to the driveway and I can already hear Eli crying from down here.
Thank god I'm staying over tonight.
I open the door without knocking as it is unlocked and rush upstairs.
I barge into Aaron's room and find him trying to put Eli to sleep by spinning him around in his arms.
It doesn't work.
"Let me take him," I say and he looks at me with his eyes shining, with so much joy in them.
"You are a lifesaver," He remarks.
"Get out," I say.
He looks at me with a confused look.
"You want Eli to shut up or no?" I say.
Realisation washes across his face and he immediately disappears.
I take Eli's bottle and start feeding him while humming an old lullaby my mother used to sing for me, before everything went bad..
Surprisingly Eli falls asleep quicker than I expected him to. I place him gently in its crate and leave the room, slowly shutting the door.
I jog downstairs and find Aaron sitted on his couch, scrolling on his phone.
"Hey, Eli is asleep," I inform.
"You are for sure doing some magic because ain't no way. I did everything Lee, and I mean everything and yet that little shit couldn't even shut up let alone fall asleep."
"Okay 1, I'm the mother, and 2, stop calling our child a little shit! What if he was real?" I question.
"I don't want kids. So no, that will never be real," He rolls his eyes.
"What do you mean you don't want kids? Have you never been excited at the thought of a mini you, or a mini version of your future wife running around? Have you never been excited at the thought of being a father, doing fatherly things with your son, spoiling the shit out of your daughter like she is a princess?"
"We aren't in some fairytale or movie Lee, this is reality. Yes those things are exciting as fuck, but being a father comes with great responsibilities. It's not that I myself don't want a kid, but rather I'm scared to. What if I fail as a father?" He says with a frown.
This is getting a little too deep for my liking.
"I'm sure when time comes, you will figure it out. It's not like you are gonna be a father right now anyways," I say.
He checks the time before speaking, "Well I'll get going now, I wanna get abit of practice in before our game. You aren't coming?"
"No, not today. Plus I have a child to take care of. Where is your mom and sister?"
"Oh they are staying over at my uncle's for a few more days."
I nod and the room falls into awkward silence.
"So... I'm gonna go.. call me if you need anything," He says and walks out.
Just like that?
Damn.
Well, I have this whole house to myself for the next few hours soo.... movie time!
I smirk and run to the kitchen to make some popcorn.
Once I'm done, I grab the bowl along with a soda and run to the movie room.
I rarely ever get moments like these, moments when I'm free.
I love these moments.
***
Short chapter, still hope you liked it though. Let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments.
I hope you have a great rest of your day/night.
Bye! â¡