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After rapping ainst the door twice, it’s pulled open and Ella stands on the other side

“Hey Mo to show up”

She steps back froht, but I already smell her My jaw hardens, and I try not to breathe in, but I have to because I need fucking air

“You okay?” Ella asks, co to stand beside me

“Yes,” I grit

My eyes roa room Dad sits on the couch with Vicki, and they bicker back and forth about the basketball ga just outside the kitchen doorway, and when he spots er flares in his eyes Yeah, he doesn’t want h He can take that shit up with Mom

Aria’s head peeks around the kitchen doorway, and her reception ofas she yells my name and runs toward me I bend down and scoop her up It’s been days since I’ve seen her, and I’ve missed her She throws her arms around my neck and squeezes as hard as she can

“Hey, boo How ya been?”

She pulls back and gives ood, Uncle Luca, but I’vecute

“Miss you too Maybe one night you can coain”

“Yes!” she yells, daain “Daddy! Can I stay with Uncle Luca one night?”

Theo’s eyes meet mine, and I see the indecision It pisses irl like she’spunish a child for them

After a minute, he relents “Yes We’ll talk later about it”

Aria jabbers on excitedly about school stuff and about a play she’s going to be part of I listen to her chatter and laugh when she tells round

“It wasn’t funny” Her lip sticks out “He almost touched me with it”