As Jade walked out the house, Beck opened his door getting out of his van to greet her as she walked off the porch.
Beck: Hey Jade.
Jade: Hi.
Beck rushed to the right side of his van opening the door for Jade.
Jade: You didn't have to do that.
Beck: My mother raised a gentleman.
Jade: Thanks.
Jade sat into the passenger seat, Beck closed the door after her. Jade felt nervous, she took a deep breath as Beck sat back in his seat putting on his seatbelt.
Beck: How have you been?
Jade: I've been, managing.
Beck smiled at Jade, he looked back to the toddlers strapped in their car seats.
Beck: Did you guys say hi to, your mommy?
Jade nervously looked back to the tots.
Beck: You guys have been talking about her since you woke up.
Jade showed a slight smile.
Jade: Hi.
The toddlers shyly waved to Jade.
Beck: I don't know why they're acting shy all of the sudden.
Jade turned around in her seat.
Jade: I don't know why I agreed to this.
Beck: They're just being shy, they'll open up.
Beck drove out of Jade's driveway, they were on their way to chuck e cheese. Jade felt awkward with Beck and even more awkward with the tots.
Cat: Daddy?
Beck looked at Cat from his rearview mirror.
Beck: What's wrong, sweetie?
Cat: Robbie's sleeping. Him's not oppose to sleep.
Beck: It's okay, he's just tired, that's all.
Cat: No, it's not okay.
Cat reached over to Robbie touching his hand.
Beck: Cat, don't wake him up.
Jade thought the drive to chuck e cheese took forever. She stayed silent as she listened to the kids and observed how they interacted with each other and Beck. After what seemed like a lifetime, they finally arrived to chuck e cheese. Jade reached out to open the door.
Beck: No, I got it.
Jade: You don't have to Beck.
Beck: It would be my pleasure.
Beck unbuckled his seatbelt getting out the van, he walked over to Jade's side opening her door. Jade stepped out the van, Beck closed her door.
Jade: Thanks.
Beck: You're welcome.
Beck slid opened the backseats door, he unbuckled Tori from her car seat.
Beck: Who's ready to have some fun?
Tori: Mee!
Trina: Me too daddy.
Beck took Tori from her car seat to outside of the van.
Beck: Go stand next to your mommy.
Tori: Okay, daddy.
Tori walked over to Jade, she grabbed her hand.
Tori: I oppose to hold your hand, okay?
Jade: Okay.
Tori: So that I no get hurt by a car.
Once inside, Beck got the toddlers all settled down at a booth.
Andre: Daddy, can I play that?
Tori: I want tickets.
Robbie: Daddy, the slide.
The tots all pointed to the different games and rides they enjoy playing.
Beck: Just a sec, I have to get you some tokens.
Cat: But can I play?
Beck: (chuckles) Yes, after I get your tokens and order our food.
Trina: I no hungry.
Beck: You will be soon.
Beck looked over to Jade sitting on the edge of the booth looking at her phone.
Beck: I'll be back.
Jade: Okay.
Robbie: Daddy where are you going?
Beck: I'm going to get some tokens, I won't be long.
Robbie: Can I go with you?
Beck: Stay here and wait for me.
Beck walked away leaving Jade alone with the curious tots. They sat watching the other kids run and play around. A few minutes passed and Jade wanted to break the awkward feeling.
Jade: Where did you get your bracelets?
The girls looked down at their bracelets on their wrists.
Trina: Aunt Jenny.
Cat: Her make these, do you like it?
Jade nodded her head.
Tori: I love Aunt Jenny, she's the bestest.
Jade: She is?
The toddlers all smiled as they nodded their heads.
Andre: She's my daddy's friend.
Robbie: Daddy's coming back, yay!
Beck returned to the booth with plastic cups filled with tokens, he passed a cup to each toddler.
Beck: What do you say?
Cat: Thank you.
Tori: Thanks daddy.
Andre: Thank you.
Robbie: I love you, daddy.
Trina: Thank you.
Beck: Very good manners, all of you.
Beck turned to Jade, she wasn't looking too excited, Beck thought she looked sad.
Beck: So want to split them up?
Jade looked up from her phone to Beck.
Jade: Huh?
Beck: You take two and I take three then we, switch.
Jade: Uh, yeah, sure. Great idea.
Beck: Tori and Andre, you go with mommy.
Tori: Okay, daddy.
Cat: Hey, what about me?
Beck: You're playing with me for now.
Cat: Let's play!
Cat jumped down from her seat to run off, Beck grabbed her arm stopping her.
Beck: I gave you the two easiest, you're welcome.
Once Beck was away with the other three tots, Jade walked around with Tori and Andre, they were looking for something to do.
Andre: This one, this one.
Tori and Andre ran to a car modeled ride. Jade walked after them, Andre tried climbing onto the ride.
Jade: Do you need help?
Andre nodded, Jade helped him and Tori onto the ride.
Andre: It needs money.
Tori: I got it.
Tori took out a token from her cup, she held it up showing Jade.
Tori: Do you know what this is?
Jade: It's a token.
Tori: Yep, it's money.
Andre: But you no buy things with it.
Tori: It goes in here, see?
Tori inserted the coin. Jade watched Tori and Andre as they giggled smiling hard, enjoying the ride, pretending to drive.
/ / / / / / / / / / / /
Later after chuck e cheese, Beck took them all out for ice cream at the park. The kids sat at the table eating their ice cream in a cup.
Beck: You sure you don't want any ice cream?
Beck licked his ice cream cone, Jade shook her head.
Robbie: It's yummy mommy.
Jade looked at Robbie and laughed, she hadn't laughed all day.
Jade: Yeah, I bet.
Jade took a napkin and wiped Robbie's face.
Trina: Mommy, are you hurt?
Beck: Sweetheart, we talked about this-
Jade: It's okay Beck.
The tots all looked up to Jade waiting for her answer.
Jade: No, I'm not hurt anymore.
Trina: Oh, okay.
Tori: All better?
Jade: Yeah, all better.
Jade's cell phone alerted, she picked it up looking at the text, she sighed. Beck knew it was Zeek texting her.
Beck: You guys look finished.
Tori: Can I have more?
Beck: I'm sorry sweetie but no, it's getting late.
Andre: It's no getting late.
Beck: Want to go play on the slide?
Beck pointed to the play set close by, it was empty.
Cat: Yes!
Beck: Go ahead.
The toddlers all raced to the play set climbing on the slide. Beck kept his eyes on them as he spoke with Jade.
Beck: I don't know why you're still with that jerk.
Jade: Don't start with me, Beck.
Beck: I'm just looking out for you, Jade.
Jade: There is no need, this is my life.
Beck: Yeah, and your life has a huge impact on our kids.
Jade: This is why I didn't want to come. You're always bringing up my problems.
Beck: Jade I-
Jade: I didn't agree to come to listen to you, I came to see how my kids were doing.
Beck: Sorry.
Jade: I got Zeek pissed off because I've been gone so long and you're sitting here trying to lecture me.
Beck: I wasn't.
Jade: Let's just focus on our kids, nothing else.
Beck and Jade stayed silent, Jade was texting Zeek.
Beck: What do you see in him?
Jade: (sighs) Do you see me worried about your girlfriend?
Beck looked over to Jade confused.
Beck: I don't have a girlfriend.
Jade: Then who's Aunt Jenny the kids keep blabbering about?
Beck: Jenny? My friend, your old best friend.
Jade thought for a moment.
Jade: So, you're the reason she stopped by before.
Beck: She begged me to see you, she told me it didn't go so well.
Jade: She's the past. I moved on.
Beck: Well, the kids love her, she's great with them.
Jade: I don't care.
Robbie and Cat ran over to their parents.
Robbie: Can you play with us?
Cat: Please?
Beck: Of course I'll play with you, Jade?
Cat grabbed Jade's hand pulling her up. Jade displayed a fake smile.
Jade: Sure.
/ / / / / / / / / / / /
Beck pulled into Jade's driveway. It was late, the toddlers fell asleep, Jade and Beck were tired.
Beck: Thanks for coming with us today.
Jade: Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Jade unbuckled her seatbelt looking ahead at her house.
Beck: I'll get your door for-
Jade: No, don't do that.
Beck looked ahead to the house noticing what Jade was staring at. They could see Zeek's tall shadow in the window.
Jade: I have to go and deal with this mess.
Beck: How mad do you think he is?
Jade: (sighs) Take good care of them.
Jade opened her door to get out.
Beck: Bye, Jade.
Jade: See you later, Beck.
Jade stood out of the van, she looked inside.
Jade: That was just an expression.
Jade closed her door making her way to the house. Beck watched as Jade unlocked her door walking inside before he drove off.
/ / / / / / / / / / /
A few hours later, Beck found himself sitting in his van in Jade's driveway. It was passed eleven at night, the tots were home sleep with Beck's mother.
Beck: I have to make sure she's okay.
Beck found the courage to exit his van, he walked to and up on Jade's porch knocking on the door. Jade opened it, she looked confused.
Jade: What are you doing here?
Beck: Is he here? Zeek?
Jade: No, what do you-
Beck pushed passed Jade walking into the house.
Jade: What are you doing?
Beck: Close the door, we have to talk.
Jade: About-
Beck: Just close it, please?
Jade closed her door shut, when she turned around she was attacked by Beck's mouth. He pressed her against the door kissing her.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / /
Thanks for reading, more to come.
Next chapter is the final chapter.