Whole Foods and Piedmont Park, Atlanta - 2013

“The new kid is Arin, but we call him ‘Kidday’. Because he will forever be like a kid to us.”

I chuckled, pushing off the trolley cart with Joanna sitting on its baby seat in front of me. Matt was browsing through the instant food aisle and he already picked up some beer cans earlier. We both wore hoodie and aviators as disguises, coincidentally in same dark blue color and that made us really look like a married couple with a daughter.

“Poor guy. He doesn’t mind you guys calling him that?”

“Nah. He knows he’s good. Whenever he plays drums, the ‘kid’ title just magically gone and replaced by a demon called Ilejay the Great Vikinghead or something. He picked that up from one of the games I played.”

“Ilejay? Hey, like my brother’s name, Arejay.”

“Yeah that’s his last name. Arin Ilejay.”



“Milk!” Joanna suddenly cooed, when she saw a can of baby formula on the aisle.

“You want this?” Matt pointed.

“No, Matt. Just ignore her.”

“Hey, I don’t mind. She’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Joanna giggled happily when Matt took one of the baby formulas that came with a free gift of a plushy giraffe beside it.

“Hey Joanna... Can you call me uncle Matt?”

Joanna blinked at him. He faced her eye to eye, his lips pouted and I wanted to just kiss the shit out of him. Slowly he took off his glasses and making a cross eye at Joanna. We both laughed aloud.

I was amazed at how he easily won at capturing Joanna’s heart. Before I knew it, Joanna was demanding to be carried by his muscular arms rather than mine.

“Wow, only spending a day with you and she becomes this spoiled.”

I crossed my arms, watching Joanna received her ice cream happily from Matt. He chuckled and walked away from the ice cream truck, hand in hand with that little brat.

“What can I say? I’m good with kids.”

“Yeah I can see that.”

He let Joanna sit on the bench with her ice cream as he scooted closer to me.

“Can’t you see that I’m good with you too?”




I dropped my jaw at his statement. We were sitting in a park with a big lake in the middle and the day was starting to get hotter as we’re close to mid-day.

“Are you really?”

“Yeah. Look at how I won you. I never had to make an effort.”

“Wow, you meant to say that I came to you voluntarily, leaving all my dignity and shame aside?”

I stood up, getting agitated all of a sudden. He pulled my hand back and forced me to land on his lap.

“I’m kidding! Do you know how hard it is to win you back? I had to endure watching you on TV, reading about you in magazine and tried not to think about our magical night together.”

I narrowed my eyes at him as he drew closer; his nose touched mine and bumped against each other. When he smiled and showed his dimple, I can’t help but grin too.

“You adorable asshole.”

He chuckled and took my lips before sucking on my upper lip gently for access. I was about to open my mouth when Joanna suddenly cried.

“What? What’s wrong sweetie?” Matt turned to her so fast that I actually think that he is the father.

“My ice cream…” she pointed sadly towards the ground and I noticed her dress got a little smudge too.

“Oh baby. Let’s get you another one.”

I let out a sigh. “Matt, you’re spoiling her too much. RJ’s gonna get confused when they’re back.”

“Nevermind, Lzzy. I already love this kid. I imagined she is mine.”

“What are you talking about? You already have a kid back at home.”

He laughed and picked Joanna up in his arms. “I’ve always wanted a daughter.”

Oh my.

~*.*~

We walked back to the bus with Joanna sleeping in his arms. We had to use a different route back because there were a bunch of people that recognized us and tried to chase us both. By the time we reached to the door of Avenged bus, Matt turned to me.

“Hey Lzzy.”

“Yeah?”

“I heard you want to do a duet with me, is that right?”

My eyes bulged as I took Joanna from him and felt my cheeks blushed from that question.

“Oh come on, no need to be shy. You already have me.”

“Fine. Yes. I want to do a duet with you. Happy?”

He laughed as I rolled my eyes. “I’m flattered. And haven’t I told you before that I love your voice? We should really do a collab one day.”

I smiled sheepishly and buried my nose in Joanna’s hair, hiding my embarrassed face.

“I’ll try and convince Larry someday. In the mean time,” he paused, leaning over and kissed me deeply. Damn I couldn’t get enough of this man. I opened my access and his tongue slid in, slowly and gently massaged mine as his calloused fingers rested on my cheek.

“Well well well. If it isn’t my cheating ex.”

We parted instantly and looked up to the now-opened bus door. Matt’s ex-wife was standing there, with her hand on her slender hips, throwing a disgusted look at me.

A painful dejavu rushed over me and a series of mean name callings started ringing in my ear.
“Val! What..what are you doing here?”

“Your son misses you. Plus, I came with Chelle. What is she doing here?”

I closed my eyes, hearing her tone. I don’t know why, no matter how strong I’ve become, she will always has the ability to cut me deep.

“Lzzy and I-”

“Oh God, Matt! You have a daughter behind my back?!”

Notes

A/N: sorry Kellin, i borrowed your daughter again :P

soo the link to 'Kidday' is actually an interview with Arin saying that the guys call him that for a nickname :)