Page 80 of Forever

“A full-blown party.”

“Think what you want.” He gets up from the bed and starts walking out.

Following behind him, I ask, “What has gotten into you? You’ve changed so much.”

He turns back around and his brows rise. “Why are you making such a big deal about me going out?”

My heart sinks. We grow further apart every single day,and each time I bring it up, he acts like nothing is happening. Either he’s in denial or he doesn’t give a shit.

“Don’t you think I want to go out? I need a break, too.”

“I’ll go out tonight, and you can go out tomorrow.”

“And you’ll watch Amari?”

“Yeah. Who else will?” he says, walking out the door.

I stand frozen in place, surprised by this. It never crossed my mind that he would ever consider that. I know he’s her dad, but lately, he seems so disconnected from the both of us. Sometimes I wonder if he even realizes he still has a girlfriend and a baby.

Me: Wat r u doing 2morrow?

Paige: Idk yet. Why?

Me: Let’s go out

Paige: Don’t u have a baby 2 care for?

Me: Kai is watching her. He’s going out 2nite nd I’m going out 2morrow.

Paige: Yessss!!

“What areyou guys going to do?” Kai asks as he rocks Amari.

“I’m not sure yet.” I coat my lashes with mascara.

“Are you guys going to a party?”

I dip my finger in my concealer and run it over my lips. “I don’t know, Kai. It will be nice to have a night for myself regardless of what we do.”

Amari has consumed my life for the past couple of months. I love her to death, but it’s been hard. Especially never having help and always being with her around the clock.

I get a text that Paige is here. I look at myself one more time in the mirror. Since we don’t have a full-length mirror, the bathroom mirror that only shows half of me will do. I’m wearing a new outfit tonight. Since having Amari, I had to get some new clothes because my pre-pregnancy clothes don’t fit anymore. I put on my first pair of skinny jeans for tonight, and I’m not sure how I feel about them yet. I’ve paired my navy-blue Hollister shirt with a white tank top underneath, and I think I look pretty decent.

I enter the living room and lean over and kiss Amari on the cheek. “I’ll be back later.” Kai rolls his eyes at me. “What?” I ask, my mood quickly souring.

“I don’t think you should go out.”

“Why?”

“You just had a baby…”

“And? You go out all the time. This is the first time I’m going out in months.” Before I step out the door, I turn back around. “You even said that you'd watch her so I could go out.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you would actually leave her.”

I glare at him. “She’s with herdad. You act like I’m abandoning her.”

“I’m just saying.” He rocks Amari in his arms while sitting on the couch.