But Who's Counting?

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Sophia said she really wants birthday cake ice cream and then Oreos for tomorrow. Pretty please go get it." Maya had climbed behind me on top of my pillows placing her knee against the top of my head before bending down to look at me upside down. Her curls fell at my chin as she said Sophia's current cravings.

I nodded as Maya put a bright smile on her face. "You'll get it?" She asked, before placing a kiss on my cheek. She rolled to the side, getting ready to get off the bed.

"Oh! Also, she wants some of the minute juice with the mango on the front. Or the one with a peach." She added before flashing me a toothy grin and leaving. I swung my legs to the end of my bed, getting ready to pull on a hoodie and hurry up to go get the snacks that were requested. 

Sophia has been eating avocados like crazy. I bought 20 avocados Monday and they are gone already. Today is Wednesday. She made avocado fries, avocado slices, she smashed them up and ate it with potato chips. I even caught her with a whole peeled one biting into it like a apple. Now she has Maya wanting to go an an all avocado diet just because she sees that that's the only thing Sophia will eat. She has only been eating avocados and vanilla bean ice cream with this weird topping that comes out the bottle a liquid but hardens once it is out over the ice cream. Every time I go to target, they all look at me with small frowns (knowing I have a pregnant woman with me currently) before scanning the same items I've bought every two days for the last month. I should just get a fridge to put in her room so that it can be filled with her cravings but I'm afraid she'll go through that even quicker.

I slip into some shoes and put my phone in my hoodie pocket. I grabbed my wallet, placing it in my back pocket and grabbed my car keys. I walked out of my room, peeking over the balcony seeing both Sophia and Maya sitting on the couch on their phones while Shrek played on the TV. I walked down the stairs, wanting to get Sophia's current craving and get back into bed as soon as posible.

"Wait, you're going to the store?" Sophia asked aloud as I opened the door that led to the hall. I furrowed my brows before nodding, pressing me hand into my front pocket against my phone. Sophia and I still weren't really talking so I was afraid to say anything that might set her off again.

"Can you get me some more vanilla bean ice cream and cheezits? Please." She said politely and I nodded before speaking. "So, Oreos, birthday cake Ice cream, vanilla bean ice cream, cheezits, and juice cartons? Correct?" I asked. She looked confused before shrugging and nodding her head. I nodded before saying a quick bye and opening the door. I opened it and turned around to close it, hearing 'the snack mix!' From Sophia before doing so. I walked to the elevator and pressing my hand against the button. The door opened shortly and I quietly whined about my head. I stopped momentarily and pressed the button for the garage.

As the elevator fell beneath me, I leaned against the wall with my eyes closed. My head has been killing me since last night and I went to work and bared with it but now it was getting to be too much. I could feel it behind my eyes and my ears were constantly ringing. I didn't want Sophia nor Maya to worry about me so I just went straight to my room and tried to go to sleep. After a couple hours, I woke up restless and now  I am on the way to my car to help one of the most important girls in my life.

I threw open that door to my car, buckling my seatbelt and rushing towards target.

I arrived six minutes later. There was no traffic and I only saw one car out on the streets. That means that there's either a really big party somewhere or really bad traffic else where.

Once inside the store, I grabbed two bottles of Tylenol and threw them inside the cart. I then went to get the Oreos first. I grabbed two packs because I know she will go through this in two days. I should probably get two of everything now that I think about it. I was already planning on getting 10 juices since they are usually on sale, 10 for 10. While I'm in the Oreo aisle, I grab the snack mix cheezits that Sophia requested as well. I threw it in the cart before grabbing another box and doing the same thing.

I went to the cold foods aisle, grabbing ten random juices and tossing them in the cart before going to the opposite freezer and grabbing ice cream. I got the flavors that Sophia requested, even though I found it weird that she requested two different ice cream flavors. Last time she had birthday cake ice cream was when we had a little to celebrate her making it into the third trimester but she ended up throwing it all up. Maya, on the other hand, I was afraid she would throw up because of the amount she ate of it. I personally don't like any ice cream flavors except caramel core.

I found myself staring at a random baby that stood in front of me with his father. They were picking out ice pops while the baby was strapped to the father's chest. He bounced from foot to foot, calming the baby. Would I be this way? I didn't really have enough time with Maya as a baby. I was on the way to becoming one of the top CEO's and the last thing I had time to do was watch a baby who could have easily been with her mother. Maya stayed with my grandma a lot until I was actually successful enough to buy us our own place without the help of my family.

I forced myself to pull my eyes away before looking over at toddler this time. He had braids in his hair with light skin. He was a skinny version of Sebastian. He was laughing but running up and down the aisle.

A smile racked my face before I turned and left the aisle. I'm a great dad.

Right?

I mean, I try to listen to Maya when she's upset versus getting mad at her or disciplining her. I make her earn everything she wants. She eats very healthy but she can only have junk snacks three times a week. Most of the time she chooses to have ice cream whenever we watch America's Got Talent or whatever she find on Netflix at night. Lately, she has been trying to eat my Sophia. She really looked up to Sophia as if she was her mother. Occasionally, she accidentally calls her Mommy — I find it adorable. I know the first time it had to scare Sophia, but I think she likes it now. We aren't together officially though, even though I've technically thought of her as my girlfriend the moment I allowed myself to jerk my seed inside of her. She was originally only here because she is pregnant with our kids. The infatuation I had held over her hadnt disappeared, it was obvious like hers to me became. She asks so many questions, I always try to just dodge them because she gets so worked up about little things. She's very opinionated. But I love that about her. Whenever I say something, in order to invoke her, she will automatically retaliate as if she had been giving a week to study for this debate. We argued over which was better, Wawa or 7/11. Obviously, I saw 7/11 but Sophia says Wawa because it's 'more spacious' or whatever.

I hope I don't f**k things up anymore with Sophia than I already have. She lives in the same house as me and thinks I haven't noticed that she's been slightly avoiding me since the whole Crissy thing. Today was the first time I've even heard her speak towards me, really. I found my way back to the registers, placing the items on the conveyor belt before pulling out my card. The cashier swiped all the items, placing them in the bag and going to the next one. My eyes wandered the store before it ended up on a very blurry picture but very-obviously-pregnant person that clearly wasn't Sophia.  It she was with I. I picked up the magazine, reading the headline: 'Alexander Parker dating pregnant woman?!'

I snatched the magazine, opening the table on contents before turning to the middle of the book. I briefly scanned the first page.

'Alexander Parker, one of America's top CEO's, was caught hugging this pregnant mystery woman. Although we aren't completely sure who she is, there is speculation that this is Daniella Creadl: the daughter of Daniel and Lillian Creadl. Even though she is the daughter of his competing company, the two seem to be awfully close.  Who knows! Maybe, this is a publicity stunt or it's the real deal! We can't imagine him actually saying his rival company but hey! Who knows! This is also who people have thought was Parker's baby mama for his toddler Amaya. That would make Creadl 16 at the time of birth, but nothing's impossible! Is this the re-'

"Excuse me." I tossed the magazine back on the shelf before passing the lady my card. She rolled her eyes before swiping and passing me my card back.

I'm glad that it was just Daniella but at the same time, the last time I even saw her was last year — before she gave birth to her son, Elliot. The magazine company's will do anything just to get people to buy their s**t.

I grabbed the groceries, putting two bags in each hand. 

-

I found my way to my car, quickly throwing the bags in the back. Sliding into the drivers seat, I grabbed my phone just in time to feel it vibrating. Sitting in the car, I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hey! Alex! Just to confirm, you're coming to dinner this week? Right?" My moms cheery voice rang. I shut my eyes, instantly wishing I hadn't answered.

"Yes, Mom. Actually, I don't know. Maybe not. It depends on if Sophia feels up to it. We just saw you last week." I said, starting my car and the Bluetooth automatically transferred the call from my phone to the car. I pulled out the parking lot while listening to my mother ramble.

"— Also! I almost forgot to tell you, your dad is deployed again. A whole year this time. He wanted to say bye before he left but, they called him in today so they could get out ahead of this storm. Plus, you never answer your phone. You should try to answer it more often. Someone could be dying. Don't 'we just saw you last week' me! I'm the reason that girl even admitted her feelings for you, Alexander Makai!" She continued. I rolled my eyes as she began to yell at a sibling in the background.

I quickly made it back to my place, without having to speak a word since my mother did all the talking. I switched the call back to my phone before grabbing all the stuff out the back.

"Mom, I'll call you later. I have to take the groceries inside." I said, my ear against my shoulder. I closed the door, walking up the stairs and into the building before hearing my moms voice.

Again.

"Where's Maya?" She asked, a nervous tone to her voice.

"At home..."

"By herself? You went grocery shopping without her? Who is she with?"

"Sophia. She's with Sophia."

"Okay. Call me later. I love you baby boy."

"Love you too, Mom."

She hung up this time. I ran to the elevator, wanting to hop right back in bed. I impatiently pressed the button before watching the doors slide open.

As soon as I get home I'm taking another Tylenol and some Benadryl so hopefully I fall asleep in no time. Hopefully, Maya will go sleep in her bed. Sophia needs to sleep, she's been restless these last couple nights. All I can hear is her moving in bed or her heavy sighing which makes me want to stay up to make sure she's okay. I'll just throw these groceries into the correct area, give Maya and Sophia a Benadryl and take one myself. We will all be sleep in no time.

I opened the front door, instantly being greeted by Maya. She smiled widely before taking a bag out my hands. She ran into the kitchen with it.

I was left with the last three bags and a smiling Sophia. She was smiling down at her phone, in the same exact position I left her in.

"What are we smiling about?" I joked, putting a smile on my face as I crossed the living room and entered the kitchen. I put the grocery bags onto the counter before listening to what Sophia was saying.

"My brother is annoying!" She said, a chirpy tone to her voice. I turned around seeing Sophia's form walking towards me. She began to unpack the pages alongside of me. Maya already put away the juices so we had ice cream, cheezits, and cookies left.

"Ew." I heard Sophia say, pulling out birthday cake ice cream. She said it quietly, but it was loud enough for me to hear and become confused.

Didn't she want that?

"Daddy, you have a headache?"

My head snapped towards Sophia... what did she just call me? I furrowed my brows before watching her. She was staring down at the next bag, unpacking it as if she didn't just call me Daddy.

"Daddy!" Maya's voice rang. That seemed to snap me out of the trance because I then realized that Maya was standing on the other side on Sophia, my brain confusing the voices.

"Yes, kiddo. I have a headache."

"Then why the hell are you up? Go lay down. Pass me that medicine, Maya. Please." Sophia said, almost in a upset tone. I raised my eyebrows, stepping back some as she passed me the Tylenol.

"I was going to the store for you."

"I don't need you to go to the store for me. I appreciate it but please go lay down. You're only gonna make it worse." She said. She balled up all the bags and bent down to put them away. Maya stared at me before looking at Sophia worriedly.

"Alexander! Go to bed! Matter of fact, cmon." Sophia says, grabbing my wrist and pulling me behind her. Her hips swung slightly as she pulled towards the stairs. My trained my eyes to stare at the back of her head rather than her... ass. I could hear her muttering to herself about how hardheaded and stubborn I was. She jerked Be suddenly, catching me totally off guard and causing me to nearly trip up the step. I frowned as she let out a snicker as she reached the last step. I was right behind her as she began to pull me to my bedroom.

She pushed opened the door, leaving me at it. She  pulled back the covers and hit the pillow a couple of times before turning around to look at me with her hand on her hip. She gestured towards the bed, having me slug towards it.

"Wait!" She said, turning around. She rummaged through the pile of clothes that sat on the bench that I had yet to put away before throwing a pair of shorts at me.

"Put these on. Don't get in bed with outside clothes." She said, looking pointedly at me. We stared at each other for a second before she spoke again.

"Hurry up and change.. Do you want me to turn around? Not like I haven't seen it before." She joked while looking the opposite direction. I shrugged off the pants and put the new shorts on and throwing my shirt onto Sophia's head. She turned around, a slight smile on her face but she rolled her eyes. She then came to push me into bed. Once I was on, she swung my legs up and put the cover over me. She pressed her lips against my head as if she were my mother before going to turn around. I caught her wrist just in time.

She turned back towards me, a frown evident on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Can you lay with me?" I asked, licking my lips and partially closing my eyes. I could feel her expressions soften as I did so. I pulled her arm, causing her to come sit down on the bed next to me. I flipped the cover so that it was over her lap and continued to pull her next to me.

"Only till you fall asleep."

That's what they all say but okay.

"I cuddled with you when you were sick."

I rolled over and had Sophia take my previous spot. She faced the door, not even looking at me but I was fine. I draped a arm and leg over her before feeling my eyelids get heavier and heavier.

Eventually, Sophia's breathing evened out and Maya came to join us. And there, we slept like one small happy family.