Ruby
Everley didn't sleep. She was watching television with me at this hour.
When Vexon appeared from the washroom, we didn't even look at him. We were busy watching cartoons. I could feel the bed dip as Vexon sat beside Everley, who was in the middle of us.
"What is the name of this pink talking pig?" he asked, hoping Everley would answer.
I knew he felt bad about what had happened before. He might be angry with everyone, but there was no reason for him to yell at an innocent child.
Everley pouted her lips, crossing her arms against her chest, not uttering a word that made me chuckle.
Did I somehow have a daughter and I never knew?
She was giving him the silent treatment, the same way I used to give to everyone when I was angry.
"Ev, I am sorry," Vexon let out.
Everley looked at him. He was holding his ears, smiling softly. It felt like this was the first time he had smiled in six long months.
"No," Everley said sternly.
Vexon wouldn't stop holding his ears. God, he looks so cute.
"Please," he tried to reason.
"No, no. You angry me."
I laughed slightly and corrected her, "It's 'yelled at.'"
"You yelled at me," Everley mumbled.
"Okay. I know, and I am very sorry. Tell me how I can fix this," Vexon urged.
Everley thought for a while, putting her index finger on her chin. "Mom, should I forgive him?"
I didn't expect her to ask me.
"Maybe��" I started, but before I could answer, Vexon cleared his throat. I knew what he wanted to say. Instantly, an idea popped in my mind. "Yes. But make him do something. I mean, you wanted to feed him before, which he rejected. How about you do it now?" I suggested.
In that way, he can have his dinner.
"You are right. Let me bring food." Everley jumped out of the bed in excitement.
Vexon narrowed his eyes at me while my lips curved into a smile.
"I know what you're doing. Today, I am doing it for Ev. Don't think it will be repeated," he threatened. I rolled my eyes and continued watching Peppa Pig, until he said, "What shit is this pink pig talking about?"
My eyes grew wider. "How dare you call it shit? It teaches you valuable lessons!"
Vexon took out his phone and started doing something, making himself comfortable on the bed. "All it does is talk nonsense; like you."
I looked at him in horror. "Did you just call me a talking pig?"
Vexon shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't say that."
"But you didn't deny either!" I exclaimed, but he just avoided me and started texting someone.
Getting annoyed, I snatched his phone.
"Hey, what the fuck? Give me my phone back!" Vexon tried to reach for his phone but I jumped out of the bed, running away with it clutched in my hand.
"I won't! You have to apologize first. Say that I am the most beautiful woman you have ever seen," I shouted, sprinting towards the garden.
"This is stupid," he called and continued to follow me.
"Just say what I told you to and I will give it back. I��" I stopped talking when his phone vibrated.
Usually, I didn't read other people's texts, but the name I saw made me want to check it.
Catherine:
Vex baby, r u free 2morrow night?
I felt like something had squeezed the life out of me. Catherine��the woman who was always after my husband was texting him. When I scrolled up, I saw that they had been talking for a while.
Was Vexon sleeping with Catherine? How can a person change so much?
"Ruby, give m��" he started to plead, but I immediately handed him the phone. Vexon looked at me for a brief moment, before looking at the phone.
"Your Catherine texted you," I said as jealousy clutched my chest. The thought of him with another woman was eating me alive.
I wanted to shoot this stupid ugly woman who thought she could steal my husband away from me. I wanted Vexon to explain it to me��to assure me that nothing was going on. I hoped he would not text her back.
But he did.
His fingers were typing the answer so fast. I wanted to peek at his screen and see who he was replying to. I just hope he had told her something along the lines of 'No.'
Against my hopes, Vexon didn't give me any explanation. He put the phone back in his pocket and my grey orbs met his blue ones.
"Come here, both of you. My feet don't like stairs!" Everley yelled from the railing of the balcony.
"Careful. You might fall," I warned her.
Vexon and I started walking back towards the house, our fingers brushing against each other for only a moment.
Instantly, he pulled his hand away, which made me smile. I still had an effect on him. Even his so-called hatred wouldn't be able to mask it.
"Even if the stars are angry with us, they still illuminate our hearts," I mumbled.
"But there are always nights when the sky remains dark. Not a single star is present because their illumination can only go so far," Vexon replied, in a cold voice.
Sadness engulfed me hearing his reply. He was not optimistic anymore. I couldn't say anything further.
"You both take forever," Everley complained once we arrived back at our bedroom. Vexon picked her up and held her in his arms, my eyes falling on the scar on his left hand��the one he got that night.
He noticed me looking at the scar, but neither of us said anything.
"I brought pancakes. Maya made it just now after I told her," Everley said as she and Vexon sat on the couch. Then Everley started feeding him with her tiny hands. Vexon gladly finished it.
I was pleased. At least he was finally eating properly.
I hope he's not sleeping with Catherine.
Stop thinking about it, Ruby!
What if he is?
"I want to sleep with both of you," Everley's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"No, Ev. I��" Vexon couldn't continue further when he saw her giving a puppy face.
Who could deny that cute face? Plus, knowing Vexon, he wouldn't take the risk of upsetting her again.
"Alright," he agreed.
We prepared the bed together. Vexon and Everley shared a lot of happy moments. He was playing with her. It was just like the day we first slept with Everley.
I just loved watching them together. If we had kids, Vexon would be such a great father, I thought to myself. But there's no chance with this Vexon. If I can bring him back, maybe there is a slight chance.
It was all my fault. I screwed everyone's life.
One gunshot��it took just one pull of a trigger to destroy plenty of lives, and I was the one responsible.
God gave me a second chance, though, and I would try to set things right.
"I haven't slept next to anyone in a while, Ev. I've had to sleep alone for six months straight," Vexon said from the bed.
Did I hear that right?
Vexon hadn't slept with anyone, which included Catherine. A gush of relief washed away the doubt in my chest. Happily, I stepped out of my bunny-slippers and laid on the bed next to Everley, who was in the middle of I and Vexon. Everley held both of our hands and closed her eyes.
Vexon and I exchanged a glimpse and then sleep overtook me.
