only then I locked eyes with the man across the room.
Dr. Pierce.
Was he the one I sensed staring at me?
With the way his eyes were solely fixated on my body, it had to be him. There was this predatory regard in his demeanor as he unceasingly stared at me. Oblivious to everyone, it felt like we were the only two people in the room with a look like his.
Suddenly, music erupted from all around us. Kelis’ “Milkshake” song bumped wildly through the speakers, and I heard Journey yell, “Da!” from the floor by the couch, where she was playing with the other babies.
Everyone’s stares darted to her, including Aiden’s. Who was so blown away from her calling him Da for the first time.
Seconds later, she pulled herself up on the coffee table in front of her, bouncing, excited to see her daddy.
It was one of those moments where you knew something monumental was about to happen. All eyes were on Journey, waiting for her to take her first steps. Camera phones shot out, people were just waiting to snap picture after picture. Recording videos to capture the moment.
Wanting to treasure this memory forever. Possibly show her future husband and kids one day.
The beat of the music kicked up through the speakers as Journey took her first step, and I held my breath while everyone in the room began cheering, “Go, Journey, go! You can do it! Go, baby, go!”
Oh, God… don’t encourage her.
I knew my girl.
And my girl was about to drop it like it’s hot in her baby sort of way.
Choosing this very second to show everyone she had rhythm and skills. She was just waiting for the perfect beat like I taught her.
The chorus began, Kelis started singing how her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and Journey took two more steps, shimmying her shoulders. Almost falling over.
Oh man…
Once she got to the edge of the table, she let go and took off. Walking toward Aiden like a drunk sailor, except midway when the harmony kicked up again, she leaned forward and right on cue, bounced her booty in the air.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. She looked a hot mess, but you could get the picture of what she was trying to mimic me showing her for months.
Oh shit…
The room fell into a fit of laughter, except my boss. Who was now glaring at me in a much different way than he had a few moments ago.
“I… I… I… have no idea where she learned that.”
Journey didn’t pay attention to anyone or anything other than the music she was feeling deep in her bones. She kept losing her balance, on the verge of tumbling down but that didn’t stop my girl from popping, locking, and dropping.
Oh, God… I’m so fired.
Again.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did.
She did this twist thing with her arms, that made her fall. Except she didn’t let it deter her from showing off her skills. She just bounced her booty on the ground, her big diapered butt moving in every direction.
My hand instantly flew over my mouth, holding in the laughter that wanted to explode out of my chest.
“Da! Ma!” she excitingly exclaimed, making sure we were looking at her moment of glory. Recognizing that the song was coming to an end and so was my job.
The music changed over to Maluma’s “El Clavo” and the crowd started clapping.
Well, at least they found it entertaining. Maybe that will score me some points from the shit list I’m on…
Journey stood up, walking over to her daddy again. The instant panic in Aiden’s eyes tore into my heart and without thinking, I rushed over and picked her up. Spinning her in my arms to the rhythm of the beat, we started dancing. Playing it off like that didn’t just happen.
For Journey.
But mostly, for Aiden too.
No one noticed the internal conflict he was battling, but I felt it in every fiber of my being. Experiencing it with him. Journey might have been what started his turmoil, however it was me that derailed his struggle. He was fighting our connection, it was evident on his handsome face.
Yeah, me too, buddy.
We locked eyes, and for a split second, I saw something familiar in his bright blue stare. A raw, agonizing burn.
A pain.
He wanted to smile, be with his friends, his family, his daughter in that moment, but he wouldn’t allow the longing to take control. His vulnerability radiated off of him,