Once Again

I silently grimaced as another sloppy stroke of polish coated my nails, gnawing my lip in hopes that this phase would soon pass.

"Hey Wren, they look great, but how about we use a different color? Maybe one a little more clear?"

Wren blew her hair out of her small face letting out a huff, as if that request was the stupidest thing she had heard in her five years of living.

"Daddy. Don't you want to look beautiful?" She questioned, stopping to cut her eyes at me through her curly lashes.

Gosh, she looked so much like her sometimes....

"Of course lovebug..."

"Well then stop complaining. And stop calling me that! I'm gonna be in real school soon, and I'm sure Jamie Grace's parents don't call her baby names." Her voice was so distraught that I couldn't help but smile.

"Only because Jamie Grace's parents gave her two first names." I mumbled under my breath, wincing as Wren set the brush back onto my finger.

The hall carpet creaked it's familiar tune as a soft falling set of footsteps padded down it, and a few seconds later, the door fell open.

"Hey guys, food is read-oh Harry..." Laila muffled her onslaught of giggles behind a professionally manicured hand as I scowled at her.

"Laila! Do you like it?" Wren asked, eyes anxious with a need for approval. The nail wand still hovered over my fingers, a slight drip slowly splattering to the back of my hand.

"Oh I love it Wren-y!! It looks fabulous! Brings out his eyes." Her oen eyes twinkled with utter amusement at my peril.

"Laila...." I whined under my breath, poking out my bottom lip a bit. She sent me a wink and walked over to Wren.

"Here pretty lady, how about you go downstairs and help Livi pick out a movie, and we can watch it while we eat dinner?"

"So we can eat dinner in the living room?" Wren shout-whispered up at Laila glancing over at me cautiously, knowing full well my feelings about eating in front of a screen.

"It'll be our little secret!"

Wren crashed towards the door, knocking the bottle over in her haste but not bothering to pick it up. I groaned as her footfalls retreated down the hall.

"Cotton candy pink, huh Harry? You struck me more as a sour apple green type guy." Laila chuckled, tucking a lock of hair into my "daddy bun".

"You laugh at my misery. Bitch." I joked, play-frowning. Laila's eyes went wide as she came over to sit on my lap.

"Uh-oh...language Mr. Styles. That's a dollar for the swear jar." She scolded, pressing a kiss to my ear.

"Whatever. But you are going to help me take this off, right?"

"What's in it for me?" Her voice went husky as she pressed herself closer into my chest, dropping her hand in my lap.

"You really wanna know Ms. Peterson?" I set my forehead against hers, silently praying the girls wouldn't come upstairs. Laila nodded, dangerous smile on her lip and mischievous gleam in her eye.

"Dinner and a movie with the most handsome man on the planet and two little angels!" I chuckled pulling us up into a standing position and offering her my arm.

"You're such an asshole Harry."

"Tsk tsk, ma'am. That's a dollar for the swear jar."

Notes