Chapter 224 Chapter 224
“And what would that be?” Maxwell wanted to know, always cautious when it came to that idiot Xander. While he had developed some manners after meeting his current girlfriend, Hana, he was still too much of a child to babysit Eric.
“I want to see the kangaroos in Australia, and last time he said he could take me there. Kangaroos are so awesome. They got pouches where they keep their stuff,” he gushed.
“Xander can show you a kangaroo, but only if one of us accompanies you, alright?” Maxwell compromised. He wouldn’t put it past Xander to make detours through ten other countries. Someone needed to keep an eye on him…
“Yes,” Eric yelled. “Xander is so cool. And Lillie, too. He burned Vaughn’s food last time I met them. It was sooo funny.” The young half-demon got so excited his voice cracked, and the area around his body flickered with light.
“Sounds like Shawn, yes,” Valerie cringed. “At least you had fun, honey.”
\---
After dinner, they washed the dishes before they moved on to the living room. They wanted to watch a movie together before Eric had to go to bed. He had been looking forward to it since breakfast when Maxwell had brought it up. Therefore, it was no surprise that he was the first one to sit on the sofa, impatiently waiting for his parents to join him.
“Hurry,” he called, calming down when Valerie sat on the sofa with him, placing three glasses on the coffee table. Maxwell followed her, carrying a bottle of soda in his hand.
However, he opened the bottle too fast and sprayed a large area of the floor with the sugary beverage. His eyes darkened in annoyance, and a curse fell from his lips before he could hold it in.
“Fuck this, I’m going to…"
“Maxwell,” Valerie said sweetly, but her eyes were murderous. She got up and put her hands on her hips. “What did you just say?”
He turned into a statue and paled. “Nothing?”
“Are you sure? It didn’t sound like anything. I told you a hundred times not to swear in front of our so,” she exploded.
Maxwell bit his bottom lip and crossed his arms. “So what, it happens,” he mumbled.
“You’ll do the laundry today,” she decided. “Maybe then you’ll finally remember not to use bad words anymore.”
“What? No. Doing the laundry sucks,” he whined.
“Of course it does, but someone has to do it, and this time it’s your turn.”
“Valerie,” he complained. “Come on.”
“No,” she countered, remaining firm. “I don’t want our son to pick up any bad habits from his dad. You have to be a good role model.”
“But I am,” he said. “Nobody is a better dad than me.”
Valerie wanted to open her mouth and say something, but Eric caught her attention, having left his spot on the sofa to tug at her shirt. “Mommy?” he said and gazed at her with round blue eyes.
“Hm?” she answered.
“Don’t be mad at daddy, okay?”
“Yes, don’t be mad at daddy,” Maxwell echoed, sounding highly amused by his son’s words. And Valerie couldn’t hold back a smile either.
“Don’t worry, I’m not mad,” she said.
“Alright,” Eric nodded. “Can we watch the movie now?”
“We will after your dad has cleaned the mess on the ground,” she said. Maxwell was already on his way to get a cleaning rag. In the meantime, Valerie took Eric’s hand and returned to the sofa with him. While she picked up the remote and chose the movie he wanted to watch, he cuddled up to her and hugged her, prompting her to chuckle. Mochi also saw his chance and jumped on the sofa to get comfortable on her lap. The small light demon curled himself into a ball and began to purr when she brushed her fingers through his glowing fur.
By the time Maxwell returned to clean up the mess he had made, everyone else was ready to watch the movie. He sighed and cleaned the puddle on the ground before he joined them. Or at least, that’s what he planned on doing, but there wasn’t exactly much room left for him. His disdainful glare hit Mochi.
“Move over, cat,” he hissed and growled warningly when Mochi didn’t move an inch from Valerie’s lap.
“Maxwell?” she said, arching an eyebrow at his jealous pout.
“The cat is in the way,” he growled.
“Leave Mochi be and sit down. Bad demons don’t get strawberry cakes, remember?” she said nonchalantly and took a sip of her soda. He smirked—that old trick didn’t work on him anymore.
“But I’ve been good… last night,” he countered, making her choke on her soda. “You said so yourself.”
The smugness he exuded was exasperating, but she was too busy coughing to retort anything. When she was done, she glanced at his face, finding a mix between adoration and amusement shining in his stunning blue eyes.
“You just never shut up, do you?” she sighed, a smile curling her lips.
“Mom, what is he talking about?” Eric asked and pulled at her sleeve.
“Um… well…” she mumbled, awkwardly fidgeting around, but Maxwell already had the perfect answer.
“I sang a lullaby for your mommy last night,” Maxwell explained. “She fell asleep afterward.”
“Right,” she stuttered when he winked at her. That damn demon—he couldn’t stop teasing her, no matter the situation. Thankfully, their son was blissfully unaware of it. He continued munching his popcorn and impatiently waited for the movie to start.
“Come here, Maxwell,” she said and patted the space next to her on the sofa.
He sat down, making it a point to glare daggers at Mochi, who wasn’t bothered at all as long as Valerie was there. She found the scene amusing but didn’t comment on it because she knew that Maxwell would only end up making a fuss. He got jealous too easily.
When they were all comfortable, she finally started the movie—Eric had picked Finding Nemo, and he excitedly watched the tv screen as it began. She smiled upon noticing a cute glimmer in his eyes.
Valerie cherished moments like this the most. With her son huddled against her left side and the love of her life at her right, she was in bliss. Maxwell hugged her stomach and put his head on her shoulder, once again more interested in her than in the movie.
A permanent smile spread over her face when he whispered a low, “I love you” in her ear. The happiness that bloomed within her heart was the only answer he needed in order to know that she felt the same. After all, they shared a very special bond, one that would last for eternity.
End