𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐎 𝐖𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 ⚠︎︎ 𝐉. 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑

chapter two

A few kisses were pressed to her cheek, then to her jaw and slowly down her neck, "Quit it with the fuckin' teasing." A small mumble of appreciation left her lips, "You're one to talk." Thalia's eyes shut at the feeling of him touching her, it was something she couldn't help but enjoy.

Mornings like this were rare, most times Joel would already be up and gone for work, leaving just Thalia and Sarah to cook breakfast and send her off to school. So when opportunities like this arose, the happy couple took it without a doubt.

Before things could be taken any farther a harsh knock hit the door, "Are you both decent?" Deep blushes spread across their faces as they scrambled from bed, rushing to drawers, "No! Just one minute!"

Thalia ran to her dresser, pulling out a random tank top and shorts. Joel shrugged on a pair of jeans, throwing a dark wash t-shirt over his head. He was groaning at all the exertion, "You're only 35 Joel."

"Says the 26 year old. Still young, mobile, all that shit." She chuckled, "Barely. Back still hurts like a bitch." He laughed and finished freshening up, he checked to be sure Thalia was dressed and saw that she was and brushing through her hair.

Joel opened the door to find his daughter standing on the other side, a disgusted expression painted across her face, "Gross."

"We weren't- there was nothing..." His wife gave a light nudge, standing in the doorway and blocking him from her direct viewpoint. "Morning, Squish." A smile overtook her face, "Morning, Squash."

Both girls beamed, "What do you say, after you get home from school, we have a girls night? Watch some movies, eat good food?" Sarah nodded, "That sounds good."

"You two just gonna kick me out?" He gave her the big puppy dog eyes, the ones he knew she was a sucker for. "Tomorrow is your day! You'll get the whole entire day to boss us around, until then we're doing face masks and watching cheesy romcoms."

She placed a quick peck on his cheek, ushering Sarah from their doorway, down the hallway and staircase, "Pop tarts work for breakfast?" The teenager scoffed, "Duh."

Thalia smiled, "Alrighty!" She was practically skipping into the kitchen, sitting Sarah down at the table and reaching into the cabinet. "We have cherry or..."

She realized the box of cinnamon was empty, "Cherry or cherry?" Her stepdaughter raised a brow, "Cherry, obviously."

"Good choice!" She tossed the package across the way, watching her try and catch it, which she did but with much struggle. "You ok if I take you to school today?"

"Of course, as long as you put on a bra." Thalia looked down and frowned, realizing there were many things visible beneath her loose, turquoise colored tank top. "Sounds like a deal."

She rushed to the hallway as Sarah tore open her breakfast, taking a bite from the cherry flavored pastry. Joel was watching from the doorway to the kitchen with a giant grin plastered on his face. Thalia was about to pass right by him, but she stopped to kiss him first.

Before she could even part ways he deepened the kiss, grabbing her waist and humming against her lips. "Ew, a lil PDA warning, please?" They both chuckled as she forced herself away from the man she loved most, rushing up the stairs to get appropriately dressed.

"You good walking home from school tomorrow?" Sarah picked her head up and looked at her dad, mid bite, "Yeah, why?"

"Thali's got a job interview tomorrow at the local dance school." Her brows knitted together, "We have a dance school nearby?"

He shrugged, "Apparently. Point is Tommy, Thalia, and I would be taking you there but there won't be anyone to take you home." She went back to eating her Pop Tart, "Sure. Got errands to run anyway."

"What kind of errands?" She cocked a shoulder and crumpled up the silver wrapper, speaking with a mouthful of pastry, "Drug deals."

"Very funny." The floorboards creaked as Thalia came rushing back in, her hair had been tied up, converse covered her feet and she was now more properly dressed. "Ready?"

"Ready. Bye dad!" Sarah grabbed her bag from the back of the wooden chair, slinging it onto her back as Thalia jingled the keys to her own car. He gave his daughter a kiss on the head, his wife as well and watched as his two favorite people in the world walked out the door.

Thalia opened the door to her silver, 2002 Jeep Wrangler. It'd been a birthday present from Joel, one she was over the moon to have. Sarah loved it as well because she was able to take off not only the doors, but the top. Their favorite thing was to take them off and ride home from school with the music blaring.

The neighbors hated it, especially Mrs.Adler because of Thalia's obsession with ABBA. The elder woman judged the next door neighbors, the age gap between Joel and his wife, her outfit choices for her age, whatever she could point out.

Yet she loved Sarah despite her dislike for her stepmother. "Got everything you need, Squish?" She zipped her bag open and checked all the contents, "Yup."

"Let's hit the road then." She grabbed her sunglasses from the dashboard, putting them atop her nose and reaching to turn on the radio. Her ABBA tape had been in there since yesterday afternoon so the first song to spill out was Dancing Queen.

"Sing with me?" Sarah shook her head, "Oh come on! You sounded phenomenal yesterday!" The car started and she pulled out of the driveway, "You swore you'd never mention it again!"

"You singing the lyrics to Baby Got Back? I swore I wouldn't tell your dad, there's a big difference!" Both girls chuckled as the wind came blowing through the open windows of the jeep.

"Sing with me Squish, don't make me do it solo!" Her fingers tapped against the steering wheel, left foot tapping the ground as her head bobbed to the lyrics. "Fine..."

"Attagirl."