Shorts Series: Gotta win them bets - 2033
“Jess I’m going to head to the gym and I’ll stop by the grocery store afterwards, do you want anything?”
It was a Saturday morning and Jess was laying on the sofa watching TV with her two-and-a-half-year-old, Shay. Zoe, who was about 5 months old, was peacefully sleeping in her crib and Jess was honestly just waiting for the girl to wake up because she knew she’d be hungry soon, and Dorian wasn’t about to breastfeed her so Jess assumed it would be her… yet again. sigh. Siri - search how to train a man to breastfeed. Thanks. Anyways, Jess was about to say something before she saw Shay walk up to her dad with the words “Me too meee toooo,” leaving her mouth and Jess let out a small laugh. "I’m fine love… I’ll text you if I remember anything but it seems like that one wants to come with, Jess stated, pointing at Shay and Dori picked her up talking to the girl. After a few minutes of Shay begging, Dorian decided to take her with him - going to the grocery store first before the gym so he could drop her off in the middle. In any case, it seemed as if a few moments after he left Zoe wanted attention which is how Jess ended up walking to her baby’s room.
Zoe was always a playful baby - always wanting to be active and do something. The girl easily made Jess smile as she bounced up and down against the crib as she saw her mom. Though… honestly… Jess wasn’t sure if it was for her or if it was for the fact that Jess coming to the room = food. In any case, Jess had one bubbly babby waiting for her.
“Hi Zooeeee,” Jess laughed, picking her baby up and giving her a soft kiss on her cheek. "So how’s sleeping going? I’m 99% sure you’re an undercover spy and you just pretend to sleep and sneak out at night huh? Honestly the number of random conversations Jessica had with her kids was phenomenal but what could she say, it was adorable when her baby would make noises - seemingly “understanding” what she was saying and respond. Currently, Zoe had yet to say her first words but talking to her was still fun.
Though… well… she had yet to say her first words until that moment. When Jess walked the girl downstairs to the living room, she said the most OFFENSIVE thing that one could say. “Daaddaa” Hearing the word, Jess stopped in her tracks. At first, thinking it was just a fluke of sounds mushed together. "What did you say baby girl? Jess looked at her child with a soft smile, honestly thinking nothing of it until she said it again…and again… and again. “dadadadada” . How. Dare. She. Okay look - Jess was excited that her baby had said her first words. BUT DADA? REALLY? OH HELLL NAW. Did that man hold this kid in their uterus for 9 months? Not to mention Jess and Dori had a bet about what would be the baby’s first words and of course, “dada” was on Dori’s list of five words he thought it would be. So what did Jess do? Jess had an ETA of about 20 to 40 minutes before Dori came home so it was crunch time. First, Jess sent Dori a… well… kind of long list of things to get from the store to keep him distracted. And second? Jess BRIBED the hell out of that kid.
First, grabbing the girl’s favorite toy, Jess danced it around Zoe’s face as she said “Okay Zoe, say ‘mama’” . What did Jess get in response? Well… you have one guess. The extent to what Jess did to try to get that girl to say anything but “dada” was extraordinary. Jess almost considered just waving her breasts around and saying mama until the girl said it before feeding her but that probably went under cruel and unusual punishments and Jess wasn’t that mean. Suffice to say, Jess was exhausted. 2 hours. TWO HOURS of saying “mama” later and no progress was made.
Jess was laying on the floor, her daughter crawling on her laughing periodically - though it really felt like the girl was laughing at Jess pain at this point. “That’s funny to you huh?” Jess asked with a soft smile, kissing her daughter again and ticking her softly. Hearing the door being unlocked, Jess looked at the girl one last time. "Fine you lil traitor. Say dada all you want but just wait a few minutes so I can get your dad out of the house and have a few more hours to convince you to switch sides okay? deal? Jess asked the little girl, putting her hand out and shaking her daughter’s hand.
Jess smiled at Dori as the man entered with his arms full of bags and Shay next to him holding an ice cream cone with a big smile on her face. “How did we end up with 'I don’t need anything to 'please bring me half the store home please?” Jess shot him a soft smile as he disappeared to the kitchen for a second before heading back towards her and Zoe who was still sprawled on the floor. “I love youuu,” Jess smiled as he approached the two, bending down alongside them as he picked Zoe up. "Tell me Zoe, why is your mom such a weirdo? he asked the girl and with a soft laugh, the girl did the ONE thing Jess told her not to. “Dada”
“OH FOR GODS SAKE we had a deal Zoe,” Jess sighed, placing her head in Dorian’s shoulder as he was surprised to hear his daughters first… was it even first at this point? She said it like a hundred times. Anyways, her first word. And then - well, of course Dorian skipped going to the gym just to hear Zoe say it again, and again - which she did. Not to mention, gloat about winning the bet. Touché DeLoughrey…To-fcking-ché.