242: TIMES LIKE THIS ARIEL’S POV “So great, Janice. We’re seriously doing this.” I crossed my arms, looking at Janice. She was firm with this whole Luke stuff, and it was really crazy. “I don’t see why you keep on saying no, Ariel. Janice coming to my house is not actually a bad idea,” Luke vocalized. “I didn’t say it was a bad idea.” “Oh really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Yes,” I replied. “Then tell me why you don’t want my daughter coming to our house.” “Our daughter.” “Still the same thing.” “Nah, I remember you using that shit against me a couple of times.” “Well, it’s terrible when you say it.” “Oh, please, shut up.” I rolled my eyes. Luke carried Janice in his arms. “Oh, my beloved. It’s time for Daddy to take you home.” “Hold on, you’re seriously taking her to your house?” “Yeah, that’s what she wants. Who am I to say no?” “Janice. You would want many toys, books, and other things.” “I just want to spend time with my dad,” Janice told me. I glanced at Luke, and he smirked at me with a raised brow. I let out a deep sigh. “Fine, you win. You can go to his house.” “Yay!” Janice exclaimed and high–fived Luke. They were acting like they had known each other for years. “Let’s get going then,” Luke said, taking some steps forward and carrying Janice in his arms. I just stood still, watching them. He paused and turned around. “Ariel, aren’t you coming along?” “Yes, mommy. Come, let’s spend some time together. It will be awesome, I- promise.” I couldn’t help but smile, staring at Janice’s innocent and cute visage. “So, Ariel?” Luke gave me a knowing expression. I breathed out. “Okay then, let’s get going.” After that, the three of us left the spa. We got into Luke’s car, and he drove us to an arcade. “Okay, here we are, the arcade,” he said, looking at the building. “I thought you were taking us to your house,” I stated. “Yes, but I just want the three of us to have fun around here. We can hang out before we go to my mansion. There’s plenty of time to enjoy ourselves.” “Yes, let’s go to that arcade!” Janice came out in a blaring tone and burst out of the car. I laughed, remembering when I would take Lukel and Janice out to places like this. FLASHBACK “Good morning, my darlings!” I greeted my children as they descended the stairs, still rubbing the sleep from their eyes. “Morning, Mom!” they both replied, still groggy from their sleep. “Get ready quickly; we have a surprise outing today!” I exclaimed, trying to contain my excitement. “What is it, Mom? Can we know now?” Janice asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “No, it’s a surprise. Just trust me, you’ll love it!” I replied, winking at them. After getting ready and having breakfast, we hopped into the car and made our way to the arcade. As soon as we entered, their eyes widened with wonder and amazement. The place was filled with bright lights, colorful game machines, and the sound of cheerful children laughing and playing. “Wow, this place is amazing!” Lukel exclaimed, his eyes darting from one game to another. “I know, right? Let’s go and have some fun!” Janice chimed in, tugging at my hand. I smiled at their excitement and led them to the first game. It was a racing game, and the three of us sat in the car, each taking a steering wheel. As the game started, we raced against each other, laughing and cheering as we tried to beat each other. Janice was in the lead, with Lukel and I close behind. In the end, it was a tie, and we high–fived each other, proud of our gaming skills. Next, we moved on to a shooting game, and I was surprised to see how good my kids were at aiming and shooting. We played several more games, each one more exciting than the previous one. I could see the joy and happiness in my children’s eyes, and it warmed my heart. “Mom, can we go on the roller coaster ride now?” Lukel asked, his eyes pleading. “Of course, let’s go!” I replied, my heart pounding with excitement. As we sat on the roller coaster, I could feel my children’s hands grip mine tightly. But as the ride started, all their fear vanished, and they screamed with delight, their hands raised in the air. I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling like a kid again. END OF FLASHBACK And I was smiling with those memories. I left the car, but Luke didn’t; he was making a phone call. I stood, waiting for him until his conversation was over. “You guys go on without me. I’ve got some stuff to take care of. I won’t take long, I promise.” I shrugged. “Tell that to your daughter.” He didn’t respond; he just drove away. I walked to Janice after that. “Mommy, where is Daddy?” “He’ll be back. In the meantime, let’s enjoy ourselves in the arcade, okay?” She nodded, and we both advanced towards the building. When we stepped inside the arcade, the air was filled with a cacophony of sounds. Bright neon lights bathed the room in a kaleidoscope of colors, reflecting off the polished floors. Janice’s eyes widened in wonder as she took in the sights and sounds around her, her hand tightly clasped in mine. The arcade was a hive of activity, with groups of people huddled around various game machines, their faces lit up by the screens in front of them. The air was tinged with the scent of popcorn and cotton candy, adding to the festive atmosphere. Glancing around, a delightful smile played on my lips as I recalled my own childhood spent in arcades like this one. The familiar jingles and beeps of the games brought back memories of carefree days spent competing for high scores and prizes with friends. Janice tugged at my hand, her eyes alight with excitement. “Mom, can we play that one?” she exclaimed, pointing towards a brightly lit racing game in the corner. I chuckled softly and nodded, allowing Janice to lead me towards the machine. We settled into the seats in front of the game, the vibrating sound of engines and screeching tires filling our ears. The screen in front of us came to life, displaying thrilling race track with winding curves and sharp turns. I Handed Janice a handful of tokens and watched as her face lit up with joy. Janice eagerly inserted the tokens into the machine, her fingers flying over the buttons. as she steered her virtual car around the track. With the race progressing, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the excitement, cheering Janice on as she navigated the course with skill and determination. The flashing lights and roaring sounds of the game created a sense of exhilaration, drawing us both into the virtual world before us. After the race ended, Janice turned to me with a grin, her eyes sparkling with triumph. “I won, Mom!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with pride. I laughed and ruffled Janice’s hair, my heart swelling with love for my daughter. Moving on to the next game, I marveled at the variety of attractions the arcade. had to offer. From classic pinball machines to state–of–the–art virtual reality experiences, there was something for everyone to enjoy. “What did I miss?” Luke’s voice echoed through my ears. I turned around right away. HAS MORE MI
