Gio

I spend the majority of the day in the garage, installing a pod-like material on the ground, which according to Chase is supposed to prevent humidity damage.

Sometime in the afternoon, I hear my truck, but don't come out. Celia is here until 5, which gives me enough time to fix the minor plumbing and lighting issues inside.

By the time I'm done, I'm covered in grease and dirt, smelling like an old pig's ass. My stomach is empty and my skull is cracking in half.

I mosey into the house to shower when I stumble upon a spa session in the living room.

The jerks have face masks on, their feet on the table with freshly pink pedicures. There are all kinds of snacks— grapes, brownies, pretzels, popcorn— with Vampire Diaries on.

"Oh, hey dad." Ari lifts her cat-eye glasses, hair in pigtail buns. "We are so exhausted after shopping, we need a break."

I scowl at Celia who's in la-la land with her eyes somewhere around my arms. I have to wave in front of her face to snap her out of it.

"Do I pay you to take a vacation?" I slowly ask.

"Part of a healthy childhood includes chilling with each... other." She trails off while I lift the bottom of my shirt and wipe my sweaty face.

"Whatever." I grumble and head for the shower, using Ari's shampoo and body wash as a passive aggressive revenge.

When I change into gray sweats and a white shirt, I swagger back and plop on the couch between Ari and Celia, squeezing them out of my way.

I grab the remote — ignoring the complaints about their crashed bones — and put on Ari's least favorite show in the world— The Office.

"No! Why! Why would you do that?" She stomps in front of the TV, clenching her tiny hands at Michael Scott. "He's so weird! He creeps me out!"

"Sorry, honey." I shrug, eating popcorn. "I am so exhausted after working, I need a break."

"It's okay, Ari. We'll make yummy pasta and not share." Celia smirks and Ari cackles, rubbing her hands like an evil chipmunk.

"It's okay, Ari. We'll make yummy pasta and not share," I mimic as the two leave me alone by myself. "Then I'll eat all your snacks!"

"Then enjoy my boogers in them!" Ari shouts, snickering and wrinkling her nose when I glare.

Caramelized garlic and onions shortly waft the air, watering my mouth. I lose ten pounds right there and then just from the smell.

I stretch my neck to find them engrossed in a dumb conversation which seems to change every two seconds.

"Why do you roll the basil like that before cutting?" Ari asks.

"So it doesn't smush, it's very delicate."

"Why do you have so many moles?"

"I was a tortilla in my past life, why do you have such curly hair?"

"Because I'm smart."

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"No, you're curly inside. You have a curly heart."

Grunting to myself, I get up to go to Ari's room, hoping to find a loose furniture to fix or a hole in the wall to patch, but find none. I spend the rest of the time, trying to understand their foreign language as they bond.

The next morning, I wake up with a green eyeshadow on, with matching toenails. Apparently Ari felt bad that I got jealous. The big mole on my cheek was Celia's genius idea.

Again, I focus on the garage, lining the walls with a sound and smell insulation, covering it with a reflective material to preserve the light. Meanwhile, Ari and Celia have a tea party and talk about Harry Styles.

At night, I microwave man 'n' cheese and watch Monsters, Inc with Ari. I wait for her to sit behind my head, I'm top of the couch like she usually does, but she doesn't this time.

"Missy, don't you want to style my hair?"

"I already played with Celia's hair today. It's so soft! We did matching pigtails and braids... hey can I do a mohawk on Celia tomorrow?"

"I don't know baby, you'll have to ask her," I murmur, staring at her long lashes and chubby cheeks as she slowly blinks at the screen. "Come on, it's time to sleep."

After she brushes her teeth and changes into her pajamas, I tuck her under the blanket she loves with the moon and stars on it.

"I love you daddy." She hugs my neck.

"I love you too, angel." I smooch her cheeks, making her flinch from my stubble.

"Stop, you're such a clingy cat..." She giggles, eyes sparkling up at me.

I try to smile back. "Do you still want to dress up with me for Halloween?"

"Yeah! I had so much fun today. Is Celia coming tomorrow too?"

"You like her that much, huh?"

"U-huh."

"Good, I'm glad." I brush my knuckle against her cheek then palm her whole face, chuckling as she thrashes under it.

I turn the lights off and stay up until 3, working out then absentmindedly watching the screen.

On Thursday, the two get ready for grocery shopping while I assemble the tables in the garage.

Though my muscles are in pain, work keeps me distracted from the lonely thought that my baby girl is forgetting about me.

Maybe I am clingy. But it's been just the two of us for over a year.

I like being needed.

I'm a fixer, not a talker, and I understand why that would be boring for Ari, but that's how I've always been. My old man and I spent years in his auto shop rarely breaking the silence.

When I fixed my first car without any help,
I received my first praise and it made me realize that maybe I matter. Maybe I'm not a waste of air. So I learned to repeat that.

That's what happened with Ari. I'd fix her broken toys and she'd jump into my arms. When I'd run out of things to fix, I'd break them intentionally just so I could do it again.

Then one day she caught me snapping her doll's head and banned me from her room, but thankfully that night we watched Tangled and she quickly discovered her passion for hair.

So I grew mine out. Again I didn't have to talk, but she was entertained. And it's not like there was any time to think about dating, I didn't give a shit if it looked bad. Styling my hair in ridiculous ways made Ariana happy.

"Hey lone wolf, we're leaving." Celia knocks behind the closed garage door.

"Wolfie, can I come in?" Ari shouts. "I want to see what you're doing!"

"Off limits," I grunt, flipping one of the tables. "I'm the only one allowed here, you know that."

"Come on Ari, let's let him work."

I take off my drenched black shirt and toss it over my shoulder, wiping my forehead with my forearm. Just two more tables, then tomorrow I'll put the light fixtures above each one...

I open the door and go inside the house for a cold Coke, sighing from the sweet carbonation as I chug it down on my way back.

"Shit!" I jump, spilling the soda when my shirt I left on the ground suddenly moves.

Oh fuck, not another ghost.

I quietly take off my boot and tip-toe towards it, assuming it's just a rat.

Shutting my eyes with a grimace, I raise my boot above my head to fling it down.

Last minute, I hear a meow and my heart almost rips as I stop right before I hit it.

I put my boot down and kneel before my shirt, lifting it slowly up.

A small, black cat looks at me with big eyes and white paws.

"I nearly killed you..." I choke on the breath.

"What are you doing here?" I coo as she brings her paws close to her body, sitting properly. "Where's your mama?"

She meows again, tiny fangs and tongue peaking under white whiskers.

"Look at your big, green eyes..." I smile. "I'm surprised you didn't die from my stinky shirt."

She meows again as if to say 'I almost did' then gets on all fours, approaching me gracefully.

I stay still as she gets between my kneeled legs and puts her front paws on my thigh, stretching towards me.

"Who's a good girl?" I brush my crooked finger against her cheek, chuckling as she closes her eyes when I scratch behind her ear.

Figuring she'll leave, I assemble the last two tables while listening to music, checking every now and then only to find her on one of the tables.

"No work today, huh?" I ask, cleaning the trash from the ground. "Are you a model?"

She curls her swaying tail, slowly blinking with hooded eyes.

"Flirting, I see," I chuckle. "God, I'm so weird... I am, right? Don't answer that."

Grabbing my shirt, I look around, done for the day. I open the door and call for the cat to get out, but she stays unmoving.

Smacking my lips, I scoop my hand under her belly and put her outside, locking the door.

She follows me back to the house, looking at me then at the door, as if waiting.

"I guess..." I unlock and we go inside. Thirty minutes later, when I'm showered and in new clothes, I'm giving Luna a tour of the kitchen.

"This is where we keep the canned goods." I open one of the bottom cabinets and wait for her to take it all in before closing it. "Lots of tuna, if that floats your boat."

"We keep the tea and coffee here, but I doubt you'll be into that."

I drape her over my shoulder like a black, soft mush. Her tail tickles the back of my neck as she happily purrs.

The door unlocks behind me as Celia and Ari walk in with grocery bags and ice cream cones.

"Oh my God! A kitty!" Ari gasps with a smile, running close. "Let me see, let me see!"

I lift my hand to grab Luna, but she hops on top of my head.

"Okay..." I look up, feeling her lie down with her front paws on each side of my face.

"She's... grooming you." Celia scowls, pointing at the cat who's now licking my hair.

I smirk at their confused expressions while their ice creams melt.

"Jealous?"

~A/N~
Hope you guys liked this fluffy chapter, hehe. Let's see, are you a cat person or a dog person?