That Teasing Smile

**ISLA**
“Hi,” Zero greeted me at the moment that I opened my eyes.
“Hmm…” I groaned as I adjusted my vision. “What time is it?” I asked as I moved forward to his side. “You just got home?”
Zero let out a soft chuckle. “Yeah, and been staring at you for minutes,” he replied, which made me look at him, frowning.
“Why you didn’t wake me up? How about Eight?”
Zero smiled. “She’s with Becca and Apollo,” he replied.
I smiled the moment I heard those names. “Uhm, they may be practicing how to—”
“Stop imagining things and let them be, baby,” Zero cut me off, making me smirk.
“Yeah.” I sat on the bed, and he guided me towards his arm, as he leaned on the headboard, and I, on his chest.
“How’s work?” I asked as I stared at our intertwined fingers.
I heard his sigh. “Fine. Too many papers to sign, meetings to attend, and of course, people to deal with,” he replied.
I smiled and moved away as I looked into his eyes. “Tiring?”
Zero pressed his lips and shook his head. “Not at all. Now that I see you and Eight,” he replied.
I let out a soft chuckle and nodded. “Did they prepare for dinner already?”
Zero cocked his brow. “Why? Are you gonna cook for us?” he teased, making me arch my brow and darted him a stern look.
“Just kidding, baby,” he said and pulled me into his embrace.
“You’re really teasing me, huh?” I asked as I let go of his embrace.
Zero bit his lower lip.
“Why don’t we have a duel in firing a gun, Zero?”
Zero’s eyes grew bigger than lines drawn to his temple.
“What’s with the look?” I asked and let out a sly smirk. “I want to try. Besides, it’s been a while since I last hold a gun—”
“It’s because you’re holding something recently,” Zero cut off and flashed a teasing smile.
I frowned.
“Don’t you love to hold it?”
“What on earth are you thinking? Stop being horny—”
“Oops, I didn’t name anything,” he interrupted, making me roll my eyes.
“We can’t still do that if you’re aiming for that. Maybe after a year,” I teased, making his jaw drop and his eyes which wanted to pop out of its socket.
“Are you for real?”
I smiled and got off the bed. I winked at him. “Yes—”
“Then I will make you change your mind,” he cut off and was about to grab me, but I moved away. I ran towards the door and opened it.
I laughed out loud and got out. I stopped and waited for him to get out, but I think minutes passed, and no Zero is coming out.
I grimaced a sighed. I walked back and opened the door. I was about to take a step when Zero grabbed me on the side.
“Gotcha!” he exclaimed and let out a soft chuckle.
I smiled. “Don’t you dare Zero,” I warned? However, I saw how a sly smirk formed on his lips.
“I will hate you—”
“I know you can’t do that,” he cut off, and I giggled when he buried his face into my neck, and I shivered when I felt his warm lips into my neck.
“Zero…”
“Isla…”
I pressed my lips, but the lower one, and tried to push him away, but he was too strong.
“Zero… fuck. It tickles—stops it!” I yelled and let laughed.
Damn it, I cursed inside.
Suddenly, Zero let go and was laughing at me. “I told you. I can change your mind in a minute—not unless I’m not attracted to you anymore?”
I scoffed. “Quit the act, Zero. Come on. Dinner might be ready,” I said and turned my back away.
I thought Zero would not come over again but found him on my side. He reached for my hand and grasped it as he flashed his charming smile at me.
Damn, no woman will resist Zero’s charms. And I’m afraid that one day, someone will try to destroy our relationship…
“Overthinking again?”
Zero’s voice dragged me to my right senses. I sighed.
“Stop overthinking because you will end up hurting yourself,” he said and flashed another adorable smile at me.
I smiled back. “You should often smile, Zero. It suits you,” I said.
Zero arched his brow, and his smile faded. “I only smile when I’m with you or with Eight,” he said meaningfully.
I sighed and nodded. “Sure. Anything that makes you comfortable,” I replied.
After that, no one talked between us until we reached the garden.
I looked at Zero. “Uhm, what time is it?” I asked since he was wearing his luxury watch.
Zero glanced into it. “Quarter to eight,” he replied.
I smiled. “I really love that word,” I said.
“Me too. She’s our princess,” he asserted.
I pressed my lips and then looked away when suddenly, we heard cries—our baby’s.
I sighed and let go of Zero’s hand. “Quick,” I uttered, and my eyes were fixed on the pavilion in the garden.
I saw how Becca tried to calm my baby.
Apollo turned in our direction, and I saw relief in his eyes. And when I approached them, I walked toward my daughter.
“My baby’s hungry already?” I baby-talked and smiled at my daughter as carrying her in my arms.
Suddenly, my baby stopped crying, which made me smile. I sat on the chair and looked at Becca, then at my brother.
“Don’t tell me… you were kissing, that’s why—”
“What?” Becca uttered.
Apollo pulled her arm and gestured to my daughter. Becca pressed her lips. “S-she’s hungry that’s why she cries,” Becca answered.
I looked up and met Zero’s gaze. I smiled and turned to Becca. “I’m just kidding. It seems you plead guilty,” I teased as I kept on tapping my daughter’s soft little legs.
Zero walked over beside me and pulled a chair. He smiled as he glanced at Eight, who was already on the verge of sleeping.
In feeding my daughter, we’re using the two-way method—breastfeeding and in a bottle.
After a few minutes, Nana came over and called us for dinner. Eight is already asleep. Nana then reached for her and put her upstairs.
My daughter is just a month old and needs enough time to sleep. However, Eight always wakes up in the night between nine to ten. So, in eating dinner, I need to move quickly. As for Zero, he’s always there for me, waiting for me until our daughter is already asleep.
And I felt pity sometimes since he has work and I’m sure he’s irritable because he had a sleepless night, even if he’s not telling and showing it to me…
“Mom is really enjoying traveling from place to place, huh?” I asked, breaking the silence inside the kitchen.
Apollo looked at me. “She needs to. And just let her be. How about you? Do you want to try handling the business?” he asked and drank his glass of wine.
I shrug and put the sliced meat inside my mouth.
Zero on my left talked, “I’ll do the work.”
I looked up and turned to Apollo, then to Becca. The two were smiling proudly.
“Sure, I know you can do it, dude,” Apollo replied.
After that, we continue eating. After dinner, we stay in the living room for a few minutes. Apollo and Zero talked about their business—which we can’t relate to.
So, Becca opens up a new topic. “Isla and I are going to enroll for another school year the next Monday. Maybe you could accompany us, right?”
Becca looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and looked at the boys.
“Monday?” Apollo asked and glanced at Zero. “That’s the launching of your new project, right?” he asked.
I looked at Zero and frowned. So, he must be busy at that time. I sighed. It’s fine with me. Besides, I can do it online. It was just Becca who insisted on convincing the boys. If I know, she wants to be with Apollo—I mean, she wants to flaunt that she was Apollo Peterson’s girlfriend.
“We can make some adjustments,” Zero replied, which made my eyes widen. I arched my brow when our eyes met.
“Are you for real? I can do it online. No pressure, baby,” I replied.
I bit my lower lip when I saw how he was stunned because I called him BABY again. Well, it’s a sign that I’m serious.
Zero smiled at me. “Okay then. But we can have a dinner on that day, to treat our girls—”
“Your girl. Becca and I don’t have a label,” Apollo interrupted.
“Ouch!” Becca exclaimed and shot a glare at Apollo. “Really, Apollo?”
Apollo smirked.
I sighed. Maybe it’s time to climb upstairs and give these no-labels quality time.
I stood up so as Zero, and he walked towards me. “Let’s go,” he said and turned to Apollo. “Have a great night, Mon Senior,” he added, teasing Apollo.
I saw how Apollo glanced at us in my peripheral view while we left.
“Look how jerk is your brother? I thought I was the jerk. Guess it was him,” he uttered as we walked our way to the second floor.
I sighed. “Let them be. They’re just both in denial. They already had sex and such, yet they still act like virgins?” I shook my head and met Zero’s eyes.
He flashed a teasing smile at me. “Uhm… how about us?” he asked, making me frown.”
I arched my brow. “So, what about us?”
Zero shrugs. “Never mind.”