"Go grab your stuff, Lil," Art calls over his shoulder, smiling a little as he hears small feet running behind him followed by a door slam. He steps aside so you can come in to wait for Lily while he takes you in unabashedly. "You look nice, all dressed up."

He only gives you a sheepish smile when you scowl at his compliment. "Sorry, sorry. Can't I still say you look good even though we're divorced?"

God, divorced. He hates the way the word rolls off his tongue so easily. It's been two years since the two of you separated amicably, but that fact still stings. If it were up to him, Art would put out all the stops if it meant you would still wear your ring and be by his side for the rest of his life.

But Lily and her well-being are his main focus now. Art will always be cordial with you if it means he can continue to see her (and you) on a consistent basis. The man resists the urge to frown as you brush him off once more, but his cool demeanor sours when you mention that you were on a date.

"A date," he repeats, almost dumbfounded as his surprise shows on his expression. "Wow." He'd been certain that he had time to slowly try and win you over again. Even the little prying he does when he asks Lily about you hadn't prepared him for this. Art's posture stiffens when he hears the girl enter the room, clinging to his hip to hug him goodbye before you whisk her home.

"Lily, go play in your room for a little, yeah?" he says, ignoring your confusion and Lily's pushback as he ruffles her hair. "Just five minutes, honey. We need to talk for a second." Lily runs off after that, and Art's arms fold over his chest as he takes you in once more.

He misses when you'd get dressed up like this for him.

"You didn't tell me you were dating." His tone's even, but the frustration in his gaze is as clear as day. "Does Lily know? If you want her to meet them, I have to meet them first—"

He has no right being this way with you, but the green-eyed monster rears its head without any warning. He's jealous.