OKAYYY, may i req blurbs abt popstar! reader getting jealous of the ex wife of manager!michael š©š© GIMME SOMEEE
to say you hated her would be an understatement. "she looks more interested in you than the kids," you mutter under your breath from michael's passenger seat. it was a rare occasion, you coming along to his little co-parenting sessions. him and his ex-wife (who you stubbornly refer to only as his ex-wife) both concluded sometime recently that it would be good for the kids to see them still parenting together amiably. it was a cute thought, you supposed. okay, it was probably good for the kids, you could admit that much to yourself. it just rubbed you the wrong way, watching michael laugh at a sly joke she made or her smiling as he played pretend with paris.
"i think she was just surprised i decided to drive for once," he says, still grinning. a successful family outing was like a high for michael. your sour mood is barely noticed as he watches his ex-wife pull off with the kids. "i don't usually drive," he adds.
"i know that," you snap softly, arms crossing. your eyes also linger on the shape of her suv as it carefully drives away. at least she was a safe driver. you're stuck, jealous and half-scared for your life (you'd have to convince michael to take some more lessons someday).
michael hums softly before starting the car. he glances over at you as he reverses, "we should do something, just us."
"watch the road behind you," you tell him.
"i mean it," he continues, eyes darting up to the rearview mirror for a second before he settles back on you, "there's no one there, baby, relax. anyways, i mean it. something... you know."
"i don't know, michael," you reply stubbornly, "but i do know that you need to stop looking at me and look at the road."
"okay, okay," he murmurs, raising one hand off the steering wheel in surrender before he forces himself to focus on driving.
of course, it's when you're upset that you realize how cute it is that he's so distracted by you. the car ride is silent aside from the radio, the current channel filling the car with a smooth love song. michael's itching to look at you as it plays, and you know it. you can feel his eagerness like a rash against your own skin. you're being unfair towards him, holding a grudge like this. it feels unfair towards you, though, that he's in such a good mood that he hasn't noticed you frowning.
finally, you take a deep breath in. fuck it. "so," you start, "you're close with her, now."
"you two seemed closer than last time. much more than amiable, really."
michael sucks his teeth off rip, eyes jumping to your face before he can help himself, "not this. not today, baby."
"why not?" you ask, "i just think she's getting the wrong message from this. it's for the kids, not for her."
you roll your eyes, sinking further into your seat. "does she?"
"yes," he answers firmly, forcing his gaze along the road, "she does." you watch with a sick satisfaction as michael's hands grip the steering wheel a little tighter, his veins becoming more prominent.
you allow a short pause before going, "...does she really, though?"
"i bring up how much i love you every five seconds, so yes, i'm sure she does," he huffs, "and if she doesn't, i'll handle that. you've just got to trust me. if you trusted me enough to drive, i'm sure you can trust me with this."
"i trust you," you counter, "i just don't trust her. michael, she's..." you trail sighing. the bratty part of you dissipates, leaving the insecure romantic to pick up the pieces. "she still wears your ring," you mumble.
"that's her right. i took mine off, though. i'm not hers," he replies, letting his voice soften. "i'm with a completely different woman now. i love you, and you know that. and it... it pains me that i can't look at you to say this, because it's easy to see in my eyes, but i do love you, very much. very, very much."
it's music to your ears and knives to your heart at the same time. music, because you're sure you're loved again; knives because... well, you've taken a great day for michael and filled it with your own doubt. you let the back of your head rest against the headrest for a moment, though when michael hits a pothole ("sorry, baby!") you quickly decide to lift your head back up. there goes your "pensively looking out the window" moment...
"do you... do you still want to do something special?" you eventually ask, turning your head to look over at him.
his grip on the wheel loosens ever so slightly as he nods his head. discontent still paints his face, although it lessens when he murmurs, "i do."
"how about we go home... we can watch any movie you like and after, i'll make dinner," you suggest. "you've been such a good daddy today, baby. and such a good man... how about you just let me take care of you, for the rest of the night?"
he hums, pulling up to a red light and stopping, "i'd like that a lot, sweetheart." he takes the opportunity to look at you, his eyes shining with a fondness he can't help but show. michael's lips curl into a bashful smile at the thought of being doted on all night, though he turns to face the road (for once) before you can comment on it. "i'd love that, baby. thank you."
want more manager!michael?
i thought it would be best/funniest if the ex-wife remained unnamed. i think the closer they get the more domestic manager!michael & reader get... reader cooking meals while he takes care of the kids, michael cleaning up while reader takes the kids out for fun, them debating over which new carpet to buy after prince spilled absolute bullshit on the last one... even without the kids, just spending a lot of time around the home together and learning each other's home habits.