Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chase
I shut the door to her apartment and inhaled a deep breath, taking in the fresh night air.
This was too much to handle, and I didn’t know what to do.
I couldn’t call my friends because they were never to know that I was the father of Kinsley’s baby, and I certainly couldn’t tell my dad.
I was on my own with this one. As long as Kinsley stood by her word, my life wouldn’t change, and no one would ever know.
She was strong—a lot stronger than me, and she could do it.
I drove home and went down to the beach, staring at the dark ocean water with a bottle of scotch in one hand and the other tucked into my pants pocket.
Bringing the bottle up to my lips, I took a large drink, trying to calm the nervousness inside me.
I sat down in the sand and wished Kinsley would have lied to me and told me someone else was the father.
“Why? Why are you doing this to me?” I spoke as I looked up at the starry sky.
“You know how I am. You know I run, and you know I never let myself get involved. I forgave you years ago after she left me. I thought that was my ultimate punishment. But now this? Why would you do that?” I took another drink.
“The kid didn’t ask for this, and he or she certainly didn’t ask for me to be its father.
Is this another punishment for the way I live my life?
Because if it is, you’ve really outdone yourself on this one.
” Once again, I brought the bottle to my lips and finished off the scotch inside it.
Falling back into the soft sand, I thought about Kinsley and why I was so upset she rejected me.
The reasons why I kept sleeping with her.
The reasons why I cared when she was sick and the reasons why I didn’t want her seeing anyone else but me.
I closed my eyes to stop the tears from stinging, and before I knew it, the sun had risen.
One week later
The past week had been total hell. Kinsley and I didn’t utter a word to one another. In fact, I barely saw her the whole week. I purposely stayed away from my father’s office, which wasn’t hard since he was gone on a business trip. I was sitting at my desk when there was a knock at the door.
“What is it, Lexi?”
“It’s not Lexi,” Kinsley spoke as she opened the door. “She’s at lunch.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I have the papers for you to sign.”
“Papers?” I asked in confusion.
“The ones relinquishing your parental rights.” She handed me the envelope. “I hired an attorney and explained the situation to him. He said the courts could deny it, so he ensured everything was properly indicated.”
“As in?”
“You’re giving up rights to the child voluntarily, I agree, and I want no money for support. There are a few other things listed. You’ll see them when you read over the documents. You should have your attorney look at it as well.”
“I will. Thanks, Kinsley. How are you feeling?”
“Tired, but fine. I just wanted to drop those off. I must grab something to eat before my lunch hour ends.”
“Yeah. Sure. Enjoy your lunch.”
She walked out of my office as I held the large envelope. I didn’t have time to look over the documents, so I put the envelope in my briefcase for later.
Kinsley
This was for the best, and I knew it. He didn’t want to be a father, and I wouldn’t force him to be.
I wasn’t going to let my child grow up as I did.
I was an accident, and my father didn’t want me, but my mother forced him to be a small part of my life, and to be honest, I think I would have been better off if I never knew him.
Shortly after I got home from work, there was a knock at my door.
“Delilah.” I smiled.
“Hello, dear. I brought over dinner. I hope you don’t have plans.”
“I don’t have any plans. Come in.”
She stepped into my apartment with her red casserole dish and brown-handled paper bag and went into the kitchen.
“I made a chicken dumpling casserole and a fresh homemade loaf of bread.”
“Sounds delicious. That was so sweet of you to do that.”
I reached up and pulled down two plates from the cabinet.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk lately,” she spoke. “Plus, I wanted to check up on you and see if you were all right.”
“I’m fine.” I smiled as we sat down at the table.
“One night last week, I was going for a walk, and I heard a lot of shouting coming from the apartment. Then, when I was on my way back, I saw Chase leaving, and he didn’t look happy. I haven’t seen him back here since.”
“Chase and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You two made such a cute couple.”
“We weren’t a couple, Delilah. We were more—”
“Friends with benefits?” She smiled.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know what that means?”
“Honey, I may be old, but I’m up to date on what you young people do nowadays.”
“Yes. We were friends with benefits.”
I loved Delilah. She was so easy to talk to and was so wise. I could tell her anything, and I knew she’d take it to her grave.
“I’m pregnant, Delilah.”
Her face lit up with excitement as she grabbed hold of my hand.
“Kinsley, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations. I take it Chase is the father?”
“It’s complicated. He is, but nobody can ever know.”
“Why?” She cocked her head in confusion.
“He doesn’t want the baby, and he doesn’t want to be a father. So, I had papers drawn up relinquishing him of all his parental rights. I won’t force him to be something he doesn’t want to be because it’ll hurt the child in the long run.”
“That’s true. I take it you know this from personal experience?”
“Yes.” I looked down as I played with my food.
“You’re a brave and fearless woman, Kinsley Davis. You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t tell a soul, and I’ll be here to help you.” She softly smiled.
“Thank you. I know I can trust you.”
“He’s frightened, that’s all,” she spoke. “Whatever happened in his past has a grip on him, and it won’t let go. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and I know he cares for you deeply, even if he doesn’t admit it to himself.”
“I don’t think Chase Calloway is capable of caring for anyone but himself.”
“He is, and I think he would make a good father. But, as long as he lets his past consume him, he will never truly live up to being the man he was meant to be.”
“I know that. I just wished he did.”
After we finished eating, Delilah helped me clean up and was ready to leave.
“Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.” I gave her a tight hug.
“You’re welcome, dear. If you need anything at all, please call me.”
“I will.”
I shut the door and headed to the bathroom to take a bath. As I lay there, letting my mind wander, I thought about my mom. My pregnancy was something I should be sharing with her, but I didn’t want to, and it saddened me. She wouldn’t care anyway, and I could never trust her around my baby.