22. Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Two
Kevin
Noah had kept everyone on their toes, constantly trying to keep him from harm’s way. The ironic thing, however, was that the more we tried to restrict him, the more adventurous he became.
Mom always said he took after me—hot-headed and mischievous—and that only armed Lexie with more ammunition to tease me endlessly.
Despite the chaos, I loved his boisterous energy. Every moment with Noah felt like a new adventure, and I wanted to be part of every single one. I never imagined being a dad could be this thrilling and exciting.
Yet, as joyful as I was having my little boy with me, I hadn’t reached a consensus with his mom, Chloe, and that unresolved tension was like a cloud hanging over everything.
It also meant I hadn’t spoken to Licia, and that was a weight on my chest I couldn’t shake off.
The days turned to weeks, and the longer I stayed silent, the more complicated things got. I knew Licia to be an overthinker, and not addressing the issue was only making things worse. I couldn’t afford to leave things to chance any longer, but I was still at a loss for where to begin.
Lexie's laughter interrupted my thoughts, echoing from across the hallway. I had been mulling over the best way to approach Licia, but seeing Noah run into my room with Lexie in pursuit instantly brightened my mood.
I quickly swept him off the ground, holding him protectively in my arms as he cackled with delight.
“Hand him over, Kevin,” Lexie demanded, trying to reach Noah, but I moved to another spot.
“Not a chance. You have to go through me first. Right, Noah?” I asked with a huge smile.
“Yes, Daddy!” He kicked his legs excitedly, clutching his toy race car and blowing raspberries.
In that moment, all my worries faded, and I allowed myself to get lost in their little game. It was a much-needed distraction from the storm brewing inside my head.
Lexie paused her playful attack and took a closer look at my face, then pointed. “Are those wrinkles I see at both corners of your eyes, old boy?” Her tone was a mix of concern and teasing.
“No. That can't be,” I denied, though I hadn’t been able to look at my reflection in the mirror for a while. In my estimation, I had more pressing concerns than my appearance.
“Kevin, I know what I’m saying. Have you been sleeping well?”
I scratched my head slowly. “Not really,” I confessed, propping Noah on my knee.
“Is it the situation with Chloe? Should I tell Mom?”
I admired how Lexie could slip into the role of the adult, acting like she was decades older than she actually was. Sometimes, I wondered what it would have been like if she were the older sibling— I’d certainly have had a mother hen for a sister.
“Chloe is refusing to reason with me, but that’s not even the crux of the matter.” I heaved a deep, sad sigh.
“So, what is it?”
“I still haven’t spoken to Licia about any of this.”
“What? Since that day? Why? What's wrong with you, Kevin? Don't you ever learn? Do you want her to shut you out of her life again?” She went ballistic on me, leaving me scrambling to figure out which of her questions to answer first.
At this point, Lexie should have just been my older sister. It might have been better. I was clueless when it came to women and how to navigate troubled waters with them.
“I want to talk to her. I really do, but what do I tell her? That I loved her like my life depended on it and wished more than anything to be with her, but that I’m still negotiating with Chloe on how best to take care of our son? Make it make sense to me.” I was at my wit's end.
“All this time you've been silent, has it solved anything? No, it hasn't. Let's break things down, shall we?”
“Licia was blindsided by the news that you have a son. You haven’t even explained to her how that happened, and yet you’re more concerned about getting Chloe on the same page with you? Something that we don’t know when—or if—it’s going to happen.”
“So, what do you suggest I do?”
“If you can’t figure it out, then at least let me push you into action. Go talk to Licia. Explain the circumstances around Noah’s birth. Don’t leave her to assume things. Clear the air. Then, you can tell her that you’re trying to work things out with Chloe.”
“What if she doesn’t believe me?” I asked sadly, because there was a real chance it would all be for nothing.
“We can't predict her reaction, but at least you tried. No one can fault you for that.”
I nodded slowly, taking in her words. “Okay, Lexie. I will go tomorrow morning.”
“Why tomorrow? Whatever happened to today? It’s barely noon. There’s still plenty of time. You’ve let two months slip by. We can’t waste another day. Hand Noah over and go prepare yourself for the task.”
It was definitely a task.
“Fineeee. Tell Jackson to get the Mulliner Bacalar ready. I’ll be down in about half an hour.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Why was she smiling so much?
“Thanks for today, Ms. Brown.”
“Anytime.” She grinned, gloating.
I handed Noah over to her, and they exited the room together, leaving me to collect my thoughts.
I insisted on driving myself to the hospital to see Licia. Jackson stayed back, engaging in a chess challenge with my dad’s chauffeur. My agenda was simple: talk to Licia, make her understand, apologize for what happened, and hopefully leave feeling relieved.
It seemed like everything was going to go according to plan, but nothing prepared me for what I was about to witness.
As I parked in the hospital's parking lot and was about to step into the outpatient unit, I saw Licia holding hands and smiling sweetly at some guy as they strolled toward the glass door.
She seemed relaxed and content, the way she used to look at me. He looked calm and collected, and I hated to admit it, but he seemed like a solid catch.
A whirlwind of emotions surged through me—jealousy that Licia was looking into this stranger’s eyes with such tenderness that I felt should be reserved for me; anger at myself for being so foolish and cowardly; and a sick feeling in my gut at the thought that they might actually be in a relationship.
What if I had lost her for real this time?
“No… It just can't be.” I shook my head, trying to clear my mind, but the feeling clung to me like my shadow.
Despite my reservations, I pushed forward, but I stopped dead in my tracks when he leaned in and their lips met in a slow, deliberate kiss.
My heart shattered, and I could feel my eyes bulging as I tried to process what I was seeing. I couldn’t take any more of this emotional assault, so I turned to leave, but it was already too late.
“Kevin?” I heard Licia call.
Slowly, I turned around. “Licia,” I responded grimly.
Grabbing the man’s arm, she introduced us. “Avery, this is Kevin. Kevin…my boyfriend, Avery.” Her tone was indifferent, and it broke my heart.
Her boyfriend?
How was that possible?
We didn’t even break up.
Avery stuck out his hand for a handshake, but I ignored it. I would have preferred to leave my fist embedded in his well-sculpted face, but I restrained myself, not wanting to embarrass Licia.
“Licia, we need to talk,” I stated, ignoring Avery’s presence. I didn’t care if he watched me win my love back right in front of him.
“Would you be okay?” Avery asked Licia. “I don’t mind staying if…”
“It’s fine, actually,” Licia replied. “I can handle this.”
Was he serious? Like I would hurt Licia. Or was he already feeling threatened by my presence? Well, he should feel every ounce of what I'm feeling, and more.
“Run along, pretty boy. You heard her,” I growled with a clenched fist.
He didn’t react to my words. Instead, he leaned in and planted a peck on Licia’s cheek, as if daring me to do my worst. “I’ll give you a call. Stay safe, okay?”
“I will,” Licia nodded before he finally left.
The moment Avery was out of sight, her smile faded, and she turned to me with a stern expression. “To my office,” she commanded.
She had an office now? What had I missed? My mind raced with questions as I followed her.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” I started as soon as we reached her office, which was surprisingly bright and airy.
“I see. For over a month now, I suppose.” She folded her arms, her tone icy. “So, what about?”
“Please, don’t make this harder for me than it already is.”
She scoffed. “Am I supposed to know what you want to talk about?”
“That’s not what I meant…” I stammered. “I don’t even know if I’m making sense.”
“I’m still waiting for you to do so.”
Feisty.
“For what it’s worth, I didn’t know Chloe was pregnant, much less that she had my child…” I paused, hoping for some sign of understanding, but she remained stoic, so I continued.
“She just showed up unannounced at my house with Noah, who, for a fact, is my son.”
“Does that explain why you didn’t say anything until I found out myself? And even after I found out, you still said nothing. It was like you didn’t care enough to set the record straight,” she snapped, anger flashing in her eyes.
I felt exposed and helpless, like a featherless chicken. “That’s not it, honestly. I wanted to reach out to you, but I was trying to get Chloe to understand that I love you and could never build anything with her. But she doesn’t want us to just co-parent Noah.”
“Now that you’ve finally decided to explain yourself—something that, for the record, is none of my business—I guess she understands your ‘undying love’ for me?” She was unapologetically sarcastic, and I couldn’t even meet her gaze.
“We’re still working it out, but we might have to take legal action. I just couldn’t keep staying away from you. I needed to clear the air.”
“I keep trying to make excuses for you, but you disappoint me every single time. Kevin, you have a beautiful son and a woman who wants to make things right with you. Maybe you should focus on that and leave me be.”
“I have a new job that demands my full attention and Avery, who wants nothing more than to make me happy. I can’t carry your baggage as well. Do you understand?”
“I don’t love Chloe. It was just a one-time thing, I swear.”
“Kevin, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to work. Please shut the door on your way out.”
“Licia, are you kicking me out?”
Her eyes burned with fury. “Did I stutter? Yes, leave… my… office.”
My world came to a screeching halt. I stood there, completely paralyzed, unsure of what to do or say next.