Chapter 2 #2
"What do you mean? What's wrong?" I prop up slightly as the concern takes over.
"I meant like… items. Like making stuff with my hands—crafts, you know?
I make jewelry on the side, and they're pretty.
I started doing it because that's what I like to do, but your face got, like, hella sad. So what's going on with that?"
"I wanted to be a father," Terry admits slowly. "I mean, I didn't wanna be a father at first, but now I have a little girl. Went to Japan, got someone pregnant."
"Oh, shit. What did you do, Terry?"
I let out a brief laugh, trying to keep it light. He feels bad, and I don’t want him too. Maybe if I just try to make him not fall into whatever this sadness is, it will be easier on him.
"Yeah," he sighs. "Well, I was dumb. I understand that now, and I thought everything was all cool. Then ol’ girl started switching up.
Next thing I know, she takes the kid. And because I'm a foreigner, now I can't see the kid.
I can't get my kid back. Like, the system just trusts her.
It's just... it's a lot, so I haven't seen her. "
"Your daughter."
"Yeah."
"What's her name?"
"Bella."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Jesus. Like, they won't let you see her at all?"
"Her whole family has turned against me, and I have, like, an order that if I come around, they call the cops."
"Were you violent?" I pry almost playfully, just trying to cut through the heavy mood.
"I mean, if someone tried to take your kid and lie on you, wouldn't you kinda be violent?
But no, I never hit her or anything. I yelled.
I was angry, and I was frustrated. Her whole family turned against me.
Her father and all her brothers and cousins threatened me with knives and shit.
I almost didn't make it out of there. I've been trying to get custody of her and stuff. "
"Jesus. That's rough,” I admit, now feeling sad for him.
"And then it's worse," he chuckles without a trace of humor. "They try to make it look like I am the monster. Like I'm the one who left my kid. I've been trying my best to get her back, you know? But I don't know, Melody. Life sucks sometimes."
"Does she know that you're her father?"
"At this point, I don't know."
"How old is she?"
"She's six."
Hearing the pain in his voice makes it clear how bad this is eating him up. It really sucks for him, and being in a spot where doing something about it is impossible is the worst feeling. I love helping people, but this is one of those situations where there is no easy solution.
It’s not like I can wave my hands and make it go away, even if I throw my husband’s money at it.
"Hey. Do you wanna go to the community center with me?"
"The what?"
"I help with charity and stuff, and I mean, there's a lot of people there that have gone through really horrible things," I explain, sitting up a bit more. "And I think there are some people there too that might be smarter than me when it comes to this stuff. Maybe they'll be able to help you."
"No. I don't wanna air my business out to everyone."
"I mean, you told me," I point out the obvious. "That's one of the things about the community center. Like, everybody shares stuff with people."
"That's not me, though."
"Terry, come on."
"Maybe tomorrow,” he retorts with more underlying agitation in his tone.
I hang back. "Okay,” I say, giving in.
Pushing him is probably not the best thing to do right now. I know what it feels like to be completely out of it and not want to do anything.
The next few hours pass by like nothing. We just chill down below deck, listening to music while the time slips away unnoticed.
Eventually, the two of us start dancing around to some really good tracks.
An old classic, "Brain Stew" by Green Day, comes on through the speakers, and both of us are just bobbing our heads to the heavy beat, laughing our eyes out of our heads.
Maybe we’ve had a little too much to drink as well.
Taking a clumsy step, my foot catches, but Terry reaches out and catches me all smooth.
He just… holds me there for a minute. And man…
I already know what’s coming.
His head tilts and he slowly moves right in to kiss me.
Everything in my body comes alive, completely starved for actual attention. His lips barely brush against mine before I take a step back and turn my face away.
My heart is knocking like mad because I almost let him kiss me.
"Sorry," he murmurs.
"No. I... I think..."
I don't wanna say it. I don't want him to leave, because everything inside of me right now, no fucking lie, wants to get on this bed right here, spread my legs open, and let this man nut a fat one inside of me.
But I'm not that desperate, and I'm not that person.
I'm not gonna cheat on my husband no matter what's going on.
"Terry, we're both broken people."
"You're not broken," he chuckles softly, holding on and gently caressing my cheek with one hand.
"Honestly, you're the best thing about my whole month that I've come across right now.
I'm glad I ran into you. And I know you're taken and everything, I don't mean any disrespect, but I'm guessing you're just as unhappy.
Because if you weren't, your husband would be out here with you right now, right? "
"He's busy doing… stuff."
"Yeah," he mutters like he doesn’t believe me.
"He can't be home all the time, you know?" I try to convince him, moreso talking to myself.
Terry looks at me, almost with pity. "Yep. Of course."
I don't like the pitiful look he's giving me.
"And I like my alone time. I'm a massive introvert, you know? I like being by myself."
"Right," Terry counters with a knowing grin. "Except introverts are usually happy when they're alone, and you… don’t actually look happy."
Looking him right in the eyes, my boundary goes right back up. "Still not gonna make me sleep with you, though."
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