His Side

“This isn’t working for me anymore,” I told Morgan.

She stared at me in disbelief.

“What?”

“You heard me. This.” I paused and pointed between the two of us. “isn’t working anymore.”

Morgan looked like I had just spit in her face. She cocked her head back and stared at me with her face balled up.

“Where is this coming from?”

I licked my lips and ran my hand over my head.

“From me. Shit in my life is too complicated and I don’t need to continue to try and open doors when the last one isn’t closed.”

The sadness that was in Kayla’s eyes stayed burned in my head after she left. I was tired of giving her the cold shoulder. The both of us fucked up and I was ready for us to face it and move on.

For the past year, I wanted Kayla back home with me and now here she was and I haven’t held her. We didn’t fall asleep together, we barely spoke. I still felt as if she was gone.

“Is this about your baby mother coming back?” I had been straight up with Morgan from the moment Kayla returned. I learned my lesson about hiding things. Even though me and Morgan weren’t anything serious I still wanted to keep everything on the table.

“I’m not even going to front it is. I want to make it work with her.” Morgan’s face dropped.

“Wow so just fuck me huh?”

I sighed. “I’m not saying it like that but I mean yeah. I love my baby mom and I don’t want to keep fighting that.”

A pissed off chuckle escaped Morgan’s mouth. “Wow, so you just wasted my time until she came back?”

“Nah, I didn’t expect her to come back but she did and she’s here. Don’t act like I didn’t tell you from the beginning I was holding on to her coming back to me.”

Morgan gave me a blank stare. “Wow.”

We sat on the phone in silence. “So this is really it?”

I nodded. “It is.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

The phone disconnected.

I wasn’t trying to hurt Morgan but I wasn’t going to lead her on either. If I had to choose between her and Kayla she would lose every time.

***

For some reason, my stomach was turning as I waited for Kayla to come home.

I had fed, bathed and put Aria to sleep.

I ordered food and was currently sitting on the couch looking down at my phone.

I had hit Kayla up a while ago asking her when she was coming back. She told me she wouldn’t be too much longer, now I was anticipating her arrival.

I felt like I was a teenager going on my first date. Even though I’ve known Kayla for years the fact that for the past year we had been strangers to one another had me feeling like I didn’t know her at all.

I didn’t like that feeling.

I was ready to have my better half back.

The front door opened causing me to hop up. I tossed my phone to the side and headed for the door to meet Kayla.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to be gone all day.” She said stepping in the door.

I walked up to her and grabbed the bags out her hands. “It’s good you deserve it.”

She gave me a confused look. “You feeling alright?”

Giving her a small smile I nodded.

Kayla sniffed the air. “What’s the smell?”

“I figured you would be hungry so I ordered food.” Her eyes widened.

“Really.”

Chuckling I nodded again. “Yeah girl. Go upstairs and shower then meet me in the dining room. I think it’s about time we talked.” I could see her mind racing but I didn’t have anything else to say.

I headed into the living room and set her bags on the floor near the couch.

20 minutes later Kayla was sitting in front of me in the dining room. We were eating in silence. Every so often she would look up at me.

I wasn’t really sure how to start things with us. It felt like so much shit has happened that a simple ‘I’m sorry’ wasn’t enough.

“I dropped the ball.” I finally spoke up, not liking the tension in the air.

Kayla stopped mid-bite and looked at me. “You lost a baby, our baby, and I should have known the reason why you were lashing out was because you were hurting. Instead of being patient with you I allowed you to push me away. I didn’t fight enough to be there for you.” Kayla had set her silverware down, giving me her full attention now. “When I slept with Cassie I was hurting from the miscarriage, I was angry because you wouldn’t allow me to be there for you, I was hurt that you wanted to leave me. I was just thinking about me and I should have been thinking about us! I didn’t expect to get her pregnant. The both of us were drunk and shit got out of hand. The moment I found out about Summer I should have told you. I have been straight up with you and let you choose if you wanted to stick with me.

I was a coward. I wasn’t trying to leave you so I stayed quiet. I lashed out at you because I was upset at the situation I had put myself in. I love my daughter, but I hate how her being here hurt you. You took a chance on me, Kayla, moved here away from all your family, and never did you complain. I should have handled you and your heart better.” By now Kayla had tears running down her face.

I stood up and made my way over to her. I grabbed her chair and turned her so she could face me. Bending down I grabbed her hand.

“I love you Kayla, with every breath in my body. Outside of my kids, you’re the most important person in my life. My heart outside my chest. For the last year I been walking around hollow inside. Feeling like there was a hole that couldn’t be repaired because my heart was gone.” I squeezed her hand.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for pushing you away. I’m sorry you had to go through your pregnancy alone.” I lifted her hand and kissed it softly. “I want to give us another chance if you’re willing. I know things won’t be like they were but I’m willing to put the work in to repair us.”

Kayla’s shoulders were shaking from how hard she was crying. “I’m sorry too.” She struggled to get out. “I shouldn’t have ran and hid Aria from you. I knew how much being a father meant to you and I knew it would hurt you. I wasn’t thinking about how our daughter would be affected or how wrong it was. I just wanted to hurt you like you done me. I was selfish and I’m sorry.”

Standing up and pulled Kayla up with me. “I get why you did it and I forgive you. You’re here now and so is Aria. I don’t want to keep reliving the past I want me and you to start over. I want you to love me again.”

Kayla looked up at me with glossy eyes. “I never stopped loving you.”

For some reason a wave of relief shot through me. Not being able to resist anymore I leaned up and connected my mouth with hers.

Fireworks erupted inside me. It had been so long since I taste her lips that I couldn’t help by devouring them hungrily.

I grabbed the back of her neck pulling her more into me kissing her deeper.

Kayla moaned inside my mouth.

“Vince, wait.” She mumbled against my lips.

“What’s up baby?”

“What about that girl? Don’t you have a girlfriend?” I frowned.

“Nah, I cut that off earlier. It’s just me and you baby!” I kissed her again.

“We can’t go back to how we were Vince. We have a lot to work on.” She said in between me kissing her.

“I know. I don’t want to go back to that. I want to be better.” I bent down and picked her up causing her to yelp.

Her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around me neck.

“Promise me you won’t hurt me again.” Her voice was low. The pain that displayed in her eyes almost made my knees buckle.

“I promise. I’ll hurt me before I hurt you again.” I turned and headed out the dining room to our bedroom.

Laying Kayla on the bed I hovered over her.

“Don’t leave me again.” I desperately begged. I didn’t care how I sounded I wouldn’t be able to handle Kayla leaving me again.

A small grin appeared on her face. “I won’t.” She promised leaning up kissing me.