Ever since my 'chat' with Lauren, I had stayed at a coffee shop around the corner from my apartment. I couldn't find it in myself to go back home because one: I knew that that would be the first place Lauren would look for me, and two: I needed time to think and be alone.
At first, I stayed by myself, drinking coffee and acting inanimately as I sipped it and looked out the window. People passed by, people of all ages. I saw old couples, who looked content with their lives. Young people, spending time with their families. Children, making the most of their childhood. And young adults, like me, enjoying their youth as they should be. As cruel and selfish as it is to think, I wondered what my life would have been like if I didn't meet Lauren, or if I didn't have Eddie. I could have been in a successful career right about now.
But then, when I realised how completely selfish I was being, I stopped those thoughts and allowed my mind to wander. I tried to block out the events of today - no more Lauren finding out about Eddie, no more Lauren asking me all those questions, just me.
My phone kept ringing at one point. The texts and calls were mostly from Lauren. So eventually, I turned the device off completely. It helped.
Once the usual busy atmosphere of the coffee shop died down, I decided to turn my phone back on and check the time. It had started to get slightly darker outside, so I knew it must have been late, but by reading the time on my phone as 7:19 pm, I knew it was time for me to leave. As much as I wanted to get away from everything, it wasn't just me anymore. I had a son to take care of, too. It wasn't always like that, I reminded myself, but it was now.
I didn't bother calling Y/BF/N to let her know I was returning home. She would know when I arrived there, anyway. Instead, I walked the fifteen minute journey to my apartment complex and headed to my floor, being wary of recognising any dark-haired Cubans that wanted to find me. Thankfully, I hadn't seen her as I made it to my front door, so I could finally sigh in relief when I pushed it open and stepped inside.
After locking my door, the noise of giggling from Eddie brought my attention to the living room, and that's when my heart practically stopped. The three figures that were seated on the couch looked up at me. Two with smiles on their faces, and the third with a guilty expression.
"Mummy, look!" Eddie shouted excitedly. "It's my friend Lauren from the elevator!"
He was seated on Lauren's knee and she had her arms wrapped around his waist protectively. Just the sight of them together made me angry. How did she have the audacity to sit there and play with my son when she was practically criticising him only hours before?
"Um, sorry," Lauren apologised, gently placing Eddie on the ground and standing up awkwardly. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to talk."
I clenched my jaw and Y/BF/N also stood up. She looked between Lauren and I, and when she saw the looks on our faces, I think she knew something was up.
"Lauren here was waiting outside your door when I picked Ed up from school," she began to explain, cautiously choosing her words. "I invited her in because she wanted to speak to you and wouldn't leave anyway. I didn't think you would mind, Y/N."
I exhaled heavily, hoping to release my anger. "Not at all. But, do you think you could give us a moment, Y/BF/N?"
Y/BF/N nodded and held out her hand for Eddie to grab. "Come on, little man. Let's go for a walk."
Eddie grabbed her hand and the two of them walked past me to put on their shoes and grab their jackets.
"Call me if you need anything," Y/BF/N said quietly by my ear, before leading Eddie out the door.
Once the door clicked shut, I found myself glaring at Lauren. "What the fuck are you doing here, Lauren? What gives you the right to come into my apartment and bond with my son, hm?"
She frowned apologetically but I was having none of it. "Y/N, I'm so sorry for the things I said to you. It was out of line and–"
"Out of line?!" I raised my voice now. "You accused me of sleeping around and called me a slut! You know nothing about me or Eddie. How dare you say all of that and come to apologise as if you had only broken my phone or something!"
She didn't respond, only looked down to her feet guiltily. Meanwhile, I didn't feel an ounce of guilt for how I was making her feel. She deserved it.
"Out of all people, you were the last person that I thought would jump to conclusions," I spoke gentler this time, frowning as my eyes became teary. "Do you know how hard it is to hear the person you love call you a slut?"
This seemed to get her attention, as she finally looked up and met my eyes. "You still love me?"
I laughed bitterly. "As if you didn't know. I never freakin' stopped, Lauren. You are my first and only love. As much as I hate it, it's the truth."
To know she thought of me as something so dirty physically pained me, and I couldn't help the tear that slipped from my eye. She frowned and stepped forward, only to see me step back.
"What do you want?" I whispered.
Hurt was evident in her features, and she said, "I want to talk about everything. Us. Eddie." I didn't reply because I didn't know what to say, so she continued. "He looks just like you..."
Her eyes pooled with tears as she watched me with a sad smile on her lips.
"I know," I looked down to my feet.
"He's a little gentleman, you know," she said with amusement, and I looked up again. "He literally walked up to me and wanted to shake my hand. How cute is that?"
I gave a small smile at the sound of Eddie doing this. I was glad he was learning to be a gentleman. That's all any mother could ask to hear about her son, right?
"Please can you tell me what happened when you left me?" she pleaded. "How did Eddie come about? That's all I'm asking and then I promise to leave you alone, Y/N."
I licked my lips and sighed, feeling warm tears trickle down my cheeks. She deserved to know the truth. But the truth was a lot harder to tell than it seemed. I nodded slowly and walked forward to sit on the couch. I didn't look up, but I felt the cushion press in and a lavender scent travel up my nose, so I knew she was next to me.
"Where do I start?"
I looked up and saw her staring at me intently. When she realised I had asked a question, she jumped a little before relaxing.
"Why you left?"
I nodded slowly and used my fingers to play with my shirt sleeves. It was something I did when I was nervous. "You know why I left you. The reason I told you was the truth. Our time wasn't right. You were too busy for me and we barely had a relationship. It wasn't working, and sometimes, love isn't enough to keep one going."
The painful memories of all the times that Lauren was too busy for me flashed through my mind, and I frowned at the thought.
"I'm so sorry," she apologised, and her green emeralds were glossed over, piercing through mine. I could see the honesty shining in them, and I knew she meant what she had said.
"It's not your fault," I reassured her gently. "That was your life and you couldn't help it. None of us could."
She looked down to her hands which were fumbling about in her lap. I noticed that they were shaking, and I knew how nervous and scared she was feeling. It was a foreign observation for me because Lauren was always so calm and collected, but this time, she was the complete opposite. It was sort of honouring to know that I meant this much to her.
I didn't even get time to think it over before I placed my hand on both of hers, causing her to stop shaking and look up at me. I sent her a weary smile and she returned it. I didn't move my hand away.
"After we broke up, I continued my life like normal. Finishing up my last year of high school, working summer jobs to pay off college - you know, the usual." I gulped down my nerves and licked my chapped lips again. "However, after coming home from work in the summer before I was initially supposed to start college, someone approached me."
I tensed up at the horrible memory. I hadn't told this story in five years, and I certainly didn't miss it.
"H-he wanted me to pleasure him," I got out, feeling tears slip from my eyes. I already felt disgusted with what I was saying. "I tried to leave, but he was t-too strong and–"
"Stop," she interrupted immediately. "Don't tell me."
"But Lauren, you–"
She shook her head. "No. I don't want to hear it."
I looked down to my lap and clamped my eyes shut, hoping to stop the tears, but they wouldn't. Horrible flashbacks came to mind, and I began to sob uncontrollably. The alleyway, the disgusting, perverted man, the hospital, the news - everything was there. And it wouldn't disappear. It was all permanently etched in my mind. Forever.
"I'm so sorry," Lauren whispered, and I felt her kiss the top of my head.
It was only then that I realised that she was holding me and I was tucked into her chest. It felt amazing to be in her arms again. She made me feel safe, like nothing could touch me. Nothing could hurt me. I had craved that feeling for the past five years, and I finally got it back.
"I should have been there for you," she mumbled into my hair. "I should have come back."
I minimised my sobs and pulled away slightly, enough to face her. "You wouldn't have known this would have happened, Lauren. No one would have."
"But I could have–"
"But nothing," I interrupted her. "It's already happened now. It's over. That's how Eddie was born. And to answer your previous question? I don't know who the father is because they never caught the guy."
She frowned and I felt her hand cup my face. "I don't care whether you despise me, Y/N, because I'm never leaving you again. I'm not letting anyone touch you again."
I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch. Hearing her say those words was all I ever wanted. I never wanted her to leave. And I think she finally realised that.
I didn't even get chance to open my eyes and respond because the next thing I knew, I felt her soft lips being pressed against mine. A surge of energy pulsed through me and I began to kiss back, tangling my hands in her hair. For five years I had wanted to kiss her lips, the last time being when I broke up with her, and now that I was, it felt ethereal. She was back and kissing me. Her heaven-filled lips were moving against mine and I had never felt more loved in my whole life than I had right now.
Eventually, we had to breathe, so we pulled away and opened our eyes, breathing heavily. Her electric green eyes were staring through mine and I felt all the love and adoration she was sharing.
"I missed you so much, Lauren," I finally admitted, pulling her in for another hug and digging my head into her neck.
She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me closer, so I was practically sitting on her lap. "I missed you, too."
//
When I said short story, I literally meant short story, meaning this is the last part! Well, technically there's still the epilogue which I'm posting tomorrow, and then that's the last part. But, I'm glad you all enjoyed it :)
You now know how Eddie came about and what happened between you and Lauren. I hope you liked this part!
On another note, Merry Christmas! I hope you all have/are having an awesome day :)
