I woke up the next morning to an empty space beside me. As I at up , I remembered the events that took place the night before. I know I shouldn't have brought up anything about how I don't have a dad and stuff. I wasn't really thinking about the long term effect. I picked up my phone from the nightstand and as soon I was going to text him, he was calling me.
"Hello?", I answered.
"Hey.. I was just wondering if you were up. I took Cayson to daycare."
"Ohh.. Thank you."
"Im on my way back though. Do you want to go have brunch?"
"Brunch?", I said smiling.
"Breakfast and/ or lunch.. It's like 11:30. I don't know what it is anymore", he laughed.
"Yeah okay but I need to hurry up and get ready before you get here."
"Nah it's fine. I gotta come up again anyways so just take your time."
"Alright I will. Bye."
"Bye."
I put my phone back on the charger and got ready for the shower. All I had to was take off my bra and underwear. I hate sleeping with clothes on, especially when it's hot.
As soon as I stepped into the shower, I heard the bedroom door open.
"Ava!?", Chres called out. I don't know why he's yelling. Im sure he can hear the shower water running.
"Im in the shower!", I yelled back.
He opened the door only enough for his head to peek in,"Oh. Just wanted to make sure."
I squirted the soap on the towel and started rubbing it onto my body. "You had to look to make sure?"
"Yes babe I did. Now hurry up cause Im hungry." And with that he closed the door.
By the time I was out, he already had an outfit and some underwear and stuff on the bed.
"Really?", I said picking up the turquoise and purple lace thong. "Why?"
"Because that's my favorite. Now put your clothes on so we can go please."
"What if I don't like what you got out for me?"
He looked at me then rolled his eyes. "I remember you wearing this outfit before so you can't even say that."
"Whatever."
I threw on my clothes quickly and brushed my hair out. Im glad that my hair was curly so it won't look that bad when it dried out.
"Are you ready?", he asked.
"Yeah just a -", I was interrupted by my phone ringing. "Hello?"
"Ava?" It was my mom.
"Yeah, hey mom. Can I call you back when we get back?"
"No I need to talk to you now."
I scrunched my eyebrows,"okay what's up?"
"We just landed."
"Landed? What do you mean you just landed? You left?"
"Yes.. We had no choice. We needed to get out of Atlanta quick or things were going to get really bad."
"So you just up and leave out the middle of nowhere? Are you kidding me? You didn't say bye to me, Chres, or Cayson. Do you know how sad he's going to be to find out his fucking grandma left him?"
"Ava it's not my fault. Like I said we had no choice. There's too much going on with Cameron-"
"Cameron? This is all because of Cameron? You left for him?"
"You did the exact thing Ava. You need to understand that things were going on. He has bad history here just like Chres did. We just had to go."
"But we didn't leave anyone there. You left us here without a goodbye or anything. Are you kidding me?"
"I will talk to you later ok?"
"Goodbye", I said and hung up.
"Soooo", Chres said obviously knowing something was going on.
"She left. Like already gone. She didn't say by or anything and she still won't tell me what's going on. It doesn't matter though anymore cause I don't care."
"You do care. You just don't want to admit it. There has to be an important reason that she just left like that, you know. Your mom wouldn't just do something like that", he explained to me.
"Or maybe Cameron made her do it. Maybe he wasn't the guy we thought he was."
"How about we just order Chinese or something. We could stay in. I won't mind."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
****
As I was eating my orange chicken, I caught Chres staring at me. "Is there something on my face?"
"No you're just beautiful."
"And you're just cheesy", I laughed,"but seriously. Why are you staring?"
"Every time I look at you, I just think about all the stuff that we went through and how much you've helped me. I know you don't like when I bring it up but I will just never fully believe that you're all mines. I always thought I would be alone but I have you now and Im so grateful for that, you know? I always feel like Im just going to wake up one day in my old house and you wouldn't be there. Neither would Cayson. No matter how bad I fuck up, Ava, I need you to promise you'll always be here for me. That you and Cayson will never leave. Can you promise me that?"
I nodded, still trying to take in everything he just said.
"I need to hear you say it, babe."
"I promise we won't leave you", I said looking straight at him. He started to lean forward but I backed up. "Im eating, Chres. Why are you trying to kiss me?", I laughed.
"Just let me kiss you please. We're eating the same thing", he smiled.
I went forward, leaving a quick little kiss on his lips. I pulled away to see the frown he had on his face.
"I just spent 5 minutes pouring my heart out to you and this is what I get?", he asked with a playful smile.
"You can get more after I eat."
****
I don't remember falling asleep but I was awaken by my phone ringing.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon Mrs. August. I was just calling to confirm the pickup of Cayson."
I sat straight up, fully awake. Chres was still here so I knew it wasn't him that picked Cayson up.
"What are you talking about?"
"Cayson was picked up earlier by.. Hold on one second", the lady said.
"Fuck. Chres!", I yelled.
"Im in the bathroom!", he yelled back.
"Miss, are you still there?"
"Yes I am. Who picked up my son and why didn't you tell me when it happened?"
"Miss Brenda picked up Cayson about 4 hours ago. She said to call you around this time because you would be home from work", she explained.
"Why the fuck would you give her my kid?!"
"You registered her as one of the guardians, ma'am. Did you not?"
I hung up the phone and called for Chres. "CHRES GET OUT THE BATHROOM!"
He came into the living room, hands still wet. "What?"
"Brenda took Cayson! That's what happened!"
"What do you mean? You said she was already in California."
"That's what she told me", I said almost having a panic attack. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
"Ava calm down. We know that he is not in trouble if he's with Brenda."
I picked up my phone and dialed my moms number. She seemed to pick up as soon as it started ringing. "Ava."
"Mom where are you? Where are you and Cayson?"
"Ava I --"
"No! I don't want to hear anything else except for where you guys are!", I started yelling.
"On our way."
"On your way where?! Where are you taking him?!"
"Im taking him with us Ava, what do you think?"
I was on the verge of tears now. I was so scared. "Why? Why are you taking him from us?"
"Cameron thought it'd be the only way to convince you to move out here with us." I did remember all the times she's asked us to come along but that wasn't happening.
"Do you know how STUPID you sound right now?!!"
I didn't notice I was shaking so hard until Chres rested his hands on my shoulders. "What's going on?"
"She too Cayson because fucking Cameron said its be the only way to convince us to move out there."
I heard Chres take a deep breath. I knew he was trying to keep his composure but I was failing at that right now.
"Where are you right now? Tell me exactly where you are. I don't know what you were thinking, taking Cayson away."
"He's doing fine right now. He's having fun."
"Where are you? If I have to ask again, Im calling the police."
"Our flight leaves tonight. You could still come-"
"MOM!"
I heard the keys being picked up off the dining table. "Lets go. Now."
I quickly put on my shoes and followed Chres out the door.
"Are you at the airport?"
"No."
"Then where are you?"
"Im in the car. Cameron stopped at one of his friends houses."
"Where?"
"Please come with us, Ava. Please?"
"What has gotten into you? What's going on? I never would have thought you'd steal Cayson like that and take him with you across the country!"
"I don't know."
"Is it Cameron? Is he making you do this?"
"He talked me into it. He thought that Chres had too much of a dangerous lifestyle.. I don't know, Ava. I was thinking about Cayson. I don't want him getting into any drama you guys have."
Chres' hand reached out in front of me,"Give me the phone." I handed him the phone and he put it up to his ear. "Im going to hang up the phone now. If you don't text me within 5 minutes with an address and I find you guys myself, we will have some very serious problems. But you are a woman so therefore I won't put my hands on you. I guarantee you though, that when I see Cameron, things will get very bad. Do you understand me?"
"Yeah but-"
"No. I said do you understand?"
"Yes."
And with that he hung up.
•••••
I am trying sooooo hard to write this story while managing school but it's so hard. I wrote this while I was on the plane lol so if it sucks IM. SO. SORRY.