Chapter Seven

One month later...

Adam

The house was a mess.

We were setting everything for Kayla's birthday. Khalan's mother Jada and I. She insisted on preparing everything from the food to the decorations and I was glad she was helping me because alone would be chaos.

"Adam I think we should move this table and put it in the corner that would give more space around the living room."

"Sounds great, let's move this thing." 

Jada and I started to move things from one place to another; the girls were at Andre's house. In the last month we get a little closer, he is such an amazing man. We are letting things go slowly between us, he knows I just got out of a relationship and I do not want to hurt him, because my feelings are still very strong for another person.

Talking about the other person, Khalan and me managed to stay civilized with each other, I know he feels guilty for yelling at me that other day but he never apologized, but that would not make any difference right now, we are not good together anymore and I accept that now. He started to be more present lately, do not pass a week without him seeing the girls, I was afraid he would neglect them. I am happy he did not.

"Khalan is coming?" Jada asked me.

"Yeah he texted me earlier and told me he's coming with a friend." I was so pissed off because he did not want to tell me whom this friend was. He knows that if he brings Mike, that bitch will not enter my house. The last time I let him in, he fucked with my life.

"I hope it is not Mike. I don't like that man." Jada says and I smile at how much in common we have looks like I am her son.

"Me too because I don't want to cause a scene on my daughter's birthday."

"How are you two going?"

"Well we are co-parenting. Is a little awkward between us but we are managing."

"I hope Khalan comes to his senses someday but that might be a little too late." She says looking at me.

"Honestly I don't think this day would ever come Jada. The life he had in Atlanta was what he always dreamed."

"I'm sorry Adam."

"Is it not your fault, Jada." Is incredible how Jada and I started to get along with each other. When we first met, she kind of disliked me because she thought I was keeping the girls from her. Khalan was the responsible for this; he did not tell her until the day we met that he has two daughters. She was so pissed that day; she cursed him to the moon and back. Then she understood that Khalan was whom did both of us wrong, and we started to get along. She is of incredible help since she lives nearby, she always comes to help with the girls.

"I can't help but feel guilty."

"Well let's forget about it, come on we had a lot of things to do."

---

The party was a success. Jada really has a talent for this stuff.

I did not invite many people, just some friends of Kayla from her kindergarten, a few friends of Aaliyah, Andre, Brenda, and Khalan who didn't have arrived yet.

The kids were playing in the backyard, which has a ball pit, and they were very happy. The birthday girl was the happiest, she was at the pool playing with her friends, the adults were sitting at the table eating and talking, we decided to make a barbecue and Andre offered to help in the grill since he's a chef at barbecues.

His words, not mine.

"Want me to fix you a plate."

"Yes please, I didn't eat anything."

"Oh we can't let you starve can we?" He says laughing. I started to get so used to his presence and the person he is, who is amazing.

Suddenly I hear Aaliyah saying daddy, I turn around to look and Khalan is here. He picks her up giving her many kisses until he goes to Kayla.

"Where's the birthday lady?" He says to her and she giggles making grabbing hands for him to pick her up.

"Dada, dada."

"How is my love? Enjoying getting older. Daddy brought a gift for you." He says and puts her down then gives her a package. She started to rip it open to reveal a doll inside of it. "She looks like you baby doesn't she?" She just giggled all happy.

I didn't notice before but there is a female with him, a very gorgeous one. She has dark skin and many curves and Khalan looks very comfortable around her. After giving Kayla her gift and greeting his mother, he was coming to where Andre and I were. I am intrigued by who this girl is.

"Hey, how are you?"

"Good. You?" He gives an awkward half smile and the situation is so weird. Looks like I'm talking with a stranger, not the man who was with me most part of my life. He just looked at Andre in the grill but didn't say anything.

"Come on K you're not going to introduce me?" The girl at his side says. Looking at her from closer you can see she's very beautiful.

I felt jealous of her.

"Oh yeah sorry. Adam that is Susy. Susy, this is the famous Adam." I feel a tingle in my heart; he is talking about me with her? She never talked about me with anybody; she must be special to him.

"Nice to meet you, please make yourself at home."

"Very nice house congrats. And the girls... They're so cute."

"Well they have my look so." Khalan says and they both laugh as an inside joke, as if they are the best of friends. I felt irritated all of sudden and decided to leave them there.

I stand at Andre's side at the grill and keep looking as they interact with each other.

"Who's the girl?" Andre asked me.

"I don't know, Khalan's friend I suppose."

"You didn't like her?"

"Nah is not that."

"What is it then?"  He asks looking at me and I do not even know what that is.

"Nothing let's enjoy the party." I say.

---

I was washing the dishes from the party. Jada was already sleeping upstairs and the girls knocked down in their bedroom. I'm glad tomorrow is Sunday and they will be able to sleep a little more.

I felt a presence make himself known, immediately I know is Khalan. He stayed and decided to come back to Atlanta tomorrow at night.

After our break up, we did not talk properly about the situation, simply because he was avoiding me. I knew he felt bad about yelling at me that night but I couldn't accept his behavior and just forget about it.

"Want some help?" He asked.

"No I'm almost done." Is a weird situation honestly.

"I'm sorry Adam." He says. I feel my eyes watering, the amount of feelings this word holds.

"What are you apologizing for?" I ask without turning around.

"For everything but especially for yelling at you. I was a fucking idiot when you did nothing but love me."

"Is okay. Is in the past now."

"Is not okay Adam, look at me please?" He pleads.

I turned around to look at him and met the eyes of that seventeen-year-old Khalan.

Life was much easier with him.

"I managed to hurt the only person who's ever gave a fuck about me. This last month I realized how stupid I was with you all those years. I should never have let you go that day, which was the biggest regret of my life; we were so happy back then." He says getting closer to me. "We were so in love, everything was perfect. When did we lose each other?" He puts his hands on my face. "Please, let's go back to those happy times. Move back to Atlanta with me Adam, let's start again, please?"

"We already tried, Khalan. For seven years, we tried but didn't work out and that's okay. Maybe we are better as friends and parents." I took off his hands from my face.

"Seven years Adam, we can't erase seven years like that. We were happy before."

"I wasn't. In the last couple of years I haven't been happy, Khalan. The secrets, the media, people trying to separate us. Now I have some peace at least."

"Please Adam; you want me to kneel before you? Fine, I do this." He says getting down on his knees. 

"Khalan no stop, get up."

"Please-"

"Andre and I are getting to know each other." I say rushed because the scene before me was hurting my heart.

The silence washed the kitchen, Khalan was on his knees tears streaming down on his face. "We are not good for each other anymore." I say. 

"I don't want to lose you." He says with a weak voice.

"Sometimes life doesn't work as we want Khalan, I was there for you for so many times, available, loving, and caring and you never gave a shit. I see that now. I'm moving on, you should too."

"You don't love me anymore?" I could say I did not, I could end this right here and right now but my heart would not let me lie. I don't think I will ever be able to stop love him.

"Far from it Khalan. That is why we should be together anymore. I was the only one who made sacrifices."

I turn around leaving Khalan there and leave for my bedroom. Laying in my bed everything hits me and I start to cry until the sleep catches me.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.