Rylan

Amelia made her way up the stairs, her body heavy with exhaustion. She was tired of everything. All she needed now was her son, Mikey.

As she entered the apartment, Mikey came rushing toward her, arms wide open. “Mom!” he cried, holding her tightly as though he never wanted to let go.

“Honey, are you okay?” Amelia felt tears roll down his cheeks. “Don't cry, Mikey… Mummy's here” She gave him a reassuring pat on the head. Amelia loved Mikey with everything in her. She wasn't going to let anything or anyone come between them. Not even Kris. If he didn't want Mikey, she'd take care of him herself, just like always.

“Where’s Mel?” she asked, hoping to thank her for watching over Mikey.

“She’s still at work, but Sherie’s here,” Mikey answered.

“Hi, Mrs. Quinn,” Sherie greeted from the kitchen, smiling. She was the regular babysitter when Mel and Amelia weren't home.

“I’ve told you, Sherie, it’s just Amelia.” She didn't want anything to do with the Quinn family; bearing their name was bad enough.

“Oh, sorry about that,” Sherie said with hands over her head, “I'm almost done here. Do you need me to go?”

“No” Amelia replied, “I'm heading out”

Mikey hung on to Amelia, “Don't go, Mom. You just got home from the hospital”

“I'll be back soon” Amelia gently released Mikey's grip on her, kissing his forehead. “Be good.” with that, she left the apartment and took a cab to Enchanté, the bar where Mel worked.

****************

“Amelia!” Mel came running toward her, eyes wide with concern. She wrapped Amelia in a tight hug. “Are you okay? Mikey told me you got hurt.”

“I’m fine,” Amelia assured her as they let go. “Thanks for looking after him. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Hey, you know I love that kid.” Mel smiled warmly, leading Amelia to the VIP lounge. “Here, this one’s on me,” she said, pouring Amelia a drink.

“Thanks,” Amelia replied, downing the glass quickly, the burn of the alcohol a welcome distraction.

Mel’s eyes narrowed as she took a sip of her own drink. “Mikey mentioned you got shot trying to protect his friend. Any idea why they wanted to kill him?” Mel began to ask, curious to know the full story.

“Well, I don't know… But I think they wanted to kidnap him, not kill him,” Amelia replied, remembering what had happened.

“Damn! Must be some rich guy's kid to be a kidnapping target,” Mel said as she sipped her own drink.

“That kid is Kris's son,” Amelia said as she looked at Mel.

Mel nearly spat out her drink. “What?! Kris—the guy you’re hiding Mikey from? That Kris?”

“Yeah,” Amelia replied, her voice hollow.

“Wait, wait, wait… why does he look so much like Mikey though?” She slowly turned to Amelia. “Don't tell me…”

Amelia looked down, her hands shaking slightly. “Yes. Kris is Mikey’s father.”

Mel’s eyes widened. “Girrrl, your baby daddy has another son? Does he know?”

Amelia buried her face in her hands, the weight of her secret feeling unbearable. “No. He has no idea.”

“Oh my God,” Mel whispered, clearly shocked. “So what's the plan now?”

“I don’t know.” Amelia’s voice cracked. “I asked him if he would ever want a family, and he made it clear he doesn’t. I don't think he'll accept Mikey.”

Mel slammed her glass down. “Screw him! You don’t need a man who doesn’t want his own kid.” She poured Amelia another drink, stronger this time. “What you need is a night to forget about him. Relax, have fun.

“Thanks, Mel.” Amelia stood up on the dance floor, the alcohol already taking effect; she wiggled her waist and danced to the beat for hours until she started to give in.

“Oops, sorry there, handsome stranger,” Amelia apologized to the Man she had just bumped into.

The man didn't say a word. Instead, he grabbed onto her waist, gently squeezing her ass; he whispered in her ear, “Wanna get out of here?”

Amelia bit her lips as she put her hands on his shoulders, “does this answer your question?” She kissed him. Her lips lingered with the taste of alcohol. The man kissed back, his a little more fierce. Amelia wasn't in control anymore; the alcohol had completely taken over.

The man lifted her with his arms, still engulfed in the hot kiss, not once letting go. He threw Amelia into the counter, and they continued their make-out, not minding what others thought.

“That's my girl!” Mel shouted out as she watched the two from afar.

Just then, Amelia's phone rang. It was Kris.

“Where the hell are you?” Kris asked her over the phone. “Is that music? Are you at the bar? You know what, I don't care. I'll be at your house in 10. Better be there” he hung up the phone.

“Bastard! Always bossing me around. I hate him” Amelia said with arms still wrapped around the man.

“I've gotta go.” She released her hands as she tried to get off the counter but fell. Luckily, the man's big, strong arms caught her in time. “Wow, you're like Hercules,” she said, still under the influence of the alcohol.

“Why thank you, people do say I came from the gods” he chuckled as he lifted her bridal style. “C'mon cutie, I'll take you home. Where do you live?”

“Here.” Mel, from nowhere, handed him a piece of paper. “This is her address. We live together”

“Thanks,” he said as he took the paper from Mel. And with Amelia still in his arms, he made his way outside to where his car was parked.

*******************

The man drops Amelia in front of her apartment and drives off. Almost immediately after, Kris arrives.

“Who was that just now?” Kris asked with brows raised.

Amelia, still woozy from the alcohol, stumbled past him. “None of your business. Go away.”

“Are you drunk?” He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him. “I can smell the alcohol on you.”

Amelia laughed bitterly. “Goodnight, Mr. Bossy Pants,” she slurred, turning toward the stairs.

“Not so fast.” Kris’s grip tightened as he pinned her to the wall, his lips crashing into hers in a hard, demanding kiss. “Remember who you signed a contract with,” he murmured, his voice low, dangerous.

Slap!

Amelia had slapped his right cheek. “You don’t own me,” she spat, pushing him away and running up the stairs, leaving him standing there, stunned.

“She really is something”

********************

The next day, Amelia wakes up with a splitting headache and heads to the hospital for a quick check-up.

“It's probably just a hangover,” Amelia tells the doctor giving her the check-up. He was a tall athletic man with a sun-kissed complexion. His eyes sparkled and Amelia couldn't help but gaze.

“Here are the meds you'll need to get.” He handed her the prescription, and as she was standing up, she fell from the dizziness but was caught by him.

She had a strange sense of Deja Vu. “Wow, you're like Hercules”

There was a brief moment of silence as these two locked eyes together as if remembering something.

“Why thank you. People do say I came from the gods” he smirked.

“It's you,” Amelia said, memories from the previous night coming to light.

“Hi, cutie. I'm Rylan”

Damn! Even his name is sexy!