Alex's POVI covered Cara and Lilly well before I carefully took Max in my arms and placed him in his crib by the bed, dropping a kiss on his head before I pulled the blanket over his body. I moved toward the door, my eyes taking one look and making sure all is okay before I left the room.Grabbing my jacket and keys, I left the house, silently closing the door behind me while texting Katherine to drop by and stay by Cara's side while I am out. Emma already left two men by the house, guarding and assessing the whole situation, just in case something happens but still, I would rather not have Cara be left alone for the time being.I got into my car but didn't drive away yet. I rested my back against the seat and closed my eyes for a brief second, breathing in and out. The air very tight in my chest, anxiousness wrapping over every alive nerve in my being, my body and mind unable to relax for some reason, as if sensing that something is just not right, something waiting to happen and im
The one thing to shake me out of my thoughts was the ringing of my phone. A loud breath left my lungs as I gave it a look to find a very unexpected call from Natalie. My eyebrows pulled closer as I pressed the answer button, "Hello," I said, my tone a bit questioning, taken aback by seeing her name."Hey, Alex," Her voice enveloped the inside of the car as I started the engine and took off into the road, "I am sorry to disturb you but uh-""No, no, you're not, what's up?"A low sigh came from her side, "If you are available, can we meet, I just want to talk, just a couple of minutes only, I won't take much from your time.""Yeah, sure," I said, checking the time, "I am free now, where are you, I can come wherever you are," I can go to Nikolas right after that, because whatever she wants to talk about is Nikolas-related for sure."I am at my house now, you can come by here if you want, or I could meet you somewhere if you are far," She sounded somber, a bit dejected, so not like her ch
Nikolas's POV"Are you just gonna follow me everywhere?" I shot out, glaring at Ronald as he followed me to the parking lot, he has been on my tail since I woke up."Where are you going?" He asked, pushing his nose into my business.I unlocked my car and opened the door, my hand rested on its edge as my eyes flickered to him, "Ronald, look, you are like my least favorite person in the world, so if you don't leave me alone, I might actually kill you," My words didn't sound threatening at all. I was still tired, and energyless, whatever meds they put in me is still active and is messing with my head.Not waiting to hear more from him, I got in and roared the engine to life, taking off before he tries to join me as well. I lowered the window as I sped down the highway, letting the cold air in, hoping it can blunt off some of the ache in my chest as I drove to my new apartment. I am slightly better now, mental-wise, I am kind of ready finally interact with them.Parking the car in its spo
Alex's POV"Hello?" I said, my tone questioning at the unknown number calling me at this hour as I leaned my back against the car, my eyes focused on the bar across the road from me, my gaze studying the interior and searching for someone in specific as I gazed through from the ceiling-length glass window.No answer came from the other line, but I could distinctly hear someone suck into a deep breath, hesitant or maybe playing a game on me. Having no time for this bullshit, I almost hung up at the lack of answer but right then, a specific voice mumbled a low, "Alex."My jaw tightened, my eyes pressed shut immediately, and a harsh breath pushed its way out of my chest; where the hell did she even get my number from? Does she ever give up?"What do you want?" I asked, rather harshly but I didn't care. She should be grateful I didn't shut the call the second I heard her annoying voice.My eyes caught a glimpse of Nikolas inside, my head tilted as I tried to get a better look, preparing m
He was looking at me as I counted a few, the frown between his eyebrow deepened at my words, and his lips curled up in annoyance, at himself I guess because he nodded his head, sighing, "Yeah, you're right. I am all of those."I nodded, "Yeah, but at least you're honest with yourself about it, that's a good thing," I tried to praise him a little, you know, trying not to kick a man when he's down, "You're also a little good looking, which sometimes could slightly compensate for your annoying persona."He stared back at me in pure puzzlement, "We are blessed with good genes, be grateful for that," I added, "Me blessed more than you of course, but yeah."His eyebrow raised, not satisfied by me constantly undermining him. He placed his hand over my arm and pushed it away from around his shoulder. I shot him a glare and placed it back. He huffed out loudly, irritated by my mere presence, "Stop touching me!""Shush, you love me," I said as I pinched his cheek.He groaned in annoyance and I
"We are not driving," I pointed out when I saw his eyes flicker to his car. He groaned and I pushed him with me down the road, "Where the hell are we going?" He said, being a whiney bitch per usual.I kept ignoring him as my drunk mind navigated the way, we were so close anyway, so no way we'd get lost, my drunk brain assured me as I walked us to the targeted destination. We reached the Huntington beach pier shortly after. I internally praised myself for being able to reach here even in my intoxicated state. We walked along the bridge, the air chilly and brisk as we descended down the stairs. Nik kept mumbling some words and whining, disturbed that I pulled him out of his little comfort zone in the bar.I reached the bridge's pillars, right beside the sea, and picked a clean spot before I dropped down, placing the liquor bottle beside me and opening up the cap. Nik hovered over, glaring down at me and I patted the space by my side, "Sit and stop being so unpleasant."He rolled his eye
Nikolas's POVAlex grumbled something as I pushed him inside the car. He immediately fell into the seat, his head tilting backward and pressing against the headrest, eyes closed, more than ready to fall back asleep. He was a gone case after all that we drank but for some reason, I still felt sober and aware. No amount of alcohol served its purpose to make me forget or at least lessen the pain pulsing through my head and body.It was near impossible to let loose or relax after all that happened.A loud sigh parted my lips at my failed attempts before I joined Alex in the backseat, exhausted and de-energized as I fell down beside him. Ronald looked at us through the rearview mirror, "Where to?"Alex opened his eyes, "I am way too drunk," He slurred out, "Do not take me home," He added, moving to the side and leaving the wide space of the car to press himself into me. His head fell into my shoulder, using it as his pillow, moving his head around and picking up a comfortable spot as he cl
Leya's POV"Do you know a story?" He asked, out of the blue, his eyes closed still, I even thought he had drifted off minutes ago, but apparently not."Uh...a story?" I asked, confused."Hmm," He hummed, "I didn't have anyone to tell me bed-time stories before Frank took me," He explained, "After that, Linda used to tell me a story every night, it used to help me sleep," He was speaking but his tone proved that he was half here, half on the way toward unconsiousness."Oh, I don't know any story, I am sorry," I mumbled."I knew you wouldn't know," He said, his tone wasn't accusing or anything, just low and tired, stating a fact he believed in; that I lack any characteristic a mother should have, which isn't a lie anyway.A couple of minutes passed till he was finally fast asleep. My eyes never left his face all through, for the very first time in so long he was right beside me, his head resting over my lap. He wasn't shouting nor pushing me away. I didn't know what to do or even say.
My ears registered the voice that I adore more than anything before my eyes found her among the crowd. I turned my head to the side, my gaze found her as she struggled out of Alex's hold and rushed forward toward our table, "Daddy!" She said in excitement, jumping up to reach me.I didn't waste a second as I pulled her small self up into my lap, my heart calming down as I wrapped her in my embrace, kissing her head and sinking into her sweet flowery scent. She kept her little arms wrapped around my neck as she edged her head backward, looking at me.She smiled, "Hi," She said.I chuckled, "Hey," I said, edging forward and leaving a kiss over the tip of her nose.She giggled, "Why do I keep missing you," I said and her smile widened, "Because you love me," She replied back, so confident and she couldn't be more right.I allowed her to settle down in my lap, "That I do," I said, dropping another kiss to the top of her head, unable to get enough.Alex sat across from us, he threw a wink
One day later...Nikolas's POVI pulled at the neck of my white dress shirt, trying to fix the collar as I knocked at my mother's room, wondering what was taking her so long."Just a sec," I heard her mutter from a distance before her footsteps got closer and she opened the door. My eyebrows pulled closer as I took into her appearance, my confusion faded almost immediately, exchanging it with a small smile.Her eyebrows furrowed before she looked down at herself, thinking something is wrong, "Why are you smiling?"I shrugged, "It's just I haven't seen you look like this in so long."She gaped at me, "Are you indirectly saying that I looked ugly over the past days?"I chuckled and shook my head, "You know what I mean."She returned my smile with a one of her own before she stepped forward, one of her hands clutched into her purse and the other ran over the material of her simple nude dress, smoothing it down."So, what's the occasion exactly for all of this?" I asked."We're celebratin
Alex's POVI was about to leave, go back home, and rid myself of all of the confusion and uncertainty wrapping around my chest. You know, pretend that nothing has changed, that I didn't hear what I heard or learn what I learned.That the moment I step out of here, everything will just go back to the way it was.But for some effed-up reason, as I was exiting the bathroom, my eyes fell on the room at the end of the hall, and I wanted nothing more than to go in there and just talk, ask and get a clear answer for once. My jaw ticked and I rushed a hand over the top of my head, gathering myself before I made up my mind and stepped closer to the room, aiming to find its current occupant.The door was ajar, so I pressed my palm over it and pushed it open, expecting her to be there. My eyebrows pulled closer when I was met with an empty room. I haven't seen her since she and Liam talked in private before he left, I just supposed she'd be here now. Deciding that this was a message from the uni
Nikolas's POVThere are days when I am beyond grateful that I didn't have to grow up with Alex in the same house. Like Today for example. I really would've thrown him off the stairs or something if we were to grow up together. He is unbearable at times. Most of the time. Always actually. He settled his eyes on me, trying to hide his smile and miserably failing, I envy his constant giddy state sometimes, "Why do you keep looking at me?" He asked, his eyebrow raising in utter tease, "Did the kiss make you love me more?" His head tilted, faking affection, "Is it changing your mind about leaving?"I kept glaring at him but a small voice in my head said that I will definitely miss his crazy weird antics when I go. He is beyond annoying, that's true, infuriating even but he has a way of making you get used to his presence and insane personality.Our mother placed a plate full of pancakes on the table ahead of us, her closeness shutting him up. She rested her hand over my shoulder, I looke
Alex's POVDaylight blazed through the edges of the window blind, shaking me out of my somewhat peaceful sleep. Groaning, I tried to roll over to my back, opening my eyes in an attempt to blink away the heavy sleep.I winced as the brightness of the day welcomed me and immediately covered my face with the blanket. The pain throbbing against my skull reminded me exactly why I shouldn't drink as much again. All because of stupid Nikolas...Speaking of the devil, where is he? I lowered the blanket and rubbed at my eyes, finally adjusting my eyesight, my hazy gaze studying my surroundings and slowly recalling back the events of last night.Something felt odd though. I moved my head over what I thought was a pillow and my gaze slowly flickered up. My eyes widened and I instantly shot up from my laying position. My sudden movement shook her awake as well, her head that was uncomfortably pressed to the couch's cushion moved and she blinked her eyes open, meeting my shocked horrified ones.Th
By lunchtime, Tanya came back, she asked for the kid's attention, and the responsible attendee tried to calm them all down, ushering them to leave the toys, sit and listen. Alex let go of his legos and scooted backward, accidentally laying his back against me as he intently listened. I looked down at him, unable to have enough as Tanya announced that one of the kids was leaving, that he got adopted and she urged the rest to bid him goodbye. I think it's just one of the things they do around here. My eyes were on Alex still, so I noticed the way his shoulders slumped down at the news, a low breath leaving him as he pressed his chin over his pulled up legs, staring at the kid as he hugged the others, happy and giddy that he has his own family now. "What's wrong?" I asked, inching my head closer to his face, so he could hear me through the loud shatter around us. He turned his head to look at me, his brows pinched in sadness, "I want to go too," He said, his voice the softest sweetest
Leya's POV"Do you know a story?" He asked, out of the blue, his eyes closed still, I even thought he had drifted off minutes ago, but apparently not."Uh...a story?" I asked, confused."Hmm," He hummed, "I didn't have anyone to tell me bed-time stories before Frank took me," He explained, "After that, Linda used to tell me a story every night, it used to help me sleep," He was speaking but his tone proved that he was half here, half on the way toward unconsiousness."Oh, I don't know any story, I am sorry," I mumbled."I knew you wouldn't know," He said, his tone wasn't accusing or anything, just low and tired, stating a fact he believed in; that I lack any characteristic a mother should have, which isn't a lie anyway.A couple of minutes passed till he was finally fast asleep. My eyes never left his face all through, for the very first time in so long he was right beside me, his head resting over my lap. He wasn't shouting nor pushing me away. I didn't know what to do or even say.
Nikolas's POVAlex grumbled something as I pushed him inside the car. He immediately fell into the seat, his head tilting backward and pressing against the headrest, eyes closed, more than ready to fall back asleep. He was a gone case after all that we drank but for some reason, I still felt sober and aware. No amount of alcohol served its purpose to make me forget or at least lessen the pain pulsing through my head and body.It was near impossible to let loose or relax after all that happened.A loud sigh parted my lips at my failed attempts before I joined Alex in the backseat, exhausted and de-energized as I fell down beside him. Ronald looked at us through the rearview mirror, "Where to?"Alex opened his eyes, "I am way too drunk," He slurred out, "Do not take me home," He added, moving to the side and leaving the wide space of the car to press himself into me. His head fell into my shoulder, using it as his pillow, moving his head around and picking up a comfortable spot as he cl
"We are not driving," I pointed out when I saw his eyes flicker to his car. He groaned and I pushed him with me down the road, "Where the hell are we going?" He said, being a whiney bitch per usual.I kept ignoring him as my drunk mind navigated the way, we were so close anyway, so no way we'd get lost, my drunk brain assured me as I walked us to the targeted destination. We reached the Huntington beach pier shortly after. I internally praised myself for being able to reach here even in my intoxicated state. We walked along the bridge, the air chilly and brisk as we descended down the stairs. Nik kept mumbling some words and whining, disturbed that I pulled him out of his little comfort zone in the bar.I reached the bridge's pillars, right beside the sea, and picked a clean spot before I dropped down, placing the liquor bottle beside me and opening up the cap. Nik hovered over, glaring down at me and I patted the space by my side, "Sit and stop being so unpleasant."He rolled his eye