Ciara Mendes
"You can't be serious."
"What did you expect me to do, can you really expect me to be bitter towards someone who is sincerely sorry for what she did? I wanted to hate her believe me I did but after learning almost everything about her hating her would just be petty."
"She's pregnant with your boyfriend's baby."
"The same boyfriend that you slept with to get back at his very own cousin. Don't make me regret meeting you Eve."
After everything she did she have no right to judge my choices. I only decided to meet with her since she has always been there for me and I can't allow what happen years ago to destroy our friendship, I forgave my mom and sister I can forgive her too.
"I guess I deserve that, I had no right." She said looking down at the burger that I'm still a bit surprise that she ordered. "It's your life and I should just be supportive like how you're always with me. I just wish that everyone could forgive as easily as you do."
"What are you hiding from me Eve?" I say as I watch her study the small portion of food that she had left. She was eating as if she hadn't been fed in weeks.
She sigh. "I gave up modeling."
I stare at her until the bit of information sunk in, "What, why would you do that? I thought you love modeling."
"I did, I mean I do but after everything that happened I decided it was time for me to give it all up. "
"What do you mean?"
"I think I fell in love C."
She look sad and I couldn't understand why, normally when someone is in love they appear to be over the moon about it. "I don't follow, shouldn't you be happy announcing this news? I sorry to have to say, but I thought it would never happen Eve."
She start to sob, "It's all my fault-"
I reach out to hold her hand as she start to cry, looking around I was thankful that we were in a secluded area. "What are you thinking about?"
"Our- baby, I swear Ciara I didn't mean to, I didn't even know I was pregnant."She pause to wipe away her tears but more followed. "I was on the set for a photoshoot, some kind of difficulties occurred and we had to leave the room until someone came to fix the problem. We were given strict orders not to go in there but I forgot my phone so I went back and that's when it happened- a light fell on me Ciara."
I felt my eyes tear up as I begin to understand where this conversation was going. "I woke up in a hospital room and that's when I found out that I was - a month pregnant. I messed up a few days on the pills but I got right back on tract, I didn't expect that to happen, if I knew I was with child then I would have taken much care."
"I'm so sorry Eve but you can't blame yourself."
"Why the hell not? Andrew blames me!" She says a bit louder than she should have.
I narrow my eyes at her as I tried to remember why the name sound so familiar, "Andrew as in Andrew Montana your photographer, he was the father?" She nod without looking at me. "But I thought you both hated each other."
She shrug as if it was nothing. "We did but things happened and he was there for me, he made me realize that I actually hate the life that I was living- you know with the one nightstands, not really giving a damn about anyone, being completely reckless."
I was having a hard time with all this new information. All this time she was concern with my life and I didn't even know she was seeing someone. I decide to voice my thoughts.
"I didn't want to say anything. Ciara you know me more than anyone else - I just wanted to make sure everything was solid before I said anything," She brush her hair behind her ear. "but I guess along the way I developed feelings for him. Feelings that were so foreign that I ignored him for weeks."
"Does he reciprocate those feelings?"
Her eyes met mine before looking down at our join hands on top of the table. "I thought he did, he said he did but after what happen- I really don't think he does anymore."
"I'm sure he still love you Evei, he's just upset over what happen I'm sure he'll come around eventually."
"It happened almost a month ago. I don't think he'll forgive me, I mean all he talked about was starting a family, a subject I would change every time. What if he think it wasn't an accident because I wasn't as excited as he was to have children? I love them C you see how I am with Zendra but I'm only twenty five there are other things I need to achieve before starting a family but believe me Ciara it was an accident."
I got up from my chair and start to comfort her as I see she was starting to panic, "Calm down Eve, just breathe. I know you would never do something like that and I'm sure he conscious of this he's just upset and needs time to cool off, everything will be alright."
Several minutes past before her crying cease, she ordered her second slice of cheese cake and sip on her sprite as we converse. My phone starts ringing, with Rhea name popping up on the screen. Despite saying I don't hate her I still dither as I watch the phone ring.
"Hello Ciara, I'm sorry to disturb you but we need to finish our talk."
Giovanni Haynes
"What is this I'm hearing about being a grandmother, who's the lucky young woman? Tell me son have we met?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose in anger, Bentley could not keep his mouth shut. "Clearly you haven't heard the full story." I mutter.
"What was that?"
"Nothing mother-"
"Tell me Giovanni Haynes why did I have to eavesdrop on your bother and father's conversation to know this? I thought I would have been the first person you told, not Bentley."
"What, he told dad?" I was furious. That man was so fucking judgemental, he walk around like he was the most perfect man to walk on earth.
"That's not important, tell me when will I meet your girlfriend."
"Mom you have already met her, only at that time she wasn't my girlfriend - she's not the one who is pregnant either."
"Giovanni I'm not following." She says but the disappointed tone in her voice was clear enough for me to know that she was aware of exactly what I'm talking about.
"It's complicated mom."
"No it is not Giovanni, now explain yourself young man. Did you cheat on that poor woman?"
"I didn't cheat mother, it happened before Ciara and I got together."
I heard her breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank heavens at least I didn't go completely wrong raising you."
My phone beep indicating another call, I glance at it to see it was Rhea. What could she want? "Mom I have to go I'm getting another call."
"Fine but make sure you call when you're not busy are else I'm coming there and when I do we're having a long conversation." She pause. "Be good son."
I was hard for me not to smile at her words of departure. Looking down at my phone I saw there were two missed calls from Rhea. Tapping the screen a few times I decide to return her call.
"You want me to what?" I gaze briefly at Ciara who sat next to me in Enrico's hotel room facing him and Rhea.
I wasn't sure what to say to this, I must admit I'm a bit relief. "Are you hearing this?"
This time I look at Ciara while trying to study her. I regard the situation and I can understand why she would be acting like this but-"It's not that of a bad idea."
"Don't be selfish Giovanni-"
"Listen Ciara, it would do us all some good." Enrico interrupts.
"This is my life Enrico you don't get a say in this! How do any of you expect me to raise a child that belongs to someone else, a child who I will get attached to, how will I feel when Rhea comes back for him or her?"
"Ciara-" Ciara shot Rhea a glare that cause her to close her mouth instantly.
I look at the two other people in the room before looking back at Ciara. "Give us a few minutes alone." I say my gaze still on Ciara.
Without another word Enrico took Rhea and left. As I stare at Ciara I wish that I could go back and changed everything I did to hurt her.
"Ciara?" I cautiously approach her. Her back was turn to me with her arms wrap around her body.
"Buttercup?" I tried again soon enough realizing that she was crying.
Seeing her like this rip my heart to pieces. "Baby, I can't say I know exactly how you're feeling but please just think about this. Rhea needs to go back to school and get a better job, your cousin is already helping her with so much, he's even helping her to get her brother back but she wants to be able to take care of both him and the baby on her own."
I took a few more steps toward her, "I could help her financially with everything for the baby but you heard her- she wants to be independent and help out as well, you of all people should know what that feels like since you don't like to be dependent."
She turn around so fast that I took a step back. "You don't understand. It was really hard for me to accept that you got someone else pregnant, that I could no longer be your first priority and now she wants us to raise the child together so that she can come back and take him from us!"
"Ciara is won't be like that, the child is also mine and I promise that I'll never leave you therefore you'll always be apart of that child's life."
"How do you know that we'll always be together, huh?" She says poking me in my chest.
I grip her finger as I stare down at her. "As long as there is breath in my body then by your side I will always be, better get a shotgun baby because you'll have to put a bullet in my skull if you ever want to get rid of me."
She pull her finger away, "Why should I believe you?!"
"First you should know I'm not the kind of man to take certain words lightly so believe me when I say that I will never let you go because I will forever love you."
Her big grey eyes pooled with tears as she stare at me with her mouth agape. "You love me?"
I nod, "I do buttercup and you don't have to worry about being second in my life, there's enough space up front."
Her arms wrap around my waist and her face pressed against my chest. Her sobs were louder which was so damn confusing, why did she start crying more?
"I'm sorry for overreacting, I guess that's the reason why they say never to keep all your feelings bottled up."
"It's okay buttercup." I rub her back for comfort as my chin rest on top of her head. "There is no need for you to apologize."
She pull away slightly in order to look at me before saying the three words that was just as good as the three words I shared with her.
"I'll do it."