Angel Academy

Chapter Eleven

Corbin's POV

I sat at the desk of Angel Academy while Addaline followed the kids around. It had been nearly a month since Addaline had announced her pregnancy, and when we asked the doctor for an ultra sound the same day, he told us she had been a month along. Addaline had finally gotten the hang of dealing with the children and she did it just fine by herself. Maybe she could raise this one by herself, I thought for the millionth time and then mentally scolded myself. You, sir, are an asshole, I thought to myself angrily. As much as I didn’t want children, it would kill me if I found out I had a child I didn’t know about. I didn’t love Addaline, not by any means, but I wouldn’t leave her to do this alone, like my father had done to my mother.

“Corbin,” she sighed happily and gave me a peck on the lips, glowing brightly. “I can’t wait for our little one to be able to run around like them. It’s going to be amazing.” She smiled at me. “Aren’t you excited?”

I nodded. “Oh yea. Can’t wait.” Addaline nodded, not noticing that that had been one of the worst lies I’ve told. I need to get better at lying.

Addaline watched the little ones for a few moments. “Do you want a boy or girl?” I shrugged, not really caring. Either way I’d still be stuck with it. “I think I want a little girl,” Addaline continued, not noticing my disinterest. “Or better yet, a little boy. He’ll look just like you, and he’ll have the same personality.” That’s what I’m afraid of, I thought angrily. If he’s like me, he’ll ruin his chances with his one true love and then be an idiot and get a girl he had no intention of spending the rest of forever with pregnant so that he’s stuck with her, and the child. “Corbin?”

I mentally shook myself. “Hmm?” I asked, looking up into her confused eyes.

“Do you even want our child?” Chewing my lip, I went to answer, but it was too late, she had seen my hesitation. “You don’t do you? Wow, I am such an idiot. My mother was right about you.”

I groaned internally. I hated when girls said that. “Addie, wait.” She was gathering her purse and I grabbed her wrist softly but firmly.

“What,” she snapped angrily, tears filling her eyes.

I pulled her so we were leaning over the counter and I kissed her lips. She hesitated at first, but quickly loosened up and kissed me back. When we pulled apart, I looked into her eyes. “I’m not leaving. I care about you, and I won’t make you do this on your own,” I promised truthfully.

After studying me for a few moments, she broke out into a huge smile and then went back to the children. I focused on the paperwork, filing and signing checks paying for the bills. As much as I hate to admit it, Angel Academy wasn’t making enough money. I was going to have to either get another job, or sell it, and I really didn’t want to do that. Angel Academy was the first dream that had ever come true for me, and I was not about to just give her up because the bills were too high. I sighed, and set the rent money to the right of the desk. It was every single cent we’d made since starting Angel Academy. We had barely made any money at all, and I was infuriated by it, and slightly embarrassed. My dream was slowly crumbling.

The bell above the door ringed slightly and I felt the woman, it was almost always a woman, step up to the counter and wait. I finished organizing the papers, and turned. My smile instantly dropped from my face. It was Beth, Niamh’s mom. She took in my still bruised face and my scarred upper lip, a look of utter sadness and guilt on her face. “Corbin,” she started.

I sighed, tired. Lately I haven’t gotten much sleep, and I wasn’t in the mood to fight with anyone. “Can I help you, Ms. Harvey?”

She gave me a sad smile, realizing that I now viewed her as a stranger rather than an almost friend. “I need to speak with you about Niamh and Heath.”

I shook my head, backing up. “Oh no you don’t. I’ve had enough of you trying to help me get Niamh to stop hating me. It’s over. She’s done with me.” I could still picture her face perfectly as she told me she was over me. She had looked strong, and so sure of herself. I will admit, I had seen the hesitation when she told me she was over me, but she hadn’t wanted to hurt my feelings, so of course she’d hesitate. “Please leave my daycare.”

“But Corbin,” she pleaded. “Just listen to me. You need to know the truth.”

I shook my head. “What truth? That you’re just as scheming as my mother is? Thank you, but I already know that.”

Ms. Harvey grabbed my shoulder as I turned away and yanked me to look at her. I could see the same determination and fire in her eyes that I often saw in Niamh’s. “Heath is your son,” she spat angrily. When I looked at her dumbfounded, she crossed her arms. “Just thought you should know.” She turned and walked quickly from Angel Academy.

Niamh’s POV

Creak.

My eyes opened abruptly at the noise.

Creak.

Someone was in my house…

I slowly pushed my covers off, and swung my legs over the bed. I set them on the floor, carefully missing the creaking floor boards.

Creak.

Standing up, I cautiously made my way to my door, pulling it open and cringing when the hinges made a squeaking noise. The intruder froze. I could just make out their tall, slightly bulky figure standing down the hall. I picked up my lap, unplugging, and began to tip toe down the hallway. I was scared out of my mind, but my motherly urge to protect my child shoved my fear to the side and made itself number one priority. I stepped up behind the man and raised the lamp, bringing it down quickly to smash into the intruder’s head, but I must have made a noise, because he turned abruptly and caught my wrist just in time. The lamp fell to the floor, shattering as I struggled against him.

“Niamh,” he whispered urgently and I instantly stopped struggling as I recognized that voice.

“Jeremy? What the hell?” I turned on the kitchen light, and it momentarily blinded him. “What are you doing in my house?” He lifted his hand to block the light from his eyes. I glared at him angrily, my fists on my hips. “Well?’ I asked impatiently.

Jeremy dropped his arm, finally able to see. “I wanted to apologize. I’m so sorry Niamh. I overreacted, and I am so so sorry.” He looked at the ground, embarrassed. “Please, will you take me back?” I looked at him in disbelief. Take him back? After he manhandled me? Hell no.

“No,” I scoffed. “You nearly killed Corbin, and then you shook me like I was a rag doll.” I shook my head. “No. Get out.”

He lifted his eyes to mine, and I was surprised to see tears brimming. “Niamh, please. I love you. I regret everything. Just give me another chance. Please. I beg you.” And then he did the most amazing thing. He actually got down on his knees and begged. “Please, Niamh. Please just take me back. I’m lost without you.” He crawled towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist, crying into my stomach.

I was frozen with surprise. I didn’t know what to say, and my soft heart betrayed me. “Fine,” I heard myself saying, and I was powerless to stop it.

“Huh?”

“Fine, I’ll give you one more chance. But that’s it Jeremy.”

He stood up and took my face in his hands, giving me a kiss that made a loud smacking noise. “Oh thank you Niamh. You won’t regret this.” I highly doubt that. He pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. “I’m never letting you go again,” he murmured against my hair, and my stomach dropped with nervousness. He turned and left before I could voice my fear. I stood there, hand still raised and mouth still open, wondering if I had just made the dumbest mistake of my existence.

a/n:

Hey, I’ve been working on another book, called Running, and I was wondering how many of you would actually check it out if I were to post it...

~Jax Nicoles