𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 | 𝐒. 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐲

Chapter 6

ALANI CASTILLO
San Francisco, CA.

My birthday is in two days and the deposition was scheduled for tomorrow. To say I was conflicted on how I was feeling was an understatement. I'm scared to let myself have a moment of happiness only for it to get taken away again if Alyssa won't accept the settlement offer. I spent most of my day at Jennifer's office prepping for the difficult questions Alyssa and her lawyer would ask. My jaw hurts from all that talking, honestly.

Tiana and Gia refused to leave me alone these past few days. Always checking up on me for no reason. Texting me 400 times a day and pop up at my house at the most random times, I contemplated moving for a second. Everyone thinks I'm gonna break or something, but after spending all that time getting ready for this deposition, I felt confident that I would win. Alyssa has nothing left to lose which makes her extremely dangerous, hence my anxiety. But she clearly wants money so I prepared to offer her a generous amount to make this shit go away.

It was a really nice day out so Raelyn and I decided to relax by the pool. I watched as she splashed her feet in the shallow side of the pool. She didn't know how to swim yet but the lessons she's been taking are going well.

"Mommy, I'm getting out now." Raelyn said. I walked over and helped her out of the pool. I sat her down on the lounge chair which was out of the sun. Didn't want her to get burnt. Even though my mom says she could use a bit more colour.

I smiled as 'Unthinkable' played faintly on the speaker. I remember Wardell and I playing the hell out of this song when it first came out.

"Mommy, can you play Taylor Swift?" Raelyn asked out of nowhere. I was flabbergasted but then remembered this is the kind of music they have the kids listen to at daycare.

"You don't like this music?" I asked. I need to set this girl straight. R&B is where it's at.

"I like it, but not right now. I'm getting sleepy." She answered sassily.

Girl-

As she requested, I played 'Shake It Off'. Raelyn got up and started dancing. She got those moves from her dad cause I can definitely bust a move. I pulled out my phone, recorded her antics and sent it to the family group chat.

My dad was the first to respond.

A few seconds later, he FaceTimed me.

"Hey, dad." I picked up. "Rae, Tito is on the phone."

As expected, she raced over to me.

"Hi, Tito." Raelyn waved excitedly.

"Are you having fun with your mommy?"

"Yes. Mommy has been very sad." Raelyn said, taking me by surprise. I thought I was good at hiding my feelings from her but I guess not.

"Let me talk to Tito for a minute, baby." Raelyn nodded and went back to bouncing her pink basketball.

"Can you tell me what's going on. And be honest this time." My dad said sternly.

"I'm just feeling out of it lately. There's a lot going on right now, Dad."

"With what? The case or with Steph and his new girlfriend?" He raised one of his bushy eyebrows.

"Why is everyone so concerned about how I feel about his relationship?" I asked. Gia and Tiana have not stopped asking how I feel about it. It's like they're expecting me to break or something. "And who told you about Wardell's girlfriend?"

"Your mom did." My dad cleared his throat then stared in the opposite direction.

"Of course she did. You two have been hanging out a lot lately." I noted. They haven't been together for over 20 years so I would like to see what a reunion with them would look like. I was young when they were together so I don't have many memories of them as a couple.