On Purpose

~13~

"Let me get this straight, you two went to the same high school and dated until graduation?" I was still trying to process everything, but he just dropped it on me like a bomb.
"Well, yeah...then she got pregnant right when I broke up with her."
"Why?" I asked, folding my arms on the table.
"I was in love with my current partner."
I nod in understanding. She must've told him about what I did while they dated.
"So your kid is like, four?"
He nodded and sighed with guilt.
"Damn, Kyle," I said, placing my hands in my lap when I leaned back in my seat.
"Have you talked to your kid? Does your wife know about it?" I threw more questions at him, which he caught. "Yeah, I've seen her a few times, she calls me Mr. Kyle. And my wife knows about her. She even made her a bedroom at our place for when she visits." A pinch of sadness filled me. My world would crumble if my little girl called me Mr. Oliver or Mr. Stone. I didn't know what to say about his wife being okay with it. She must really love Kyle to put up with it.
"How did that make you feel?-Her calling you that, I mean."
He doesn't answer right away, but I wait for him to collect his thoughts. When he does, he says, "It hurts. She's my first child. Of course, I'd want her to call me daddy, but..." he trailed off, pulling at his hair. "This shit hurts man, 'cause Mariah's putting shit in her head."
I sit up a little.
"Like what?"
"She's telling her I'm not her real dad and her dad died in the army."
"What did she tell her you were?"
I watched his eyes find mine before he said, "Her uncle."
Thank god I wasn't drinking my water, otherwise I would've spit it all over him.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"We had a big argument, but she said I should stay away from my daughter. I haven't seen her since, and I told my wife, but she hasn't taken the childish crap from the room she made her."
"That's hurtful."
As he nods, I felt bad for him even more, but that's what happens when you mess around with Mariah Baker.
"Let's change the subject. Is there any girl in your life you're drooling over?" He raised an eyebrow and waited for my response.
"Yeah, but she broke up with me on Christmas." I watch his face wince as if I got punched and lost a tooth.
"Was she not feeling jolly and holly?" He smirks.
"I guess not," I said, smiling at the fact he and Isabelle had said the same thing about Jessie and I breaking up on Christmas. Somewhat.
"So, how'd she do it?" He stopped smirking and just held a tight smile.
"She sat me down at her house and told me it was over."
"Like that?"
"Just. Like. That."
He blew a gush of air from his mouth.
"Geez. Women, am I right?"
"Yeah." I pulled my glass of water to my lips and took a sip.
"Olly, it's so nice seeing you again."
"Ditto." I say, once I swallowed.
He smiles and leans forward.
"I guess we can start that badass friendship you promised me."
"I don't remember promising you that,"
"Didn't need to," he said, standing up. "It was gonna happen anyway. 'Cause we fit. You're a badass, and so am I, nothing can change that." He extended his hand.
"So it was a promise you and I didn't need to agree on. It was just gonna happen."
I smiled and slipped my hand into his, thinking about how he was right.
"Yeah, you're right about that."
We shook hands, and I stood up and hugged him before watching him leave. I didn't know why I watched him walk away, but I knew why when I saw him give me the same wave he gave me when we were in middle school.
I guess I wasn't the only one who hasn't changed. At least.