Forever and ever 2. The adventure starts now.

Part 171.

Tom's pov~

When I told Parker we would do only what he wanted for a week, I meant it, but I didn't expect him to take me up on it. Monday kicked off in the park, casually playing some ball. By Tuesday, he was already clamoring for the amusement park, so I took Sam and Lily along. Wednesday was movie day, followed by the aquarium on Thursday. Friday, he wanted the trampoline park, and Saturday, it was the zoo, with Harrison in tow. Sunday mornings, we'd grab breakfast before Y/N came to pick him up. I had unblocked her after a long time and even given her my address, something that seemed impossible months ago. Since the day I used Y/N, my life should have gone downhill, but it didn't. Because Y/N was pregnant with my baby, and even better, Clark was out of our lives. Out of hers. It was everything I had been trying to achieve for months.

"Can we talk?" Y/N didn't waste any time getting to the point, much to my surprise. Instead of admiring my glorious apartment longer, all I got was a "huh." And then came the "can we talk?" Talk about what? That was my question. Seeing how tense her shoulders were, I wanted to say no and give her a back massage instead, but Y/N had other plans in mind. "Sure." I packed up some of Parker's toys into his backpack, getting him ready to go back to his mother while Y/N approached me.
Awakening the hairs on the back of my neck, a solitary silence accompanying us.

"I understand now," her voice resonated through the room, only stopping when it reached deep into my bones. But as clueless as I looked, she continued, my head not moving as I gazed at the kitchen counter, closing Parker's backpack zipper. "About the divorce. I see why you want it now," she explained, and I swear my heart skipped several beats.

Divorce was the last thing I wanted right now. It stood far behind when it came to Y/N, with the priority being her health, our baby's health, and finding each other again. And that's what I thought I had achieved, but Y/N's voice carried a certain significance. Something that didn't sit well with me. I turned around when I noticed how serious the topic was, meeting her gaze without hesitation.

"What?" My eyes narrowed, my lips pursing as I sucked on my teeth.

"It... It was hard for me to admit it at first, but I think the divorce was the right step to find our way back to us," she explained, and I swear my heart stopped beating entirely.

She wasn't talking about us being together; she meant herself, she meant myself. I would save myself from the sinking boat, she would save herself from the crumbling cliff. Which one was more threatening, I couldn't answer.

"What are you talking about?" Y/N couldn't see the divorce as the right step if I couldn't even see it.

"You know it yourself," she shrugged, her gaze shifting to the floor. "I think we've been a great team lately. Not just for us, but also for Parker."

"Exactly." I nodded, the compliment not seeming bad to me.

"And he needs that. And so will our future daughter." I assumed I understood, but my trembling hands prevented me from staying focused. How much I wanted to get closer to her... to cup her cheeks. To kiss her. But I had to hold back so much, my fingers leaving bloodstains in my palms. "It's only fair to let them grow up in a healthy environment." What nonsense, so were we not a good environment together?

"And they will!" I argued.

"But not with both of us under one roof." Y/N was fighting against me, remaining calm to ease me, but it didn't manage to do so.

"So what are you trying to tell me? You want the divorce?" My voice tensed, taking a step toward her.

"Tom..."

"No, seriously!" I grew louder, close to a yell, too loud for an even conversation.

"You want it too." She snapped, had a point. "You have no reason to get loud now." And that was the second point. I reminded myself to breathe, deeply in and out. I wasn't angry yet, just a little stirred up because the woman standing before me seemed to have no idea how much I still loved her.