Erotic acts are instinctive; they fulfil a role in nature. The idea is familiar, but it is one that contains a paradox: there is nothing more natural than sexual desire; there is nothing less natural than the forms in which it is manifest and satisf...
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When Omar saw that Avery chose to check herself into a hotel, rather than spend the day at his parent's house while Aiden came over to bond with him, instantly his mind took him to the worst place.
He understood that the situation wasn't an easy one to navigate, but the idea of her pulling away from him made Omar feel sick to his stomach.
Avery had always been fiercely independent, and Omar admired that about her. But this time, it felt different. It felt like she was slipping away.
"Are you okay?" Vivian asked her eldest son, unable to ignore the look of worry etched into his features as he sat at his dining table.
"I feel like I'm losing Avery," Omar admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his clenched fists.
"To find out your boyfriend has a baby from a previous relationship that he wasn't even aware of isn't a minor thing." Vivian pointed out.
Omar sighed, staring down at the table as if it held the answers to his turmoil. "I know, Mom. I just... I can't stomach the thought of her walking away."
"Who says she's going to?" Vivian asked gently, trying to make eye contact with him. "You're assuming the worst."
All Omar wanted to do at that moment was run to Avery, but she was temporarily pushed to the back of his mind as Omar's doorbell rang, signalling the arrival of Yasmine and their 18-month-old son, Aiden.
Omar's body felt heavy as he stood up from the dining table, stretching his arms above his head before going to answer the door.
As he reached for the doorknob, Omar took a deep breath, trying to shake off the anxiety that had settled in his chest. He opened the door to reveal Yasmine, her hair tied back in a messy bun, a diaper bag slung over one shoulder and a bright smile on her face. Aiden stood at her side, his chubby hands clutching a small toy truck, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Hey, Omar," Yasmine greeted, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Ready for some fun?"
"Yeah, sure," Omar replied, forcing a smile before he knelt to Aiden's level. "Hey, buddy! Ready to play?"
Aiden squealed in delight, lifting his truck high. "Vroom vroom!"
As they moved into the living room, Omar tried to focus on his son, on the joy that Aiden brought into his life. But despite the laughter and the playful chaos, his thoughts kept drifting back to Avery.
"Earth to Omar," Yasmine said teasingly as she came to stand beside him, taking notice of the breather absent look in his eyes.
Putting a little distance between them, Omar looked down at Yasmine, still trying to piece together what she wanted, after waiting almost two years to let him know he had a child.
"What?" Omar asked, barely giving her the time of day.
Despite her playful and friendly demeanour, the day before she seemed as though she wanted an issue with him and he'd done nothing wrong.
