This November✔️

Chapter 41

The worst day of his life happened and he never wanted to think about it again.

He lost November. He lost the life he thought he would have with her.

Things were not meant to be no matter how much he wanted things to work out. She was the girl next door. His dream girl. The most beautiful woman in the world. He had her, for only a brief moment, and that didn't last long.

Now he was alone, by himself, and life went on.

He was never going to fall in love again.

The problem with that was, he was still in love with Nova. After the bomb dropped of her and Dr. Foster, he picked up Anthony and left the park. It didn't matter that their other classmates were already making a joke about their relationship. That Starchima spread all the lies she could about him. He never slept with her. One mistake of having her suck him off, that's it.

He didn't have to stay and defend himself. He knew he could get Nova to believe him.

Except she was keeping an even bigger secret from him. Having an affair with their principal. A man old enough to be their father, and then some. A man who knew them since they were kids. Did he lust after Nova then?

All the times he came to him for advice, pining over Nova, did he pine over her too? Did he think scandalous thoughts about his November?

When did it all start?

How did it start?

Was it even legal what they were doing?

He always knew she lived much too lavish for a teacher. Dr. Foster bought and paid for her for sure. He never asked because it wasn't his business. He assumed she got a little money from her mother's life insurance.

What did his wife think? Did she know? Was that why he was getting divorced?

He had so many questions. He would never get the answer. He never wanted to see Carter Foster again.

He never wanted to see Nova again.

After he picked up Anthony, he took him to the car and sped off.

"Where's Nova? She's not coming with us?"

"Forget Nova. It's over with us. Done. She's gone."

"What? What do you mean? I thought you loved her."

"I do...I mean...no, it's over Anthony. Nova is gone."

He didn't know how he was going to explain it all to his son. Anthony already bonded with Nova, and maybe that's where he went wrong. He was only getting to know the kid, he shouldn't have put Nova in his life until he was sure it was real.

He thought it was real.

They went back to his hotel and he spent the rest of the night in misery. He was no fun to be around and poor Anthony suffered the consequences. He did not understand what was going on. Malik was in such a foul mood he barely fed the kid.

He found Anthony crying in his room later that night.

"Anthony, what's wrong?"

He sat on the bed and touched his shoulder.

"Is it all my fault Nova is gone?"

"Why would it be your fault?"

Anthony didn't say anything, continued to cry and wipe his tears. He pulled his son up in the bed so he sat up.

"Anthony, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Nova left you and you love her. My dad...I mean...my stepfather left my mom, and she loves him. It's all because of me. Because I was born."

That hurt his heart.

He grabbed his son in a hug. "No son, you didn't do anything wrong. With me or your mother. You know we both love you. I made the mistake of leaving you back then and I will regret it for the rest of my life. And I know I can never make that up Anthony, but thanks for letting me try."

He let go of his son and looked at him. "It's complicated. The situation with your mother and stepfather...and it's complicated between Nova and I."

"Because of adult things?"

"Yeah...maybe...no actually, immature, childish things. We lie to each other, not tell the truth, and are dishonest. Your mom ever tell you not to lie?"

"Sure, all the time."

"Listen to her. Lies hurt people. I hurt Nova and then she hurt me."

He nodded. "But then you're even and it's all fair again. Like if I hit my little sister, I let her get the lick back and then it's fair."

He chuckled at him and ruffled his hair. "It doesn't work like that."

"It should."

He wished it was so easy. Sometimes one hurt was more painful than the other, and what Nova did to him, there was no coming back from it. It didn't matter how much he missed her and wanted to call her up and tell her he was sorry...he didn't know if he could get over her lies.

"Dad..."

He looked at his son and grinned. It was the first time he called him that. "Yeah, son."

"It's okay to be sad or cry, right?"

"Of course." He felt like crying as well. "But I want you to know I'm never going anywhere. You're stuck with me, for life." He grabbed him in a bear hug and tickled him.

He would be gone from St. Louis, but he planned to see his son every chance he got. But he didn't know if he would ever come back to St. Louis again. All he could think of was "if onlys." If only he stopped chasing girls in school and made Nova his when he first had a chance. If only he did not turn her down that night, made love to her, and stayed wherever she was. If only he never trusted that asshat Dr. Carter and punched him in the face earlier.

Fuck them! He hoped they enjoyed each other.

He was happy to get home to Atlanta for a few days before he had to make it to Los Angeles to start filming. He lay in bed the first day and did nothing but drink and sleep.

The second day Fabian came over, smelled him, and insisted he shower and get himself together.

"All this over a woman?"

"I love her," he slurred, delirious and drunk.

"Guess she did not feel the same," Fabian said.

Did she? Why would she say she loved him if she didn't? That was cruel. But then, back when they were in high school, he loved her. He knew she felt the same.

Now here he was all alone.

After he showered and changed, Phabian ordered him to pack so they could get ready for L.A. He did not need much, he would just buy what he needed there. He would be on location mostly, she he did not need much. They were taking the red eye the next day and Fabian stayed overnight at his place to keep an eye on him.

He still was not in the mood for this, but he knew he had to get over the breakup and move on with his life. His locs put up on a messy gun, dark sunglasses on, and little patience, he dressed down to not be noticed at the airport. He was not in the mood to talk to anyone.

"Listen, once we're on set in L.A., and you meet all the hot ladies, you'll forget this little school teacher like nothing. They always say, the best way to get over someone is-"

"No! I will never get over Nova." And he meant that with every fiber of his soul.