Hustle. (Book 2)

Chapter 10: Explanation

Chris P.O.V.

I couldn't believe it was her. She was huge for six months. That was my baby in there. All mine.

"Where...What...How've you been?" I stuttered repeatedly in an attempt to find words.

She did the same. "I've...I've been okay."

"That's good." I couldn't even consider my conversation, I was too mesmerized by her stomach to continue. And then her. She was still so beautiful. The hair, the eyes, the pouty pink lips, the little mousy nose. I still felt something for her.

Interrupting our silence, the salsa attendant came back, wheeling put a large package. "Here it is!" she shouted, smiling. Both our eyes sprang to her.

I looked back at Lauryn, who was walking to browse around the store already.

"You can leave it behind the counter. I'll be up to pay in a few minutes." I walked over to where Lauryn was, in the baby clothing section.

"Lauryn."

"Chris, just stop. Please."

Getting more stern, I began again. "Lauryn. I have to talk to you. You can't keep doing this to me. Whether you like it or not, that's my baby too. I mean, you cut me out of half of its life already! Please Lauryn. I still have all these feelings for you and I want to be there for you. You can't do this by yourself."

"Actually, I can do a hell of a lot by myself." She rolled her eyes and began to walk further away from me. I sighed heavily and went up to the counter to pay. I wasn't gonna let her get away so easily this time.

I may be stupid or crazy with two babies on the way, but I always promised I was going to be a better father to my kids than mine ever was.

"Would you like some help with that?" the lady asked me.

"Nah, I'm good." I gripped the box sideways and carried it out the store before sliding it into my car. When I finished, I headed back in to find Lauryn engaged in a conversation, laughing and smiling. When she turned and saw me, her face immediately changed.

"Oh well." I thought to myself and headed back over.

"Chris, please go away."

"Sir, I'm in proper position to alert police of your presence in here."

Lauryn sighed. "It's okay Marcy. Can you just give me a minute?" She got up and headed towards the door, so I followed.

Smacking me, she stated, "Wipe that stupid smile off your face Chris!"

"Lauryn. I need you to just hear me out. I know we don't know each other well, and you have a lot of mixed emotions and opinions towards me, and I've let you down. I understand that. But I would really appreciate if you allowed me to sit down and actually talk to you. I can listen to you and you can listen to me. I want to be mature about this. We're both gonna be parents soon, and we have to act our age. I don't want you to just be some baby mama from the streets. We have something special now, a baby. I want to be there for it. And I want to be there for you." I poured my heart out to her.

She sighed and looked down, playing with the pom-pom ball on her purse. "What do you want from me Chris?"

"Let me take you out. Tonight. We can go out and we'll talk." She looked up in shock.

"Remember what happened last time we went out?" Oh, right.

"I promise you, none of that will happen. Just a simple evening. Pick you up around 6?"

She was hesitant, although nodded.

I pecked her forehead and watched her as she walked back into the store.