Still Here

Chapter Five

"Okay, I'll leave," Kendrick said, putting his hands up in surrender.

"Yeah you better. Don't come back," Aubrey retorted.

Kendrick rolled his eyes and pushed back a perplexed Donovan. Keanna smiled at him to make the situation a little less harsh.

"Hi there," she chimed.

Aubrey turned around and felt his stomach twist. This was not a very good first impression for his new employee.

"You want me to go?" Donovan took the words right out of Aubrey's mouth.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow," Aubrey said.

Donovan nodded and closed the door as fast as he could. He didn't know what he just saw.

"Shiloh, can you go to your room really quick?" Keanna requested.

"Can I show Daddy my dress?" Shiloh asked, twirling around in a denim ruffled dress. "Do you like it, Daddy?"

"It's beautiful, baby," Aubrey said.

"Kendrick picked it out for me."

"Shiloh, please go." Keanna just wanted to disappear.

Shiloh scurried back down the hallway to play with her dolls, not knowing what was about to happen between her parents.

Aubrey crossed his arms and studied the clothing all over the couch. He didn't know how to start this argument.

"So that's Kendrick?" he asked, taking a few steps closer to Keanna.

"Yeah."

"Where'd you take him this time?"

"Shopping for back to school clothes."

"Just because he was available?"

"Just because his friend owns a really cute children's store and we got half off our purchase," Keanna explained.

"And then you brought him back to my house?"

"Obviously."

"Well that's where you screwed up. You never ran this by me," Aubrey said, trying not to yell.

"I didn't think I needed to," Keanna simply stated.

"You know what? I'm done with you. Kendrick needs to stay out of our business. I'm sick of him and I just found out about him a few days ago. If you love him just leave!"

"I don't love him, Aubrey, I love you! You just don't care."

"Who said I didn't care?!"

"Because I've stood by you for God knows how long and defended you when no one else did. I was always there for you and even gave you a beautiful little girl who loves you more than you love her and how do you thank me? You cut me off because you're embarrassed!" Keanna screamed.

"That's not true!"

"Oh shut up! I'm not done. You go off and get new girls who don't even care about you and claim you've moved on and leave me with a baby and one thousand dollars thinking that'll be enough. You have no heart and no soul. You think because you're some successful businessman you can screw people over. You don't understand how much I freaking love you, Aubrey! I wouldn't trade you for the world! After everything I've done for you, you have the nerve to get mad at me because I hang out with some guy that cares about me and my daughter?! Take several seats because that's not how things work. Marry me or lose to Kendrick. Wait are you waiting for?! I do not understand!"

Tears spilled from Keanna's eyes after she was done hollering at Aubrey. She was tired of waiting.

"I'm not waiting for anything!" Aubrey replied, his heart secretly breaking at the sight of tears rolling down Keanna's cheeks.

"You're still looking aren't you? I'm not your first choice? I get it," Keanna sobbed, wiping her tears. "You'd be settling if you committed to me, huh?"

"Keanna..."

"Just like how I'd be settling if I committed to Kendrick. I don't love him but he's good enough. I don't want to settle, Aubrey. I really don't. But I might have to. I don't even think we're really together," Keanna sighed, smoothing back her messy curls.

"You know we are," Aubrey said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"After all the girls you've probably seen while Shiloh and I weren't around?"

"Wait-"

"No, I understand. I'm not what you're looking for. I knew there was something wrong when you first asked me out. Drake doesn't go out with little skinny girls."

"Keanna. Stop."

"It's only because I was cute for that one second then you got stuck with me because I had Shiloh. Go find yourself the perfect Coke bottle shaped girl, okay? You don't even have to tell her you've got me. Don't even tell her you have Shiloh. Live your perfect life with your perfect girl. Marry her for me, okay?"

Keanna's voice had been reduced to a whimper at that point. Aubrey's heart had been torn to pieces and stepped on after her statement. He needed to reorder his priorities as soon as possible.

"Keanna," Aubrey sighed. "How long have you felt that way?"

"Forever."

Aubrey attempted to hug her but she backed away.

"Don't touch me. I don't need your fake sympathy," she snapped.

"You know I love you," Aubrey whispered.

"Okay," she scoffed.

"And I know it might've looked like I was embarrassed but I just didn't know how to handle it. Becoming a parent is a huge deal and I wasn't sure how the world would react," Aubrey explained thinking back to those days. It's still a miracle to him that the world doesn't really know about Shiloh.

"You could've just told me." Keanna wrapped her arms around Aubrey's torso.

"I didn't know how." He hugged her back and breathed in her sweet smelling tresses.

"Aubrey..." she sobbed, squeezing him tighter.

"I love you so much, Keanna. And for the record, I fell in love with that smart mouth of yours. Your body is just a bonus." He pecked her cheek and brought her back into his chest.

This evening happened to be one of the rare nights they made up. Soon, one of them would regret letting the sun go down with anger in their heart.

A/N: Had to finish that part. Keanna and Aubrey scare me sometimes lol. They love each other, I promise😂 How about now Isabelita????