Hustle. (Book 2)

Chapter 12: Understanding

Lauryn P.O.V.

Chris had really outdone himself. Although it was simple, it was nice area and the food was great.

"Lauryn, I just wanna talk. Explain myself to you. I love you."

I paused at his words: I love you. Even though I still felt for him, I didn't know for sure if I was in love with him.

I looked down at my food. "All right Chris. Well, talk," I said in response.

He grinned a little bit. "Lauryn. I seriously am sorry about everything that happened. I wanna come clean. About everything. Anything you want to ask me, ask it."

I considered that for a minute. Where should I start? "So, who," I began. "Who was that girl... the one that answered my phone call after... that night and I'm assuming who's name you called me."

He looked away towards the bay.

"Chris. Who is it?" I asked, shaking his shoulder.

"That's Paris," he responded blatantly.

"And?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"She's, uh. Hard to explain."

"Well it can't be that hard to explain Chris. Who is she?"

"Alright, alright. I was getting to it." He looked towards the bay again. "She's an ex. From a long time ago. We had history."

"And she's relevant now because?" I questioned, getting more skeptical.

He sighed and looked down. "She's having my other baby," he mumbled.

"She's what?" I exclaimed, dropping my fork. I immediately started to get up and left my food on the floor.

"Lauryn, stop! Sit before you hurt yourself!" he shouted back at me, grabbing my arm.

"Get your hands off me Chris!"

"Please," he said softer now. "Just listen to me."

"Listen to what? How you got another girl pregnant? What, do you have this whole new life planned out with her? What'd you even do this for?"

"I did it for you Lauryn! C'mon now, please just listen," he said, still gripping my arm.

I swiped my arm away and crossed them across my chest. "What Chris?" I asked, tears forming in my eyes.

"I want to be a family. I really do, I swear on my life I do. I don't love her, I love you. And that hasn't changed even when we stopped talking. If anything, us not talking only made me love you even more. I never stopped thinking about you Lauryn. You've gotta believe me."

I wiped a single tear away from my face. "Then why are you with her?" I asked, looking away from him.

"Look at me, please." He placed a hand on my chin and turned my face. "I wanted to be with you. I always wanted you. I want you to be living with me, not her."

"You love her?" I looked deep into his eyes.

"Hell no!" he pleaded, sounding for sure. "No, I don't love that girl." He placed a hand on my cheek. "If it weren't for this baby, I wouldn't have anything to do with her. We don't even sleep in the same bed. Having sex with her was a mistake and I didn't want it to lead to this. But that's also my baby in her and I can't leave it alone. That woman is crazy and I need to make sure my baby is safe."

I nodded, understanding his reasons. I wasn't happy with the circumstances, but it is what it is.

He wrapped his arms around my waist as we looked into the sun disappear and turn into nighttime. We sat there for a long while and I don't even remember falling asleep. Next thing I know, I'm back in his car. I don't even know how he carried my heavy ass down all those steps.

I yawned and looked at him. "You're awake," he said, turning to look at me and smiling.

"What time is it?" I asked, smiling back.

"Almost 10," he answered. "I would've taken you home but you looked so peaceful and I like watching you sleep. I've just been driving around."

I smiled at his comment and how sweet he was being. Even though I'd cut him out of my life and our baby's life so far, I felt as though he was a good person and it wouldn't hurt to get to know him better. He was putting in effort and was going to be a great father to our child.