The One That Got Away ✔

Chapter Six

When I look at Freddy, all the memories of Kyle and I come flooding back.

Unlike many people, I don't look back on my pregnancy with fondness. That time in my life was a hard one for me. I was carrying the baby of a guy who had no idea that he would soon be a father. Sure I had Mum and Tom but who was I kidding? I was raising this child alone. With my dad out of my life for good, me and this child had something in common - we both were fatherless. The only difference was, his dad would want to be in his life if he knew he existed.

Mum came with me to all my doctor appointments and helped me as best as she could throughout my entire pregnancy. I knew how hard it was for her to see me so young and pregnant. Kyle and I would exchange phone calls most days, for the first few months after he had left. If I'm being honest, I came close to telling him about the baby a few times but then I would chicken out.

I just couldn't bring myself to do it - I don't know why. Maybe I'm not as tough as I would like to believe.

"Look ma, I know this isn't easy for you-" Freddy begins from beside me.

I glance over to my handsome boy.

He has no idea what this is doing to me. I mean how could he? He doesn't know Kyle or what we shared.

He's a nieve kid who thinks he knows everything about the world - but that's not his fault.

It's not his fault that he's just like me.

"You have no idea," I tell him, creating a moment of pure silence.

"What are you going to say to him?" He asks, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I have no idea" I admit and shaking my head slowly.

"....Mum, it'll be okay" Freddy assures.

"I don't see how"

My mind then begins to wonder.

I remember the day I finally ended it with Kyle. I knew I had to. After all, I was about to have his baby and he had no idea.

I was seven months pregnant at the time. Kyle and I were in the middle of one of our late-night phone calls.

"I'm sorry I hadn't called you back" I apologized quickly - knowing that what I'm going to say is going to hurt him.

"I've tried calling you all week but you mum said you were out," he told me.

"I know and I'm sorry"

Kyle sighed.

"What's up with you lately?" Kyle started slowly, "you haven't been acting like yourself' he observed.

I wrapped my arms around my stomach just like I did with Kyle on the dance floor that night.

"There's something I need to tell you..." I looked down at my belly.

"Yeah" he waited.

I have to tell him about the baby. How could I not?

But I never did quite have the guts.

"Never mind" I shook my head.

"Lexi, what's going on?' He asked "...Is there someone else or am I just being paranoid here..."

My immediate instinct was to say: no, of course not, why would you say that?

But when I looked down at my belly again, I knew what I had to do.

Immediately, I burst into tears and said "yeah there is" I sobbed while stroking my belly. "There's someone else" my voice was quiet and high pitched.

"What?" His voice sounded genuinely surprised.

I couldn't be with Kyle and pretend that this baby didn't exist. I thought that I could. I genuinely thought that I could just pretend, but I couldn't.

"I'm sorry, Kyle," I said with tears streaming down my cheeks, "I can't do this anymore"

I wiped my tears with my sleeve and sniffed.

That was one of the hardest conversations that I have ever had with anyone to this day.

Lying to someone that I love used to be one of the hardest things that I ever had to do.

It got a lot easier with more practice.

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Kyle broke the minute of silence.

"I didn't know how" I wept, "I'm sorry I can't do this"

"Lexi" he begged.

"I'm sorry" I sobbed, "I've gotta go, I'm sorry" and I ended the call.

The thing that hurt me the most was how it felt to break Kyle's heart. He loved me more then I deserved and I broke his heart to save myself.

To top it off, I was pregnant with his child - a walking reminder of what we had and how much that I hurt him.

As a way to cope with my sadness and guilt, I would paint during my pregnancy. It was then when I discovered my talent for art.

I needed to make some money before the baby came so I decided to enter some art competitions around town and sure enough, I won every single one of them.

Not long after, I started taking part in auctions close by to my house and to my surprise, people began spending big money to get their hands on my work.

Suddenly my phone buzzes from my pocket, bringing me out of my memories and back into the present.

"Hello," I greet.

"Alexandria, it's Cassy, babe" my agent begins, "I just wanted to let know that the gallery is transporting The Heartbreakers Anthem piece to Paris tonight"

I slap my palm over my forehead, looking over to Freddy who rolls his eyes.

"I was told that the painting was being transported this morning" I clench my jaw, "why am I only now learning of these changes?"

"They were last-minute, Alexandria," Cassy tells me, "the gallery is apologetic but Paris will still be show casing the piece tomorrow morning, as scheduled"

I nod "update me if anything else changes, God forbid" I end the call.

"What did Cassy screw up now?" Freddy cocks a brow.

"It wasn't her fault this time" I assure.

"That's a first" he smirks.

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Hi all,

Apologies for the slow updates, it's holiday season which means I'm very busy and also I am writing three books at the same time.

I hope you're all are enjoying this book so far!!! Please let me know your thoughts and please VOTE.

Happy reading!!

- Rose x