Addie wakes up about two hours later, and Amelia puts on Shark Tale then looks up at Alex. He looks at her and smiles, biting his lip gently.
"So.. I kinda basically told you everything there is to know about mine and Dylan's past... What else do you wanna know about it?" she asks, scrunching her nose.
"Did.. were you in love with him at any point?" he asks, very cautiously. Amelia looks away, thinking for a moment then looks back at Alex.
"I think I was in love with the idea of someone noticing me and saying what I wanted to hear.. so being with him, it gave me that. Even when he was abusive, afterwards he apologized profusely and showered me with gifts, but for the wrong reasons. The day.." Her voice trembles. "The day he broke my wrist, I was 5 months pregnant.. and I went to the hospital to get it looked at.. that was the day I knew I couldn't stay with him if he was going to continue to hit me. I told him that, and he changed, for three months. From the middle of month 8 up until I had Jake, he r..raped me, would hit me, and fractured my other wrist. I didn't leave because I didn't know where to go. My family would never believe me, my best friend stopped talking to me, I had no one. Shortly after having Jake, that's when I started harming myself. Started with some small cuts, then I started with the burning. The pain from that, released me from all the other pain I was feeling. Dylan took so much from me, my parents took my son from me.." She brings her hands to her face as the tears start to fall from her eyes.
Alex sits her up and pulls her into his lap and holds her, wiping her tears away and uncovering her face. "Oh, Amelia.. I'm so, so sorry baby." She sniffles quietly, crying into his shoulder. He rubs her back, trying to calm her down. "I.. I didn't mean to pry baby.. I'm so sorry.. please believe how sorry I am.."
She sniffles again, kissing his neck softly as she whispers against it, "It's ok.. I want to be able to tell you this stuff.. because in a few weeks, there's the trial, and things are going to be said about me that aren't true. You need to hear this from me.." She nuzzles her head between his neck and shoulder.
"Dylan manipulates those around him to believe what he wants them to believe. It's never the truth with him. It's what he wants people to think is the truth, and I was a victim of it. He told me so many times he was madly in love with me, but I should have known better. Especially after hearing all the stories of him
being at parties and hooking up with other girls. I didn't think anything of it because he had told me none of them were true. He told me that he only had eyes for me, and that the other girls didn't matter. And that's exactly what I wanted to hear, at 14, was that this guy who I had known since I was 5 only had eyes for me. The other girls didn't matter, but I should have seen through it. He never wanted to tell anyone we were dating, fearing that my brother would beat the crap out of him. Little did I know, Ben knew everything, he just didn't care that his little sister was getting hurt. He knew Dylan and I were seeing each other, he knew we had sex, and he knew that Dylan was raping me. He never stepped in to stop it, he never stepped up to get me help, he never told Dylan that what he was doing was bad. Sometimes, I wonder, if Dylan was manipulating Ben into believing that I begged for sex. I can't.. talk to him.. because it just brings everything flooding back. Dylan is currently sitting in jail, but who knows how much longer that will last. If he gets out, he's coming for me, and I don't want you or Addie getting hurt." She lifts her head up and looks at Alex wiping her eyes. Addie looks over at the exact moment, toddles over, and pats Amelia's leg.
"Don't cwy mommy. It's otay." She toddles back over to her bear and sits down, watching the movie. Alex's head snaps towards Addie then back at Amelia.
"I.. crap.. I'm sorry.. I.. I don't know why she said that.. I'm sorry, baby.." Amelia, mouth open in a perfect "O" looks at Alex.
"I..." She gets up and goes to the bathroom downstairs, locking the door. Alex looks after her as she goes, sighing. Once she's in the bathroom, Amelia leans against the locked door and sinks down to the floor, sobbing, holding her stomach. Alex gets up and walks over to the bathroom door, leaning against it and sinks to the floor on the outside, listening.
"I.. Jake.. I'm sorry.. I'm so, so sorry... I'm sorry I couldn't be the mom you needed when you were born. I'm sorry I can't be there for you now.. I love you so, so much son. I'm so sorry I brought you into this world the way I did. You deserve so much better than what they can give, even more than what I can give you." She pulls her knees to her chest as she sobs quietly, banging her head against the door.
"Princess.. baby.. please let me in.. Please let me help you.." Alex says through the door, tearing up at her words. "I want to help you in any way I can.. Please baby.." Amelia moves away from the door as she unlocks it. Alex stands, opening the door, helping her to her feet and hugs her tightly. "Shhh baby. It's ok. I'm here. Please.." He strokes her hair, kissing the top of her head as she sobs into his shirt. He walks her back over to the couch, where he sits down and pulls her into his lap, comforting her. She cries into his shoulder, arms folded across her stomach.
The movie finishes and Alex puts on Paw Patrol for Addie, still holding Amelia, and comforting her.
"You're safe, princess. I'm here. I got you. Nothing bad will happen to you right now. I promise you're safe right now." He kisses her forehead and continues holding her.
Amelia closes her eyes, sniffling quietly. "I.. I'm sorry... I just.. I am a mom.. yet that's actually the first time I've heard someone say it out loud.. And it wasn't from my child.. because he doesn't know about me. And that's what sucks the most. He doesn't know that his parents aren't his actual parents. He doesn't know me at all, and I wish.. sometimes I wish he was here with me.." She sniffles again, wiping her eyes. Alex strokes her hair, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
"You, are an amazing person, Amelia. Jake deserves to know who you are. You would be an amazing mom, just by seeing the way you are with Addie. You are so patient with her, when she's asking you things or just talking to you. Literally, the day you two met, it scares the hell out of me, because most people run at the mention of kids, or hanging out with someone who has a kid, but not you. You stayed, and kept her entertained and you didn't have to. I'm so grateful for you spending all this time not only with me, but with Adelaide as well. I know, you probably have questions about why her mother and I aren't together anymore, and I can give you answers, when you're ready to ask about it." Alex says, then kisses her softly. Amelia kisses back softly, then rests her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
Alex plays with her hair, kissing her face occasionally, showering her with kisses and affection. Amelia gets lost in her thoughts.
W..what is all this? What's happening? Why am I so upset by this? It shouldn't have affected me this way.. Kids say things like that all the time.. She didn't mean it.. She's probably seen them like this.. Let it go.. Just be her friend.. A role model.. I can do that.. Amelia looks over at Addie and smiles to herself. Would it really be so bad if she does call me mom? I mean... She can tell her dad and I are close.. Maybe if this becomes more Alex and I can talk about that.. I never wanted to be a mom.. but I am one, because of Jake.. and I like Addie.. It would be cool if I could get Jake.. and then Addie has someone to play with..
Alex continues showering her with kisses and affection, causing her to smile and snap out of her thoughts. She looks at him, biting her lip softly. He smiles and kisses her gently. She kisses back, resting a hand on his neck. He smiles into the kiss and pulls back slightly.
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Blayke's parents arrive at home, and ask Zach to leave so they can have some family time. Zach says his goodbyes and drives home. When he arrives home, he sees the package on the porch, takes it inside, then goes to his room after leaving it in the kitchen. He gathers his clothes and starts doing his laundry, then looks for something to eat.
In the movie room
Addie is playing with her bear, while Alex and Amelia are looking at each other, unsure of who's going to
make the next move. Amelia leans in slightly, kissing him softly. He smiles, kissing her back, nipping at her bottom lip. She giggles softly and pulls back, looking in his eyes, placing her hand on his cheek, caressing it slowly. He turns his head and kisses the palm of her hand.
YOU ARE READING
Life After You (Life Series; Book 1) {COMPLETED}
Romance{COMPLETED} Amelia was adopted at age 15 by a family in the same town she grew up in, just on the other side. She's trying to move on and forget her horrible past, but people from then keep popping up in her life. She doesn't believe she will ever t...
