Settling Down [KJ Apa]

Chapter Eleven

IS THE ROMANCE OVER?
(Ex-)Fiancé of famous director spotted kissing with another woman.

•••

I can't breathe.

I've had moments like this before, but no one can ever prepare you for this.

My eyes skim the words, but I don't read it. The image of Boston kissing his baby mama is distracting me from taking it all in.

"I tried to tell you." Keneti pulls me back to reality.

"Yeah." My voice breaks, "I know."

Tears slowly stream down my cheeks. I don't want people to see me cry. I don't want Keneti to see me cry.

"I have to go." I whisper, closing the article on my phone and opening the Uber-app.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone, George."

Keneti puts his hand on my upper arm, but I shrug it away.

"I don't want to break down in the middle of the street. So, I'm going to get an Uber to get..." I sigh, "To get home."

"Well, you're not going alone."

I take a deep breath as I cover my face with my hands. The image of them together is just vividly in my brain and tears start spilling again.

"Alright." Keneti sighs and pulls me in a hug, "We're 5 minutes away from the studios. I'm going to call off the Uber and drive you home myself."

I take a deep breath and nod. That might be better than waiting another 20 minutes on that car.

"Wrap your arm around my waist and just squeeze my side when it's getting too much." He whispers in my ear as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

I nod again as my arm sneaks around his waist. We start walking to the studios, and I bury my head into Keneti's chest. I couldn't even care about pictures surfacing of us embracing like this. I just want to get home.

When we arrive at the parking lot of the studios, Keneti guides me to his car. He opens the passenger door and I get in. I bury my face in my hands again and let the tears out.

How could he?

Maybe it was a doctored photo?

No, not even possible.

Damnit.

"George?" Keneti pulls me out of my thoughts, "We're here."

"Already?"

I look outside and see the closed gate on front of me. I wipe my stained hands on my trousers, steadying my inhales.

"The code is 0419." My voice is quivering, and my mind goes back to the article.

I can't get it out of my head and tears are threatening to spill, but I stay strong. You never know who can see you and take pictures. Even behind your own gates.

Keneti stops the car and I jump out, even before he's turned off the engine. My hands are shaking while reaching for the doorknob.

"Damnit." I curse under my breath, trying to put my thumb on the reader.

Keneti's hand covers mine and I slightly relax. He softly presses my thumb on the reader, unlocking the front door. I put my hand on the wooden door to push it open, but he's faster.

At least he's here.

______

I wake up, suffocated by a dozen of blankets. There's a split second that I'm happy. Happy of sleeping in. But it soon all dawns back on me.

He cheated on me...

The glorious smell of freshly made coffee restrains me of falling back into the makeshift cloud. I get up, my muscles sore from last night. I make my way down as I hear voices coming from the kitchen. I halt at the end of the stairs where the sound out of the kitchen travels best.

"She was bad yesterday." I hear Keneti say, "He called and she threw her phone against the wall."

"I totally get that."

What's Lili doing here?

"I don't even know if she'll remember any of last night. She was pretty out of it."

"Well, wouldn't you?"

Cole?

I'm shaking my head in confusion as I leave my spot on the last step and make my way to the kitchen. I push the door open, stopping the conversations going on in there.

"Morning, everyone." I speak up, my voice hoarse from weeping all night long.

Lili engulfs me in a hug instead of greeting me back.

"We came as soon as we heard." She says, letting me go.

I look around the room, all three of them looking quite upset. I cross my arms, bouncing a little on my feet.

"Okay, no." I shake my head, "No pity in this house. Yes, he cheated on me, but I don't want to be reminded of it by you all. I want to move on, okay?"

My arms fall down next to my body as I walk up to the place where Keneti is standing. He straightens up from leaning against the counter, as I stop right in front of him. He nervously clears his throat.

"Well, can I at least have a cuppa?" I say, gesturing to the coffee maker behind him.

"Oh, yeah." He turns around, pouring out a cup of coffee for me before handing it to me.

"So, how was your trip through Europe?" I ask the newlyweds in my kitchen.

"It was great." Cole answers, speaking up for the first time since I've entered the kitchen, "We went to so many countries, saw quite a lot of different cultures. Loved Sweden."

"Oh, yeah. Sweden is amazing." I smile, switching my weight on my feet as I'm thinking about the laundry list of things to do.

Clean up house
Store away his stuff
Get a new phone

I glance to Keneti, who's been quiet this whole time. I slap his pecks with the back of my hand to get his attention and I receive it from him looking down at me, frowning.

"What's up with you?" I frown back at him.

"I was walking around the house yesterday and stumbled upon a closed door upstairs." He begins explaining.

"Yeah, so?" I shrug, knowing what's to come.

"Why do you have a nursery, George?"

"Because I'm pregnant."