MISSING YOU; Bradley Simpson

28.

EVELYN

I am sat on the couch with Faith, watching a Disney movie. It's just the two of us in the apartment right now; Brad went to work and my father has a job interview right now.

"Mommy?" the little girl looks up at me with those beautiful, chocolate brown orbs.

"Yes, sweetie?" I brush a lose strand of hair out of her face with a smile.

"I am scared of grandpa," she admits.

"What? Why?" I tilt my head to the side, furrowing my eyebrows.

"He once yelled at me because I didn't want to eat with him," the little girl says. My eyes widen. How come I don't know about this?

"What?! When did that happen?" I sit up straight.

"I don't know. You and daddy weren't home. Grandpa smelled really bad and he was yelling at me, even when I started crying," Faith says. I feel my blood boiling as she finishes. He began drinking again. I should've known.

Suddenly, the front door opens and in walks my 'beloved' father. I stand up from the couch and walk over to him furiously. He stumbles inside, closing the door behind him. As he turns around, I see his bloodshot eyes and smell the alcohol on him. I can't fucking believe this!

"How dare you yell at my daughter?!" I begin screaming at him. Faith runs back into her room and closes the door behind her. I didn't want to scare her like that, but I can't believe my father had the audacity to yell at her while he was drunk.

"It's good to see you too, my beloved daughter," the man slurs with a disgusting grin on his face.

"Don't you call me your daughter! I can't believe I trusted you again!" I throw my hands in the air. "By dinner you are out of my apartment and never looking back at it!" I say firmly.

"No," my father just shakes his head.

"What?! Are you fucking kidding me?" I cross my arms in front of my chest.

"Don't speak to me like that!" he says demandingly before his palm hits my face, hard. I gasp, my hand flying up to my cheek.

"Mommy!" Faith yells, running over to us. I didn't realize she came back out.

"Get out of my apartment!" I look at my father. I don't yell, to not scare the small girl again.

The drunk man realizes what he did and his eyes go wide. He begins apologizing, but I don't listen. I repeat my last sentence to him more firmly and turn on my heels, walking into my bedroom and slamming the door behind me. I can't fucking believe this man. I let him into my home even after he destroyed everything and now he has the audacity to yell at my daughter, drink constantly and hit me in the fucking face?

I walk into the closet and look at myself in the mirror. My right cheek is red and my makeup is smeared from my tears. I'm not even surprised by his actions, I'm just sorry that Faith had to see all that. I wish I could turn back the time and refuse to let this disgusting excuse of a man into our home.

"Babe? Are you here?" I hear Brad's voice and quickly wipe my tears.

"Yeah, one second," I say as I try to hide the redness of my cheek with my hair.

"Faith said something happened between you and your father. Are you okay?" he slowly makes his way into the closet and gasps when he sees the mark on my cheek. "He did this to you?" Brad's features harden and his eyes darken with anger.

"Yes," I admit.

"That son of a bitch," the curly haired boy hurries out of the bedroom. I run after him to try and stop him, but before I can do anything, his fist connects with my father's jaw. "How dare you touch her?!" he screams.

"Brad, no!" I yell in horror as they fall onto the ground, Brad on top, hitting my father continuously.

"And how dare you do it in front of my daughter?!" he keeps hitting him. As his fist flies up in the air again, ready to connect with my father's face, I wrap both of my hands around his wrist.

"Brad, please, don't," I look at him pleadingly. As we make eye contact, Brad's face softens and he gets up, leaving my father on the floor of our guest room.

"I better not see you again," my fiancé says threateningly before turning to me and pulling me in a tight hug. He starts backing out of the room, pulling the door closed. "I'm so sorry, Eve."

"He deserved it," I wipe my tears and look up at him. "I'm just glad Faith didn't see any of that. I think it was enough for her when he slapped me."

Brad doesn't say anything, he just tightens his grip around me. I bury my face in the crook of his neck, letting out a deep breath. This whole situation is so messed up right now. My mother was right, I shouldn't have left my . . . sperm donor to live with us. He just ruins everything.

I decide not to tell that my father yelled at our daughter to Brad. Instead, I pull away from his hug and silently walk into our bedroom. I look back at him pleadingly, letting him know I want to be alone. He acknowledges my wish with a nod and stands in the hallway, waiting for my father to leave finally.

I can feel myself slowly having a panick attack, so I grab the bag of the brownie I bought myself this morning and start breathing to it. In and out. In and out. Once I calm down, I drop the bag onto the floor and lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Now I know what my mom must have felt every time this piece of shit hit her. I just hope I won't see him ever again.

BRAD

I tap my foot inpatiently on the floor, waiting for that motherfucker to finally come out with his stuff and leave. The door to my daughter's bedroom opens and she peeks her head out. Once she sees it's only me, she comes out of her room and runs over to me, hugging my legs. I bend down and pick her up.

"Are you okay, darling?" I ask, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Mhm," she nods. "Is mommy okay?" the concern in her small voice makes my heart melt.

"She is, baby. She just needs a little time to herself to calm down," I reassure her with a smile. The small girl leans her head on my shoulder, her small arms wrapping around my neck.

The older man finally comes out with his bag and walks past me, not even looking in my direction. I put Faith down and follow him to the front door, where he puts on his boots and jacket.

"Don't ever come back," I say one last time as he walks out of the apartment. I slam the door behind him and let out a sigh of relief. I knew it was a bad idea for Evelyn to let him stay with us, but I won't rub it in her face. She has enough going on in that beautiful head of hers, I don't want to anger her even more.