Settling Down [KJ Apa]

Chapter Fifteen

"What are you doing here?" I spit my words.

My heart beat is speeding up; I'm furious to see him.

Boston just stands there, frozen as if he didn't expect me to come home.

"She asked you a question." Keneti speaks up, his voice laced with anger.

Boston's demeanor immediately changes. His eyes become hooded, the corners of his mouth turn downwards. It's the Boston I've always been scared of. 

"Of course you're here." He grits his teeth, "You're always there when things go wrong."

"Mate, you screwed up. Not me, definitely not her." Keneti steps in front of me, "So why don't you answer her question, huh?"

I place my hand on Keneti's upper arm. He turns to me and his eyes immediately soften. I know he's grown very protective over me the past few days, but I can fight my own fights.

"What are you doing here?" I repeat my question towards Boston.

I can see the wheels turning, weighing every pro and con as to how he should answer, but he eventually lets his shoulders hang in defeat.

"I came to pick up my remaining possessions." He sighs.

"I texted you they were in boxes in the garage. What are you doing in my house?"

He takes a step closer, and I move a little backwards, barely touching Keneti's chest with my shoulder. Keneti then puts his hand lightly on the small of my back for some moral support.

"It's our house though.--"

"It's my house, Boston. My signature on file, my money that paid for it. So, tell me why you're really here, Boston, or I'll call the cops for trespassing private property."

"Georgie..." 

My comment was the last blow to his tough demeanor. His face changes completely, tears starting to spill. 

"I just-- we were so good together." He starts.

I can feel Keneti's growing anger through the palm of his hand resting on my back.

"We could be so good again." Boston continues.

"You. Cheated on me. You. Embarrassed me. You broke my heart."

He takes another step closer, reaching his hands towards me, almost touching me.

"C'mon, Georgie. We could be the strong team we were again."

"Mate." Keneti finally interferes and I exhale slowly. 

Keneti moves back in front of me, between Boston and I to protect me. I let him though, as I'm already too tired from the day.

"She is done with you." Keneti starts.

I just close my eyes and lean my head against the back of his shoulder.

"So, stop trying to manipulate her and just leave, before you make it any worse."

"If that is what she wants."

Keneti nudges the shoulder I've been resting on and I look up.

"Yeah, I want you to leave, Boston. And I want you to never come back."

His shoulders slump, but he quickly takes on his tough facade again.

"Don't you think it's such a coincidence big man over here has just found his way back to you?"

I stay silent.

"He's been in love with you for years, Georgie. He somehow realises he's got a chance with you, he comes back running."

"Just leave already." I snap.

I can feel all my levels rise. I know him being around is not healthy. At all. And I really need him to leave.

Luckily, he finally gets the memo and walks towards the door. Keneti puts his hand on the same place as before to comfort me. As if he knows I need support.

 Just before Boston opens the door though, he turns to us, his eyes darting between us.

"I really hope you're making the right decision, Georgie." He says, "Because I would hate to see you get heartbroken by the same arsehole again."

I need to put my hand up to stop Keneti from charging towards Boston, but luckily Boston has already walked out the door when Keneti gets loose.

"I can't believe him!" Keneti raises his voice, "The audacity." 

"It's okay, Keneti." I sigh relieved, putting my hand on his upper arm, "He's gone now."

A short sharp pain comes to the top of my belly and I put my left hand on it. I lean over a little 

"Everything okay?" Keneti asks, worry laced in his voice.

"Yeah... It's just my body being my body." I smile it off.

"Why don't you go lie down and I'll make us some food, huh?" He orders me lightly, "You need the rest more than I do." 

"Keneti..."

"Go on. Take your place on the couch. I'll make us some mac and cheese."

He starts walking towards the kitchen and I just smile, walking towards the couch in the living room.

He's cooking my favourite dish, just like the olden days.

_________

"You are not being serious, Keneti." I laugh.

I'm trying to push the tears back as I look up to the two men in front of me. 

Lili and Cole had arrived just after dinner and they've been trying to cheer me up. And now, Cole and Keneti are about to perform for Lili and I. Well, if you call dressing up drag and singing the best showtunes so bad a performance, then that is what we're being exposed to.

They've pushed back some furniture to make a stage, keeping the very comfortable couch for Lili and I to sit on. 

"Well, darling." Cole says, being a sassy queen, "You are in for a treat. Scarlett Taboo over here has a huge range of epic showtunes."

"That is right, Cookie Holiday." 

Keneti tries to measure up to the sass Cole's been giving, but fails miserably. It just doesn't fit with his muscles. 

"Well, let's get to it." Keneti says before pointing to Lili, "Hit it!"

Lili turns up the music and the sweet tunes of Nowadays, from the musical Chicago. My grin widens as I see the two men just nailing the most terrible choreography I have ever seen to the best song ever performed on a Broadway stage.

I might be a little bias, since I love the original performance.

Their first song soon wraps up and they're about to start on the next one, but I stop them. 

"Aw, come on, Georgie." Cole whines, "We were doing such good job."

"I am officially cheered up. But I'm also extremely tired." 

I rub my eyes, standing up and supporting myself on Keneti's arm he's extended to me.

"You two can stay." I tell Lili and Cole, "I have like 3 guest bedrooms at your disposal."

Lili smiles softly. "Thank you. We'll definitely crash here."

I look up to Keneti, trying to hold back my laughter after having a closer look to his botched make-up. But even with the bad make-up, I can see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Can you stay with me? I don't want to sleep alone tonight..."

He nods lightly. "Of course."

I don't need him to always protect me for my nightmares, but having him around comforts me. It makes me remember a careless time, where my responsibilities were close to none. Where my love for him was the only important thing in my life.