Chapter 0515 Calvin.
1 watch the video Kinley sent me, laughing softly at just how funny it was. She sends me random funny animal videos because she knows they make me laugh. A day doesn't go by without one or two videos from her. If | am being honest, | look forward to seeing them in our chats.
Things between us have been perfect. Apart from Emma, | have never been serious about a woman before. Sure, | did try to move on when | joined college, but it was more of me sleeping around with random girls than moving on from Emma.
Don't look at me like that. All the girls | slept with before Emma knew the score. They knew there could be nothing between us, and it was only a bit of fun. | made that very clear before | got into bed with them. They understood and accepted. Life was simple until Emma and | crossed paths again.
After the first time | slept with Emma, | stopped my string of one-night stands. Then Emma got pregnant, and well, you know the rest. | haven't been with any other woman since that first night with her. | know, pathetic, but in my stupid defense, | was in love, and | thought it wasn't right sleeping around while still fucking Emma. No matter how much | was hurting, the thought of sleeping with someone else disgusted me.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAnother ping brought my attention back to my phone.
[How was your day, handsome?] Kinley's text read.
food] She really knows how to boost a man's ego, but that's not what | like about her. It's her light, her smile and the fact that she gets me. It's how she treats Gunner like her own; it's her kindness, her warmth, her smile that lights everything around her. It's her compassion, the peace that surrounds her. It's simply her as a person. | know it'll sound cheesy, but she is an angel. One sent to me when | really needed her.
[Perfect, now that | am hearing from you. How about yours?] [Can | be honest? I've thought about you most of the day.
Well you, Gunner and food] | chuckle at that before replying. One thing | learned about Kinley is her love for food. She loves her food and isn't afraid to admit it. She's genuine and real. That's what attracted me to her.
I've been thinking for quite some time now about asking her out. It's a big fucking step, and it scares the crap out of me, but | also feel right. Being with her feels right.
I've only loved one woman since | was fourteen. Of course, there are parts of me that will fight against me. Fight against going for the unknown, preferring for me to stick to what | am used to. | can't let those parts win. Like | said, it's a huge step, but | think | am finally ready to reach for what | want, and what | want is a chance with Kinley.
"Dad," | turn when | hear Gunner's voice.
"What's up, buddy?"
| notice the way his brows are furrowed. Reading into his eyes, | know that something is bothering him.
"Can we talk?" he asks, his voice thick as if he's fighting back his emotions.
*Sure, let me just send Kinley a quick text to let her know, and then | am all yours." He smiles a little at her name and nods his head.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmExplaining what is happening, | send the text to her before setting my phone on silent and setting it aside.
"Now," | begin "What's bothering you?" "Did you know Emma moved into Aunt Ava's house?" He asks, his blue eyes so much like his mother's piercing mine.
So, he found out. | didn't tell him because | didn't know how to tell him. He has so much anger towards Emma that | didn't want to aggravate him more where she is concerned.
He also stopped calling her mom two years ago. Now, when we do talk about her, which is rare, he calls her by
her given name.
"Yes, | did," | tell him truthfully. There was no reason for me to lie to him. We promised there would never be secrets between us.
"| see," comes his answer.
*Did something happen? Did she do something you didn't like?" He looks at me before looking down at the floor and taking a deep breath. "She apologized a few days ago. She said she was sorry for what she did and how she treated me."