“Are you serious?”
“Yeah but they’re not sure though. I have to get an X-ray.”
“We still hanging? Ethan asked as he placed his arm around Toni’s shoulder and then walked over to where we were standing.
“I think I’m just chillin’ tonight. I feel like I just got hit by a bus.” Xavier said.
“Did you drive?’ Ethan asked Toni.
“Sure did.”
“Okay good so Ky can go with Zay and I’ll ride with you. I’m starving so I need to eat before we head back.”
“What’s new?” Toni said.
“Shut up, you eat just as much as I do.” Ethan said and then playfully tighten his arm around Toni’s neck to simulate a headlock which she was not thrilled about so pulled away and then nailed him in the arm. He dropped his gym bag and then grabbed her from behind causing her to lean over as he pulled her into a bear hug and began kissing her on the side of her face.
“You okay with just heading back to my room?” Xavier asked. “I just need to lay down for a while.”
“Don’t let him go to sleep, he might have a concussion.” Ethan said now standing behind Toni leaning over so that he was resting his chin on her shoulder.
“You know he doesn’t sleep. Insomnia at its finest.”
“Your right.” Ethan agreed.
“I’m good but I have a headache from hell.” Xavier said.
“You want us to bring you back something.”
“We’re good we can order something.” Xavier said and then looked down at me for approval to which I gave with a nod.
“Alright bruh just call me if you change your mind.” Ethan said and then turned to Toni, “Where did you guys park?”
“In the front.”
“Let’s roll then.” Ethan said.
Xavier and I left out of one of the side doors near the back of the arena since Xavier had parked in the back while Toni and Ethan climbed the stairs to leave from the front. When we stepped outside it was dark and the air was crisp and cold so Xavier moved close to me and put his arm round around my shoulder and I could feel him cringe from his injury. When we reached his Jeep there was a car parked next to him which was running with its park lights on but neither of us really thought much of it. He already had his key in his and so he pressed the bottom to unlock the doors.
“Do you want me to drive?” I asked and then carefully pulled away from him and gently touched his injured side.
“No I’m good.” He said even though I could tell that he was in pain. He lifted the handle of the rear door, pulled it open and then tossed his bag inside before he closed it again. Just as I walked around to the passenger side to open the door I could see someone get out of the car that was parked next to us and move towards Xavier. It took me a minute before I recognized that it was Johnny so I walked back around the rear of the Jeep but Xavier stopped me before I could get to where he was.
“Get in.” He said and pointed towards the door.
It was clear that he wasn’t in the best mood so instead of challenging him I just turned and walked back to the passenger side, got in and closed the door. This was definitely not going to go well.
Xavier Lee
“What are you doing here?” I asked as soon as I saw him standing there in front of me.
“We need to talk.”
“You might need to talk but I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“How about you just shout your damn mouth and listen then.”
“I’m not a kid anymore so that doesn’t work and there’s nothing that you can say to me that I want to hear?”
“There you go pretending to be a man again.” Johnny said sarcastically with a half laugh.
“I’m out.” I said and turned to open by door but he spoke again.
“So you got everything all figured out then, huh?”
“What’s to figure out? You’re a drunk and abusive asshole. I don’t give a damn about anything you have to say and since I don’t need anything from you, this is waste of your time which I really don’t give a shit about so more importantly a waste of my time to.”
“Talking tough doesn’t make you tough. If you’re really a man then you should be able to have a real conversation with me.”
“That alcohol must really be affecting your ability to process simple things because we’ve had this conversation too many time before. I told you, I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be so what could you possibly have to say that’s worth me listening?”
He laughed arrogantly before he said, “I'm not drunk little boy. I know you think that you’ve got it all figured out but you don’t know a damn thing about me or what I’ve done for you.” He was clearly annoyed by the way that I was dismissing him but I really couldn’t have cared less.
“I know you.” I paused for a brief second “Johnny.” I called him by name to be clear about the lack of respect I had for him. “Trust me I know you. I just don’t care anything about you and that’s on you because every time you picked up a bottle, and put your hands on me and even worse my mother I lost respect for you and the ability to give a shit about you. Only a coward hits women and children and that’s who you are. Trust me I know you. Johnny!”
“You look at me with so much hate while you think your mother was so perfect. You have no…”
I cut him off before he could finish, “Don’t talk about my mother. She might not have been perfect but she was a hell of a lot better than you have ever been.”
“You think so huh. You wanna talk truths. How about this for truth, you know why I tried to take control of your sisters account? It’s because I deserve it. Your mother owed me at least that much after all these years. I might not have been perfect but I never asked her to raise a child that wasn’t hers sad to say I can’t say the same for her.”
I could feel my body tensing up and my temple was throbbing. “What the hell are you talking about?” I yelled. I was reaching my boiling point with him.
“What I’m talking about is the fact that you’re not mine.” He said presumptuously. “You’re a bastard child. Your own father didn’t want you, neither did I but I raised you anyway and you were too ungrateful to appreciate that. I guess that’s why it was so easy for me to put my hands on you. Every time I looked at your face I was reminded that your mother had another man’s bastard child and begged me to raise it. How’s that for perfect.” He said with the most superior egotistical look on his face.
A surge of rage went through me which made me clinch my fist and swing. I landed a solid blow right into his jaw so hard that he stumbled back, grabbed his face and then laughed. “If I didn’t know any better I’d swear you were mine, you’re more like me you think.”
“Xavier.” I turned to see Kya standing at the rear of my Jeep with a terrified look on her face.
“You got your hands full with this one.” Johnny looked at Kya and then laughed. He walked back to his car rubbing his face, got in and within a matter of seconds he was gone.
“What happened?” She asked.
“Let’s go.” I wasn’t ready to have this conversation with her right now. I needed to figure out what the hell was going on myself before I could even begin to try and explain it to her.
The drive back to the dorms seemed to take forever. My mind was all over the place and I couldn’t slow it down. I had to figure out what was going on but I had no idea where to start. I didn’t care if it was true, I just needed to know. I pulled up at the dorm, turned the Jeep off and then sat there for a minute. I could feel Kya watching me and I knew I needed to try and explain but I didn’t know what to explain.
“So do you want to tell me what that was all about?” She asked.
I sat there for a minute trying to figure out how to explain what I didn’t even understand. “He’s not my father.”
“What?” Kya asked sounding confused.
“He’s not my father.”
“I heard you, I just don’t get it?” She turne
d her back towards the door and lifted her leg up under her and then sat on it.
“He told me that my mother…” I couldn’t even say it. “He’s not my father.”
“Do you believe him?” She asked looking at me softly I could tell she wanted to help.
“I swear I hope it’s true. It would make my life a lot easier.” I stared at my windshield I didn’t know why but I couldn’t look at her.
“What are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Call your aunt, wouldn’t she know?” Kya asked.
I had already thought about that but it was late and I didn’t know if I wanted to deal with this right now.
“Maybe tomorrow.” I said and opened the door to get out. I needed to process everything and that wasn't going to happen tonight.
Chapter 14
Kya Renee
“Lay down I’ll go.” I said after Xavier tried to lift himself off of his bed. I could tell he was in pain so I volunteered to go to the lobby to meet the delivery guy with our pizza.
“You sure.” He asked.
“Yeah I got it.” I said and smiled. He reached in the pocket of his sweat pants, pulled his wallet out and tossed it to me.
“Aye time to shop.” I said playfully.
“You could do just about anything you wanted right now and I don’t think I would have the ability to stop you.” He said and grabbed his side.
“You might not want to tell me that.” I said and smiled.
“I trust you.”
“You better. I’ll be right back.”
I left the room and decided to take the stairs since they were right there instead of walking down the hall to the elevator. As soon as I opened the door I heard someone talking and then I heard a door open and close followed by footsteps coming from the floor above me. I started down the stairs and could tell that the person who had just entered the stairwell was jogging down the stairs based on the rhythm of their feet as they hit the stairs so before I reached the bottom floor they caught up with me.
“Well look who it is.” He said when he realized who I was. “Ms. Kya Grant. You must be hanging in there with Mr. complicated.” It was the guy from the party.
“We’re a little less complicated now.” I said and smiled politely attempting not to let on how uneasy I felt about being alone in the stairwell with him.
“I figured that when I didn’t hear from you.” He said “I’ve been seeing you around here and at the games lately. Wth, are you stalking me?
I didn’t know why but that felt creepy to me which made me move faster to get out away from being alone with him in that stairwell. He seemed harmless but you never know with people these days. When I reached the door that opened into the hallway leading to the lobby he jumped ahead of me and pulled it open for me but he touched my back as I walked through it which made me extremely uneasy.
“I know you’re a little less complicated now but you can still call me.” He said “Nothing wrong with making new friends.”
“Sure.” I lied. I had no intention of calling him and if Xavier knew that this guy put his hand on me he would likely not want to get anywhere near me ever again any way, Xavier would make sure of that.
“I’m going to hold you to that?” He said and walked with me to the lobby.
“What up Kya.” Thank goodness Chaz was in the lobby with some friends. I walked over and hugged him mostly because I needed to shake the creepy feeling that my stalker had given me. “Picking up pizza.” I pointed to the security desk where the delivery man was standing.
“I just ate but you know me. I’ll never back down from a free offer.” He said and smiled. Mr. uncomplicated found his way to one of the lounge chairs and was watching me with Chaz but I don’t think Chaz paid him any attention.
“I’m probably not going to eat that much so I’m sure there will be some left. “ I said and smiled. “You coming up now?”
“Nah I’m heading out.” Dang it, you need to walk me back upstairs.
“Alright. I’ll see you later.” I said and then walked over the delivery guy and paid. I shoved Xavier’s wallet in my back pocket so that I could hold the pizza box along with the two liter that he left on the counter. I looked around the lobby to see if my stalker was still there before I headed towards the elevator. I didn’t want to risk getting stuck in the stairwell with him again. Two other guys who I recognized form Xavier’s floor also got on with me so I felt a little better.
When I got to the room I pushed the door open with my foot since it wasn’t closed all the way and sat the pizza and soda on the counter. I took two cups out of the cabinet and filled one of them with ice and also got one of Xavier's ice packs. I balanced the cups, and ice pack on top of the pizza box before I picked up the two liter with my free hand and then walked into the bedroom. Xavier was in the same place that I had left him stretched out with on leg hanging off the side planted on the floor. He was focused on the TV.
I sat the box on his desk, picked up the ice pack before I sat down next to him and then lifted his shirt to look at his injury. I couldn’t really see much from the light from his desk lamp so I stood up flipped the switch on the wall and then sat down and checked again.
“I think it’s bruised.” I inspected his ribs and gently poked at the injured area.
“Do worry, that doesn't hurt.” He said sarcastically and then smiled.
“Ha ha funny. Here.” I placed the icepack on what I assumed was the bruised area but Xavier jumped and pushed it off making it fall onto he bed next to him.
“Damn that’s cold.”
“It’s an icepack genius. Leave it on there.” I said and repositioned the icepack again this time holding it in place so he left it there but inhaled deeply and then released it.
“So does this mean we’re playing doctor?” He asked with a smirk on his face.
“This means you’re going to lay here and do nothing.”
“I’m creative, I can figure out how to let you do all the work.”
“Please stop.” I said and then pressed down on the icepack which made him flinch a little.
“No love and I’m hurt and everything.”
“Exactly, glad we agree.”
“That is not what I meant.” He said and frowned at me.
“Sucks for you then.”
I climbed over him careful not to put any pressure on his injured side and then laid down next to him. I laid my arm across his chest and placed my hand on top of the icepack to make sure it stayed put and he placed his hand on top of mine.
“You okay?” I asked talking more about everything else that had gone on tonight with Johnny.
“Yeah.” He said.
I was laying on his shoulder with his arm behind my back so he pulled me closer and then kissed my forehead which was his way of asking me to let it go, so I did.
Xavier Lee
I woke up early if you can even call what I did the night before sleeping since all I really remember doing is lying there in the dark listening to Ky breathing. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get Johnny’s words out of my head. “You’re not mine.” My mind was all over the place with a million questions forming that I needed answers to. I kept obsessing over what he said as if the more I repeated it the more clarity that I would have. He spoke so confidently like it was going to hurt me that I had no connection to him when honestly I was praying that it was true. Knowing would have been the best thing that he had ever done for me.
The only thing that made me feel anything about it at all was that I might have actually missed out on having a normal father son relationship with someone. I've never been one of those that would fall apart if my parents got divorced nor was I the kid who cried at night because ‘dad wouldn't play catch’ but it was just natural to miss having a father that I could look up to or count on. My father son memories were all about fear, bruises and broken bones. Kya was still asleep so I decided to call my aunt even though it was early. I knew that
she would be up like she always was on Saturday mornings washing clothes and cleaning.
“Hey baby, what are you doing up so early?” She said cheerfully after she heard my voice.
“Just had a lot on my mind.”
“Sounds like it.” She said sounding concerned.
“I think I might come home today.” I said after hearing her voice I decided that this was a conversation that I wanted to have face to face.
“Xavier baby are you okay?” I could tell that she was worried.
“I'm good, I just need to get away. I'll see you on a couple of hours.”
“Okay, you be careful. Leigh stayed over at Bri’s house last night but I'm sure she'll be here soon. She'll be excited to see you. We both will.” She said trying her best to hide her concern.
“I will, I love you.” I hated making her worry but I didn't want to have this conversation over the phone so it would just have to wait.
I placed my phone on my desk and decided to shower and get dressed since there was no chance in me going back to sleep and Kya was still knocked out, besides it would give me time to think. I needed to clear my head.
“How long have you been up?” Kya asked when I opened my bathroom door. I placed the towel that I was using to dry my hair around my shoulders and then sat down at my desk.
“A little while.”
“Why didn't you wake me up?” She was sitting India style in the center of my bed looking at her phone. She had her hair pulled up into two ponytails, one on each side of her head which made her look like a little kid.
“I tried but you swung at me.” I said then pretended to air box an invisible opponent.
“I did not.” She said and the frowned at me.
“You did, I swear.”
“Whatever punk.”
“You have plans today?”
“Not really why?”
“I was thinking about going home.”
She gave me a concerned look, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just want to talk to my aunt and I don't think I want to do it over the phone.”
She crawled to the edge of the bed, stood up and then walked over and sat on my lap. “About last night?”
Kya & Xavier: It's Always Been You (Life As We Know It Book 1) Page 17