Stripped

by Harms, C. A.

  “What the hell is he doing here Kylie?”

  I shot a look at Brad, “I don’t have to explain myself to you Brad. This doesn’t have to be a pissing contest. You’re here to see Em, it shouldn’t matter who is here with me.” I caught the smile on Evan’s face and I shot him an equal glare.

  He cleared his smirk and made his way to the coffee pot. His back was to us when Brad threw the first jab in the cock fight. A smirk spread across Brad’s face before he spoke with arrogance. “So Evan, I hear you’re banging the sweet blonde from your office, and now you’re here banging my wife. Damn dude, you get around don’t you?” Evan remained calm as he turned around, holding his coffee cup and he leaned into the counter.

  A shirtless Evan should have intimidated Brad, because the muscle tone between the two of them was like night and day. Evan grinned at Brad’s comment which I knew couldn’t be good. I was glad Emma was in the living room watching cartoons as a distraction. “Well Brad, I’m not banging either one of them. What Kylie and I do in our alone time is our business. I can assure you though; I have never ‘Banged’ Kylie. What we experience together is so much more than that.” He winked at me before bringing his cup up to his lips. I could see the anger building in Brad’s eyes.

  “Okay boys, that’s enough, if you two can’t play nice when you’re forced to be in the same room, then one of you needs to leave.” They both watched me, waiting for me to choose. “Fine, if I have to choose then both of you can leave.” I walked over picking up Emma from the floor and carried her into my room, leaving the two of them to have their standoff alone. I was so frustrated by the situation, not knowing how I should feel about either of them. I knew I loved Brad, but I was not in love with him anymore. He would always be my first love and the father of my child. I hoped we could be friends, regardless of the few weak moments, over the last few days.

  Evan was a different story. I had strong feelings for him, but I wasn’t sure yet if it was love yet. I knew whenever he was near my mind was completely clouded; I couldn’t think straight. I had no idea what to expect when it came to him and I. His family and Alexis would be what would hold us back. I would never make him choose between his family and me. I would just bow out gracefully.

  Here I sat on the floor in my room hiding out with Emma. I was aggravated that Brad and Evan couldn’t put their egos aside. I hated the cocky arrogance they immediately displayed the moment they got near one another.

  I heard the handle to my room jiggle and expected to see Evan, but when Brad walked in I tried to withhold the disappointment I felt. “Hey I um, I just wanted to give Em a hug goodbye.” He knelt down and kissed her head. His eyes never left mine once. After he released his hold on Emma he reached out and squeezed my hand. “Ky he’s not good enough for you; hell I’m not good enough for you. I don’t trust him; I think he’ll just hurt you. I already hurt you enough, you deserve better.” Brad released my hand and quickly left the room. I wanted to scream. I had Brad telling me not to trust Evan, and I had Evan telling me not to trust Brad. I just wanted to run like hell away from them both.

  After getting dressed I wandered back in to the kitchen. Evan was sitting at the table twisting his phone in his hand slowly. He looked stressed and concerned. I didn’t speak; I just waited for him to explain. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you about Alex.” I was confused, where was this coming from.

  “Evan what are you talking about?” When he held up his phone I walked over to the table. I looked down at the screen and my stomach flipped. “How did she get that?” I was looking at a photo of myself dancing on stage at “Club Red”. I couldn’t even tell you if it was old picture or current one. I sat down in the chair next to him, “Did she forward that to you?”

  He shook his head, “No, my dad did.”

  The tears pooled in my eyes at the thought of Evan’s father looking at this photo. Cameras were not even allowed in the club. “So what does this mean?”

  He shook his head, “It doesn’t matter because I’m not doing it.”

  I tried to hold back the tears. “Tell me what he said Evan…please.”

  He pushed back from the table and his chair fell to the floor, making me jump at the sudden sound. “I’m not walking away from you. He can take his ultimatum and shove it up his ass. He isn’t going to fucking run my life and my choices. He can’t tell me who to fucking love Kylie.”

  My chest tightened as the tears fell quickly. Love, he can’t love me. “He wants you to forget about me, doesn’t he?” Evan didn’t speak he just shook his head and fisted his hands. I attempted to swallow past the boulder that had now lodged itself in my throat. I stood up and walked to him with caution. I looked up into his eyes and fought the tears as I spoke as calmly as I could. “Then you have to, because they’re your family, Evan. I won’t come between you and them. I will only be an embarrassment to them. They’re trying to protect you and your fortune. You can’t blame him for wanting that.” He reached out and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in tightly. Once my head hit his chest I snuggled into him. I knew after what I said next, this might be the last chance I would every have to feel him this close. I took a few deep breaths. “You have to leave Evan and forget about me. You have to find a nice girl without a dirty past and fall in love with her. You deserve that.”

  He squeezed me closer, “No, are you insane Kylie? I fell in love with you. I can’t just shut that off, it doesn’t fucking work that way.” I tried to pull from him, but he held tighter. “He can threaten me all he wants baby, but he can’t run everything without me. He knows it, and I know it. They don’t know you and they don’t know us. If Alexis wants to play, we’ll play. Let’s see how everyone feels about her when the truth comes out.”

  I had soaked his shirt from my tears, “What truth?”

  He kissed the top of my head, “The abortion, no one knows about it…not until now.” Evan stood in the kitchen holding me close to him. I feared that eventually we would hit a roadblock with his family, and now we arrived at that point. I had no idea where we would go from here. I let Evan hold me close as he dialed his phone. After a moment his voice startled me from my current state of heart break. “Father…meet me at the office in thirty minutes.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Make sure mother is present and maybe you should invite Alex to. What I have to say she won’t want to miss.” He hung up quickly and squeezed me to him tighter. He held me securely without talking. I wanted to hold on to this moment for as long as I possibly could.

  “Evan this would be easier if—.” He immediately quieted me as his lips crushed into mine. I allowed myself to momentarily find peace within our kiss; for a moment I imagined nothing else in the world was happening. I felt his tongue sweep into my awaiting mouth so gently. My knees felt weak with the beautiful assault of his kiss. Evan was very slowly making love to my mouth and I was melting by the second.

  “Kylie, I’m not walking away from you…or Emma. I don’t care what my father threatens. You and I are not a fling. We are not something that I need to ‘Get out of my system’.” Evan brought his lips to mine once more before pulling back to continue. “It’s time my parents meet the real Alexis. The pedestal they have placed her on is about to come tumbling down.” I felt his hands squeeze my waist and pull me tightly against him. I looked up into his gorgeous mesmerizing eyes and waited for him to continue. Evan was watching me with intensity. His face held a pained expression. “You’re what I want. You and Emma make me so happy. I love every moment I spend with the both of you. Baby, I want to give you both the world. I want to love you and cherish you. No one…and I mean no one will force me to give either of you up.” A tear escaped me and he traced it gently away, “I’m going to go handle this mess and then I want to take you away. You, me and Emma, let’s get away for a couple days; what do you say?”

  My mind was still complete mush from his earlier confession. I know I heard him right…love. Maybe it was a figure
of speech or a future prediction. A man like Evan couldn’t fall in love with me…could he? “Baby, did you hear me?”

  I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Um…yes. Sorry.”

  He kissed me softly and his expression softened. “So can I take you both somewhere?” I watched his eyes and then let my gaze fell to his perfect lips. On reflex I bit my lower lip before nodding my head. His lips turned up into the most beautiful smile, and I couldn’t help returning one back at him. I was tense while watching Evan get dressed. He once again became the cold Evan with his impending meeting with his father running through his mind. I hated the thought of him pushing them away because of me. I feared he would one day regret doing this and hold a grudge.

  I sat on the end of the bed holding Emma as he approached us. He took a seat next to us and tucked my hair behind my ear. I turned, looking up into his awaiting eyes and smiled weakly. Evan tilted my chin up and kissed me softly. When he pulled back I missed the warmth he provided me but I slowly opened my eyes. He traced my lower lip with his thumb watching my mouth closely. “Kylie, don’t frown baby. This has been a long time coming. My parents have always felt they had full control over me. I can’t let them have this hold on me any longer. I love them both dearly but it’s time they understand that I will live my life with or without their blessing.” He placed his hand on Emma’s and she gripped his thumb tightly. She giggled as she looked up at Evan. I watched a beautiful smile spread across his face.

  “I’m gonna go handle this, but I’ll be back after; right after and then we’ll plan our getaway.” He placed a kiss on my forehead before releasing Emma’s hand and walking out of the room. A short moment later I heard the front door latch close, allowing the awaiting tears to fall.

  ~Twenty Six~

  (Evan)

  The elevator doors dinged as they opened onto the floor to our business office. I stepped out and squared my shoulders before approaching my father’s office with one task in mind. I never knocked as I pushed through the closed door. The abrupt entrance startled my mother as she jumped up from the couch, placing her hand to her chest. “Evan, my goodness you scared me.” I stared directly at my father as he rose from the chair behind his desk and rounded the side. He approached me and extended his hand in my direction. I declined his gesture as I watched his arrogant expression fade. Until that moment, I believed he thought he had me under his spell.

  “Will someone please explain to me what on earth is going on? Evan…Walter?” I turned to face my mother and that’s when I caught sight of Alexis standing behind my mother. The look they both held was of extreme concern. I laughed lightly at how innocent they both pretended to be. I shook my head releasing a long exaggerated sigh, running my hands through my hair.

  “Wow Alex…you got everybody fooled don’t you? They all actually believe you’re wonderful, amazing and the perfect match for me. They think you and I can one day get married and live happily ever after. We can shower them with grandchildren and keep the image of perfection going for everyone.” I let a cocky grin spread across my face as I played out the next round of events in my mind. “Oh wait Alex…right, grandchildren, now that’s a topic I think we need to address.”

  Her face fell as she stepped forward. “Evan, I think we should discuss this privately. You’re angry and I understand but this isn’t the time…or place. Please.”

  I laughed once again and the sound of it surprised even me. It sounded foreign because it was so full of hatred. I was not this person they were forcing me to be. The years of allowing them to control me were now coming crashing down and I had such anger built within me. “Alex…Alex, this is the perfect time for this conversation. I think it’s about time we shared our history with everyone.” I faced my mother and held her puzzled eyes for a moment before continuing. “Mother, you see, the special, perfect Alex here…isn’t so perfect after all.” My father had now approached my mother and had taken her hand into his, holding her close. I continued to look directly at her as I shattered Alex slowly. “I’ll never marry Alexis, mother. I’ll never love her and I’ll never have a family with her. Years ago she destroyed that. She killed my child before I even knew it existed.”

  Alex stood behind my mother while tears ran down her cheeks. My mother turned to face her, “Alexis what did you do?” Alex didn’t answer as she pushed passed us and ran out the door. I never turned to watch her leave. I continued to watch my parents as they let everything sink in. My mother took a step toward me and raised her hand to place it onto my forearm. “Evan, darling I am so sorry. I wish you would have told us sooner.”

  I wasn’t about to fall for her charade…she was a master at keeping up appearances. “It’s all about keeping our ugliness hidden mother. We don’t want anyone to ever know that we have troubles…right?”

  Her face fell immediately, “Evan, I’ve only tried to protect you.”

  I tried to hold in the anger that bubbled within me. “Protect me, huh? You’ve spent years attempting to push me into the arms of a woman that took my choices away. Alexis aborted my child without even considering if I wanted to be a father. She wasn’t even going to tell me she did it. It was a complete accident that I even found out.” I stepped back away from her, letting her hand fall to her side. I then brought my eyes to meet my father’s. “The perfect daughter-in-law, isn’t she father?”

  “Evan, she was young…Alex is a refined young woman and together you could—.”

  I couldn’t let him finish. I threw my hand up to stop him. “Now you hold it right there. I am done letting you lead my life. This stops here.” The surprised look on both of my parents face did not go unnoticed as I continued. “Who I love and don’t love is my business. Whomever I choose to spend my time with is my business…not yours. I keep my job and my personal life completely separated from one another. If you think that you can threaten me with my career hanging in the balance you’re wrong. I will not allow you to continue to control me.” I turned and walked away from my parents. Before exiting the room I turned once more taking them both in slowly. “I will be gone for a few days. When I return, I expect you to realize that Kylie is in my life…and she isn’t going anywhere. If that is still something you can’t accept, then I’ll gladly pack my things and leave without hesitation.”

  I left them standing in my father’s office staring after me with shocked expressions. The realization of what had just happened engulfed me once I hit the parking deck. I found my car quickly and leaned against the side allowing my adrenaline rush to run through me with ease. My phone vibrating in my pocket brought me back to the present as I quickly grabbed for it. My mother’s number lit up my phone and only caused me to instantly place it back into my pocket without answering it.

  I exited the parking deck slowly turning left toward Kylie’s apartment. I was in love…undeniably in love with a beautiful, amazing girl and I needed to tell her. I knew I spoke of it earlier but I needed her to know now. I needed to tell her I’m deeply in love with every single thing about her good and bad. Unconditionally, I needed her in my life and I would fight for her. Emma and Kylie deserved happiness and I would stop at nothing to make sure they both got it. I pulled into her driveway and noticed Brad’s truck was parked across the street. I quietly approached the door and heard arguing just beyond her closed door. I paused before knocking.

  “Ky, look at me. Look at me!” There was a pause before I heard Brad speak again. “You can’t leave. You are not fucking taking my daughter anywhere. I will not sit here and let that fucking bastard take my place. Try to fucking leave and see what happens.” I reached for the door twisting the knob finding it unlocked. “Are you seriously dumb enough to believe someone like him would want you? You’re a pastime. You’re someone he can play around with for a while until something worth marrying comes along.”

  Kylie eyes connected with mine over Brad’s shoulder as his back was toward me. He turned to face me and the once calmed adrenaline rush returned with a vengeance. I rushed
at him until we were nose to nose, “A fucking pastime, huh? You’re a complete idiot aren’t you Brad?” Brad didn’t back down and the horrified expression on Kylie’s beautiful face almost broke me. I let my eyes find Brad’s once again, “You had no idea what you had in Kylie. You had everything any smart man would give anything to have. You had a beautiful wife and a perfect daughter. You put your needs in front of theirs and now you stand here and tell her that she is not worthy of my love. Let me tell you something, ‘Joker’. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Kylie or Emma and it’s killing you. You see now what you threw away.” Brad attempted to puff up but I didn’t hesitate as I continued. “You don’t want us to leave town and that’s fine. We’ll stay here, but just so you know, I plan on being with both of them. I am not going anywhere.”

  Brad shoved passed me and I turned to watched him approach the door. He slung it open and walked out. After a moment I felt Kylie’s delicate hand on my mine. I turned back looking into the eyes of the sweet girl who had completely captured my heart. “I’m sorry about that. I called him to tell him about not being here, so he wouldn’t stop by. He hung up on me and then showed up here.” I took a step toward her and wrapped her in my arms. She fit me perfectly and I took that moment to breathe her in.

  “Don’t apologize for his actions baby…you don’t need to worry. Everything he said is so far from the truth.” I pulled back, taking her face into my hands, and brought my lips to hers. I felt her tremble against me and I deepened the kiss. Letting my forehead rest against hers, I watched a tear escape down her cheek. I quickly caught it with my thumb. “I love you Kylie…I love you, baby.” She closed her eyes and the tears poured down her cheeks as she pulled me closer. She buried her face into my chest and I held her tightly, letting her cry. I felt the dampness on my shirt but never once tried to hush her. I let her get it all out; I let her feel all her emotions. Once I heard her cries weaken I slowly rubbed my hand up and down her back. When she looked up at me, my chest tightened. I hated to see her hurting.