Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter 18

After doing all the necessary chores, I decided that an evening by the poolside wouldn't be so bad after all especially since I was exhausted.

After placing Henrique on a blanket with his toys I laid one out for myself as well. I laid down on the grass watching Henrique with sleepy eyes and trying to enjoy the cool breeze. It hard to keep my eyes fully opened but I tried. I loved watching Henrique play. He was an angel, a bundle of joy.

Why did Alliyah abandon him? What was she thinking when she left him in that office? Was she evening thinking? I knew she wasn't a big fan of children when we were growing up, but she was never mean to them either so why was she like this to her own child? When we placed with our dolls, we'd always talk about getting married and having children. What changed her? Was it becoming a famous model that got to her head? She became conceited, someone I couldn't recognize. She slept with the man I was going to marry, and she hid it pretty well. Why am even surprised that she would leave her child behind? I had no idea what she is capable of anymore. It has been so long since I've seen, maybe she got worst over the three years. Was she even capable of love? Clearly not, because if she was then she wouldn't have left Henrique behind, she wouldn't have hurt me.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I'm exhausted, today Henrique decided he wasn't going to take any naps and even know he had so much energy left, I doubt he planned on taking any soon.

I tried to fight the sleep that was creeping up on me, but it was so hard. Maybe I could close my eyes for a second, only a second. Nothing can go wrong in a second, yet a lot of things could go wrong.

My eyes flew opened when I heard a giggle coming from Henrique. Him giggling meant that he was about to do something rude. I looked but with sleepy eyes at him and smiled. He was still on his blanket with his toys in his hands, but he was looking at me and smiling at the same time. He looked okay, so I closed my eyes again.

After a few seconds of closing my eyes, I felt something warm on my neck. I jumped up and screamed. I terrified, I swear I felt my heart jumping out of my chest. I lifted my head up to see the intruder so was holding his belly and trying hard not to laugh.

I frowned. It wasn't funny. He scared the hell out of me. "Why would you do something like that?" my angry evidence from my tone but I didn't care. My heart rate was still beating fast. I hate when persons frighten me, especially when someone touches my neck. Nope, the neck is off limits.

Alex looked at me now, all traces of laughter gone. He looked worried, "I'm so sorry." I gave him a glare and he continued. "I've never seen you this pissed off before."

"Maybe it's because you've never tried to scare me before."

"I'm sorry, it was only meant to be a joke nothing else. I never meant to scare you." He paused and rubbed his forehead, "Well, yes, it was my intention to scare you, but I didn't mean to get you angry. You see, I've never seen you extremely angry until now, I've seen you looking sad, annoyed, happy but never like this. I must have really pushed your buttons. I'm sorry, I won't ever do it again. I was trying to be fun but I guess I failed." Looking in his brown eyes I could tell he was truly sorry and because of that, I couldn't keep malice. There is no way I could stay mad at him.

He turned to leave but before he could take his first step I reached for a small stone and threw it at him. I touched his back causing him to turn away abruptly. By the time he was looking at me, I held a mischievous smile on my face.

He had a shocked expression on his face, "Oh no you didn't."

I nod my head, "Yup. I did."

He grinned and started walking towards me slowly. I had no idea what his plan was, but I wasn't going to let him execute it. So, I quickly stood and made a run for it. I didn't make it far because he saw my actions before I did them and he was a way better running than I was. When I became out-of-breath and slowed down, and he was able to catch me from behind and I tripped causing both of us to fall.

I looked up at him, our faces merely inches away. Our eyes locking, grey with brown. He slowly lowered his head and brought his lips to mine. He kissed me slowly on my lips until I opened my mouth to let him in. With our eyes closed, we kissed slowly and passionately not caring if there was a baby close by. After all, he'll get to this stage soon.

He pulled away slowly until he was no longer on me. I opened my eyes slowly. That kiss has such a huge effect on me, and it had my head spinning. It was the most intimate kiss Alex and I had ever shared, it felt special.

He was looking at me and my own reaction was to smile, which he returned. We sat there staring at each other with smiles on our faces until we heard a yelp.

We quickly turn our attention to the baby not too far from us. He was banging one of his toys on the ground and letting out small screams. I couldn't help but laugh. I turn to look back at Alex whose face held the same expression.

He stands up suddenly and held out of his hands so I could use it as support, I took it and was pulled up, yet again ending up in his arms. How could I forget the feeling of his wonderful biceps wrapped around me? I can't.

We stood there staring at each other so a while until he asked, "What are you doing to me?" my heart rate suddenly increased at the words. My mind didn't register the fact that he released me and went over to Henrique, no my heart and mind kept replaying his words.

"What are you doing to me?"

If only he knew how wrong, he was.

Being around him made my heart skip beats, my cheeks red and my breath freezes.

The real question is, What the hell is he doing to me?

I walked over to my blanket and sat back down. I watched as Alexander played with Henrique, but my mind was a million miles away. I couldn't stop thinking about his words. Was that is a way of telling me that he was falling in love with me as I, him?

Alexander cleared up Henrique and his toys and they started walking out of the pool area, towards the garden. My mind was too far away to fully register what was going on.

Does he love me? Or is it just like?

What did he mean?

I had no find out. If there was a slight possibility that he felt the same way, I had to find out.

I stood up from the blanket and then it up, folding it until it was small enough to carry. I walked my way through the yard until I was inside. I follow the small noises that Henrique was making to lead me to where they were.

When I entered the kitchen, Alex was looking through the fridge and Henrique was in his baby seat. I walked over to where Alex was and asked, "What did you mean by that?"

I turned around and looked at me with his brows raised. "What are you talking about?"

"You said, "What are you doing to me?", I want to know what you meant?"

"Oh." He paused and looked over at Henrique then back and me. "I meant I want you to stay here when all of this is over."

I was too shocked to register anything he just said clearly, "What?"

"Kalliyah, you're amazing. You're being so great to Henrique and even to me. I'm smiling more because of you." He ran his hands through his hair and then continued, "What I'm trying to say is that you being here and has made everything easier, I've changed a little. My secretary, Mark is asking me why I'm smiling so much and it's all because of you. You are the reason. You're the reason I'm so happy and I want you to stay and to be my girlfriend. We don't have to take things fast, we go as slow as you want. I just want you to stay, even when we find your sister. I don't want you to go back to New York to that tiny apartment. You can stay here with me. You can paint, in fact, I'll even give you a room that you can use as a studio. Just please stay."

I was speechless, so utterly blown away that I didn't feel the tears coming down my face. I sniffed and looked up at him and smile. Those were probably the most beautiful words I've ever heard coming from a man's mouth and to think they were all for me.

I nod my head, "Yes. I'll stay. I'll be your girlfriend." I didn't even need to think about it. Alex made me feel something that I've never felt before. He made my heart dance. "You make me happy too, happier than I've been in years. Thank you for caring for me."

He smiled, "Thank you for being here." He walked over to me and as if we were in a rush, he smashed his lips on mine. We kissed and I couldn't help but moan.

I was happy. Finally, happy.

This is where I belong, this is where I'm going to stay, with Alexander and Henrique. They were my family and they made me happy.