Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (best short books to read TXT) 📗

Chapter 54

Alana

         The entire next day turned out to be a bizarre day of battle of wits. Dad said something sarcastic to tick me off and I took the bait. Chez being the usual lazy ass wasn't coming to Ridgewell to pick me up unless the sun had finally gone down. I knew he would be making a few small stops on the way, stuffing his face in cheeseburgers and pizzas. I knew he was going to be late so I took my dad's car and went shopping alone.

   When Chez's car finally pulled into the driveway, it was past ten pm. We had school tomorrow, what the hell was he thinking? Despite all the daddy-daughter issues me and dad had going on, I gave him a hug and settled in Chez's stupid Mustang. When Chez and I were in high school, dad always wondered if Chez and I would eventually end up together, y'know, that kind of together and it didn't seem like Dad had any problem with the idea of us dating.

    Not that he knew what a man-whore Chez had always been. I knew that if it was Chez instead of Rowan, Dad wouldn't have batted an eye.

   I was pulled out of my thoughts when Chez blasted the volume of his woofers. I turned it down. This was going to be our routine for the next two hours until we reached Carmel.

   "Your dad seemed pretty pissed for some reason. I hope it wasn't because of me." He said finally, turning up the sound just a wee bit but it was enough to make my ears bleed.

   "It's not you. He is just mad at me." I screamed over the loud beats.

    I received a sting eye from Chez. "I can hear you just fine. You don't need to scream."

    "We can either talk or you can listen to your dumb music, what's it gonna be?"

     Without another word he turned it down and said, "I thought you and Rowan were here to talk to your dad over the weekend, so why isn't he with you?"

    I played with my hair. "Rowan told him about everything. You know, about Minnie, and his trip to the psychiatric facility. Shit hit the fan, y'know. That was bound to happen."

   "So what did your dad say?"

    I was avoiding eye contact. "That I was being stupid and that I should break up with him."

    "Okay, and what did you say?"

    "That it wasn't going to happen."

    "Do you want me to talk to your dad?"

    I gaped at him. Chez had not just offered to talk some sense into dad on my behalf. There was a time when Chez hated Rowan for what he put me through, the long breakup and everything, but deep down I guess he knew there was no Alana without Rowan.

    "Can you really do that?" I asked, placing my hand over his.

     "Of course, babe. Anything for you."

    "I thought you hated him."

    "Hate is a very powerful word. I just didn't like what he was doing to you, and I guess I was just jealous that you were always clinging to him like a baby koala."

    "I'm offended, Chez." I punched him.

    "What? Koala's are cute."

    I rolled my eyes and he continued. "But I know Rowan is a good guy. He makes you happy, and what makes you happy, makes me happy too."

    "Aw. You're so cheesy sometimes."

    It was almost midnight when we reached Carmel. I knew Rowan's house was a few minutes away from the university near Carmel Beach Heights so I convinced Chez that we were going to make a quick stop at Rowan's place even though it was almost midnight because I didn't think I could get a shut eye if I had to wait until evening to meet him, what with him dodging my calls since yesterday after he took off. Chez insisted on waiting in the car, and I didn't push him. He still felt very intimidated by the ex-professor.

   Mason, the security guard of the condo building recognized me, I wondered what Rowan told him about me because he seemed to shrug when I asked him if Rowan was in his condo. Thankfully, he didn't protest when I walked inside the elevator.

   When I reached the thirteenth floor, I watched a woman marching towards me, or towards the elevator precisely. That woman was none other than Lauren Sanders, Rowan's ex and Minnie's biological mother. She noticed me and passed me a coy smile. The look on my face probably told her she had done some serious damage.

     "How are you, Alana?"

     "I was better before I saw your plastic face. What are you doing at my boyfriend's place? Wow I totally rhymed it." I was going to put an emphasis on the word my.

   "Your boyfriend?" She chuckled, flipping her oh-so-perfect shiny hair. She whispered the next words. "Do you realize that he and I have a child together? Let me tell you something, honey, Rowan has an uncanny habit of playing around with toys. The day he is bored, he will toss you aside and come back to where he belongs."

   "That's never going to happen." I said.

   "Minnie is going to grow up and she is going to find out who her mommy is. Do you think Rowan wouldn't cave in and want his family together? A child needs their mother." She fixed her jacket and I watched her get inside the elevator wearing that smug face.

   I don't think I'd been this angry in my life. How had I believed her croc tears in the past to think she was a good woman? I'd probably been on a high dose of crack. I strode towards Rowan's condo and rang the bell. He opened the door, and appeared puzzled as I forced my way inside without waiting for him to invite me in. He was dressed in gray pajama pants and a white t-shirt. His brown hair was ruffled like I'd just forced him out of the bed.

   He closed the door behind me as I stood in the passage connecting the living area. I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him. "Why was she here?"

   Rowan threw daggers at me in turn. "Lower down your voice. Minnie is sleeping."

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