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

  "I asked you a question, Rowan. Why was Lauren in your house at this time?"

   "She wanted money." He said. And I knew he was lying.

  Then I saw the lipstick mark on his cheek and that put some really crazy ideas into my mind.

   "Looks like she got something more than your money." I said as I touched his cheek and wiped the lipstick stain off his cheek. "Can you explain this?"

   He quickly wiped his cheek with the front of his t-shirt and looked guilty. "It's nothing, Alana."

   I wanted to scream at him. "She leaves your home after midnight, there's a trace of her kiss on your cheek and you're saying that it's nothing."

   Rowan sighed. "You think I'm cheating on you?"

  I didn't say anything. What were the chances that Lauren begged him to take her back and Rowan finally caved into the temptation, after all, she was the mother of his child.

   "Don't you think you're over-reacting?" he asked, clearly pissed off.

   "I called you several times yesterday, I texted you a dozen times, maybe you were too busy fucking...Oh, I'm sorry...entertaining your tall blonde ex, mother of your child to take a look at your damn phone."

   I'd done it. I knew that look. Rowan was about to go ape-shit psycho on me.

   "Watch your fucking mouth, Alana. I'm warning you." He said, his hands were balled into tight fists and that told me he was furious. "You know what, I think you should go home and rest. I don't have the time or the patience for your childish behavior."

    "What do you see in her?" I was sounding so pathetic now. I couldn't help it. This wasn't me. I'd been so worried when I left my house thinking about how Rowan was going to react after what had gone down back at home, and it made me so angry that she was here, walking out of his apartment.

        We heard the sounds of footsteps. Minnie walked into the passage, rubbing her eyes as she stifled a yawn. "Daddy, can I cheep in your room?" She pointed at me. "Is Alana here for a cheepover, daddy?"

    "No, baby. I'm going home." I responded.

    Her face fell. "Can you read me a story? Uncle Dwight bought me new books."

    "Sweetheart, Alana has college tomorrow just the way you have school."

     "It's okay." I said. Minnie was my weakness. I wondered how that selfish bitch could produce someone so cute and lovely. "I'll read her the book."

    I sat beside her on the bed and opened a book. Her eyes fluttered close as soon as I reached the third page. I placed the book on her bed and tiptoed out of the room quietly. I made a straight beeline for the door ignoring when Rowan called out to me. I closed the door with a bang. It was my signature walk-out when I was mad at someone.

****

     The next day after classes, I walked towards the parking lot with Justin who was partnered with me for an English assignment. Justin played basketball and I'd always had an impression that he was high-maintenance, what with him always surrounded by a flock of girls, but then when I actually talked to him, I realized how nerdy he was.

   We were talking about how Talia had insulted the English professor and how she had brushed it off like it was a petty joke when I noticed Rowan in the parking lot standing by his Lexus dressed in formals, a white shirt over black trousers with a matching stripe blue tie. He kind of reminded me of when he used to be my professor.

     Geez. I was a sucker for him.

Rowan caught my eye and then his eyes shifted to Justin. Justin followed my gaze and passed me a knowing smile. "Catch you later, Al."

  I approached Rowan with caution.

  "Hey." He said.

  "Hi."

  "I'm sorry about yesterday." He completely surprised me with that apology.

   I shook my head. "I should be the one who should be sorry. I thought you would be upset about how my dad reacted to everything so I just wanted to drop by and check on you and I met her on the way."

  "So I was doing a lot of thinking yesterday and I came to the conclusion that Lauren must have said something to you that made you so upset. What did she say to you, baby?"

   Rowan was a smart guy and he knew Lauren too well.

   I explained to him what she had said, every word and watched his expressions turn to rage. "How dare she fucking say that to you?" There was a moment of silence after which he said. "I lied to you when I said she asked for more money."

    That made me nervous somehow.

    "Lauren wanted to see Minnie."

     "And what did you say?"

    "Minnie was asleep and I don't know why, I thought Lauren changed so I let her see Minnie. And I told her it was the last time." I remained silent. Rowan wrapped his arms around me. "I promise you, Alana. No matter what she does, no matter what she says, I will always belong to you. Do you believe me?"

    "I do, but, she is Minnie's mother. What if one day...."

    Rowan's lips claimed mine in a slow passionate kiss that conveyed a lot of things that words couldn't. His tongue probed my mouth in a delicious way that forced a moan from within my throat. We pulled apart and he kissed me again. Someone shouted 'get a room.'

   "I thought you hated PDA." I said.

    "I still do, but I know you like showing off your mature, handsome of a boyfriend. I can make exceptions." He winked.

    "Wow, you're so full of yourself."

    "I hope you know that no one can take your place in my life. I will never let her control me like she did before. And I love you, that's never going to change. Sorry for acting like a douchetard yesterday, I was so upset about what happened with your dad, but I'm not holding anything against him because I know he cares for you."