Chapter 3

Fatherhood

Choices

(Kyle POV)

I had ten letters spread across the counter top at the Rack. Each letter would d not only decide my future but my son's as well. The letters were acceptance letters from top medical school across the country. I had narrowed the list down to ten and now I had to choose the college I would be attending in the fall. There was one from Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Stanford, MIT, University of Michigan, University of Washington, Mount Sinai, and Boston University. There were so many factors that were running through my mind. What could one school offer that the other couldn't, how far away the school was, and what the school offered to a single father.

I glanced down at Brice, who was asleep in his stroller. I had picked him up from day care an hour ago, and then came here because I thought getting out of the house would help me think. I was so lost in thought I didn't realize Amanda had placed a smoothie in front of me.

"Here you go Kyle!" Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Oh thanks but I didn't-" She cut me off.

"I know, but you looked like you could use it." She smiled

"Thank you!" I grinned back.

"Still trying to decide" she said glancing at the letters that were scattered on the counter.

I sighed and nodded "yeah."

She peered around the room "Well its slow today let me see if I can help." She beamed taking a piece of paper and a pen from over by the register. Then she wrote the names of the ten schools down on the paper.

"What are you doing?" I asked

"I am going to help you make a pro and con list of each of the schools." She said not looking up from the paper as she wrote.

I smiled and shook my head and decided to go along with it because nothing I was doing seemed to be helping.

"Okay what are the pros and cons of going to MIT?" I didn't know why but there was a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Well it is a great medical school, and they are willing to accommodate for Brice and I." I paused "But it's far away from the people I love." She looked up at that and I noticed that her heart was beating a little faster.

"Do the cons out way the pros?" I had a feeling I knew what she was referring to. She was referring to us.

I looked down at my hands not sure how to answer the question. "Amanda…" I tailed off, I looked into her bright blue eyes and I felt it again. I felt like I did the first time I saw her when she was playing the piano. I reached across the counter and grasped her hand in mine. "Amanda I told you I loved you once… and that hasn't changed. Amanda I still love you, but I don't know were we stand."

She glanced down at our hands and was about to say something but she just couldn't get the words out.

"Hey guys!" my heart fell and I let go of Amanda's hands. Leave it to Lori to have perfect timing.

"Hey!" I greeted half heartedly; Amanda mumbled a hello then went to help a customer.

"Kyle, mom called and said we had to go home for dinner." She informed me, but I could tell she was questioning what went on with Amanda and me.

I nodded "Alright I'll meet you at the car I've just got to get my stuff together." She smiled but she still appeared suspicious of me as she walked out to the car. Great this was going to be a fun ride home. I thought.

I reached over the counter and grabbed the pen and paper Amanda was using and wrote her a quick note.

Amanda,

I'm sorry about Lori, text me when your shift is over, we need to talk.

Love,

Kyle

I folded the note and set it by the register where I knew she would find it. I gathered Brice's things and my letters and then left the Rack.

"So Kyle…" Lori pushed once I got in the car "What's going on with you and Amanda?"

I sighed "Well I don't know we were sort of interrupted." I peered over at Lori who kept her eyes focused on the road.

"Sorry." Her voice was filled with guilt.

"It's okay you didn't know." I reassured her. "We started off talking about what school I should go to and then we got onto the topic of our relationship, and that's when you came in."

We pulled into the drive way "Well what did you say?"

I took my seatbelt off and turned a little toward her "I told her I still loved her and she didn't get the chance to tell me how she felt, so I left her a note saying to text me when her shift was over and that we needed to talk." Lori looked off, I could tell she was analyzing.

"Alright so here's the plan I'll watch Brice, for you and you go talk to Amanda." The plan seemed really simple.

I laughed "Okay thanks."

"No problem I'm always here to help you lover boy." She giggled as we got out of the car and I got Brice out of his car seat. He was still asleep so I took him inside and but him down for a nap.

After dinner I sat on the edge of the couch and played with Brice. He was standing between my knees trying to keep his balance. Even though Brice had my attention my thoughts were still on Amanda.

"Hey Kyle," I heard Declan say as he sat down in the chair next to me.

"Hey." I said still lost in thought.

"I heard about you and Amanda," I looked at him, then it clicked Lori "what are you going to do?" His question was simple but even I couldn't answer it.

"I don't know" I sighed

"You love her don't you?" he asked

"More than anything" I said looking up at him

"Then isn't that enough?"

"It should be shouldn't it?" I paused "But I don't want to put her life in danger."

"Kyle, you told me your secret and so far nothing bad has happened to me." Declan said leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees.

"Yeah but…" I trailed off, what he said made sense but it was different with Amanda.

"I think that if she loves you, you should tell her because if you can't tell the person you love who you really are, then who can you tell?" He was right. If she loved me I would have to tell her who I really am.

Just then my phone vibrated on the coffee table. I glanced over at Declan then picked up my phone and read the text. It was from Amanda she was telling me her shift was over and she was asking if I could still meet.

"Go." Declan ordered taking Brice from me "Lori, and I will watch Brice, don't worry about it." I smiled gratefully at him then said goodbye to Brice and left the house to meet Amanda.

AN: Alright so finally I posted another chapter! Sorry guys but I've been busy with finals and other life things. Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know if you're a Kylanda fan you did, as did I. But if you are a Kessi fan I am sorry but I do hope that you continue to read because you will be seeing some of Jessi in later chapters. I am a Kylanda fan and from the beginning of this FF I have said that I won't be writing a Kyle Jessi fanfic, sorry guys. Ok I am rambling so let me sum it up, if you are a Kylanda fan look forward to them having drama, and if you are a Kessi fan I hope you keep reading because Jessi will be in the story soon!