Badass Boyfriend Pt.3

3

There was an awkward silence in my apartment that night. Mark ended up coming back inside while I was cooking dinner. He had been out for hours leaving my mother and I all alone. My mother stayed in the living room while I slept in my room during that time.

"Ok…now I'll just add some of this, and presto…seafood gumbo," I said as I mixed in my cooked shrimp with the smooth broth and other seafood. I placed my free hand on my belly while mixing the gumbo together with my other hand. I loved the smell of seafood when I was stressed out. It always diverted my thinking elsewhere other than on the drama I was dealing with.

While I was busy mixing the soup, Mark stepped into the kitchen. I didn't hear him come in at first, but I felt his presence for some reason. I tapped the mixing spoon on the side of the pot before sitting it down on the counter. When I turned around, Mark was leaning against the wall across from me. He had his back pressed firmly against the wall and was looking up at the ceiling. I picked up a towel and wiped off my hands before leaning against the counter.

"You alright?" I asked.

He chuckled, "I'm not sure. I would like to be alright but at this point I'm just unsure of a lot of things."

I sighed, "My mom loves you Mark. I know you may not believe it but she really does."

"Oh yea? And how do you figure that? The woman has practically treated you like shit and you're defending her."

I shrugged, "It shouldn't surprise you…she's my mom and she'll always be my mother. Look let's not talk about that tonight. Dinner is almost ready and I know you two are hungry from your trip here."

"Yeah that's true." He said as he pushed himself up from the wall. "What did you make, it smells good."

I smiled and looked over my shoulder at it, "Seafood Gumbo."

"Gumbo? Nice. I love spicy soup," he said with a smirk.

"Good," I said before turning around to check on the soup.

"So, you're going to be a mother huh?" he said as he walked up to me. "Are you excited?"

I shrugged and sat the mixing spoon back down. "I'm excited, but a little scared at the same time."

"You're worried about raising the baby on your own aren't you?" he asked.

I nodded as I moved some hair behind my ear. "I saw my mom do that with me after my father left. I barely saw her because she worked so much."

"Yeah but you guys became the best of friends because of that right?" he said.

I thought about it and a smile formed on my face.

"Look Kat, if it comes down to it, I'll help you out with whatever you need. In fact I'll let you live in the new house rent free."

I glanced at him, "Are you serious?"

"Oh I'm serious. As long as you pay the other bills you need to pay, you'll have nothing to worry about." He said.

I turned off the stove and moved the pot over to another spot. "Wow. That's really sweet of you."

He smiled and folded his arms, "Well you would have known that sooner if we were nicer to each other in the beginning."

I giggled, "Yeah I bet…"

He looked at me with his head slightly tilted. "Damn."

"What?" I asked as I glanced at him.

He shook his head a little, "Nothing…I just noticed how pretty you really are."

I laughed, "Well I could have told you that."

"No. I've always knew you were pretty but…something seems different about you now." He said.

"Maybe it's because I'm pregnant." I said with a laugh.

"Yeah maybe." He said. "I wish I was able to have a child with your mom."

"Why can't you," I said.

He chuckled, "Uh hello, your mom is way past the point of fertility."

I giggled, "Oh yeah….how old are you Mark?"

"Guess."

"Thirty-five?" I asked.

He laughed, "Actually….I'm 30."

I looked at him in shock, "Wow, I never would have guessed that."

"Yeah nobody ever does." He said with a smirk.

The two of us laughed a little before falling quiet. He looked at me and I looked at him wondering why we had to be that way to each other back then. It was also the first time I noticed how beautiful his eyes were. It was no wonder that my mother was so in love with him.

"Uh, well the food is done…" I said as I went to walk past him, "Help yourself."

He smirked and gently grabbed my arm. I looked over my shoulder at him, looking straight into his eyes. "You get your bowl first. You made it."

I smiled, "Ok thanks."

"You're welcome." He said.

I went to get some food when a thought came to my head, "Hey Mark."

"What's up?" he asked as he grabbed two bowls from the cabinet.

I picked up the bowl I had out already and started filling it with the gumbo. "If you truly wanted to leave my mom…what is stopping you?"

He froze for a second and then leaned against the counter. "Honestly I don't know."

"I bet I know." I said as I opened a drawer and pulled out a spoon. "You still love her…"

He glanced at me as I turned and left the kitchen silently. I sure hoped that us talking more often would help him change his mind about my mom. She loved him and I was certain of it. Seeing her cry only reminded me of the pain I was feeling. Then again I began to wonder if my mother and Steve would ever sleep together again after Mark took her back. I sure would hate to be the reason he got hurt again.