Ch27
"So what's your favorite color?" I asked Mark as we walked down the street of my neighborhood. It was a nice sunny day so I suggested getting Aalayah dressed and taking a walk. I was wearing a short sleeved white t-shirt with some blue jean shorts and white flip flops. I brushed my hair up into a high ponytail and kept a pair of sunglasses on my head. Mark was wearing his usual biker get up with a red bandana and a tight black Affliction t-shirt.
He cracked a smile and shook his head, "Of all things to start a conversation with you ask me that?"
I giggled, "Oh come on Mark, if we're going to have a healthy friendship then we have to start with the basics. You didn't give me that chance before remember?"
He sighed, "Yeah I remember…"
"Come on, tell me." I said as I pushed Aalayah's stroller along.
He tilted his head back for a moment and then sighed, "Purple…deep purple."
"Nice choice." I said. "Mine is-"
"Red." He said for me.
I glanced at him with a surprised look on my face. "How did you know that?"
He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll be honest, although I didn't like you at first…I did pay attention to you. You've got red highlights, most of your club outfits are red, the majority of the decorations in your room are red…"
I blushed and glanced out into the street. "Wow…what else did you notice?"
"Plenty of things…like for one you're a strong woman. I wouldn't have been able to go through everything you went through." He said.
I rolled my eyes partially, "yeah but you had no trouble being a part of those problems."
"Hey, I apologized for that already." He said. "But you're right, and I feel terrible about it."
I dropped my gaze, "It's alright, and I'm sorry I keep bringing it up."
He nodded as we made a right turn onto another street. Aalayah started crying soon after and to my surprise, Mark bent down to check on her almost instantly. I smiled as he reached for her diaper bag and pulled out her pacifier.
"There you go little lady, no more tears ok?" he said. "Uncle Mark doesn't want to see that,"
I smiled, "Uncle Mark?"
He glanced at me as he stood up, "Yep. I've officially adopted your baby as my niece."
I giggled and started pushing her stroller again. "So you like kids then,"
"Yea, I wish I had one of my own." He said.
"You'd make a great dad." I told him. "Aalayah really seems to like you."
He chuckled, "All women like me."
"Oh please."
"You like me." He snickered.
I glared at him, "Uh no."
"Uh yes."
"You have no proof of that," I said.
"I can get proof."
"No you can't." I nearly snapped.
"You wanna bet." He asked amusingly.
I squeezed the handle on Aalayah's stroller. "You won't win."
"Oh I will…I can prove you like me by the end of the day." He told me.
"And if you can't prove it?" I asked.
"Then I'll watch Aalayah for the week." He said.
"And if you can?" I asked with flirty eyes.
He smirked at me, glancing at my body from head to toe before chuckling and walking ahead of me. I watched him for a second, mentally deciding that I wasn't taking him seriously at all. I didn't like him In that way. We were just friends…weren't we?
On our way back to the house I spotted a car similar to Kevin's circling the area. I tried to ignore it, but when it came up the street a third time I glanced in it's direction and caught Kevin watching us closely. I nudged Mark as we got to the house.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Kevin just drove past us three times." I said. "My gosh he's more obsessed than a woman with a high school crush."
Mark laughed and then signaled for me to go in the house. "Just stay in the house. I'm going to run home and grab some more clothes."
"Ok." I said feeling slightly fearful of him leaving.
"Hey, I don't live that far away so, if he comes in here just call me alright?" he asked.
I nodded before giving him a hug. He kissed my forehead before turning around and walking to his car. When he pulled off I shut my door and locked it before taking Aalayah upstairs to my bedroom so I could finish putting away some clothes.
Just as I thought he would, Kevin came to my house but I pretended not to be home. He knocked on my door several times before he started pounding and screaming.
"Carmen! Open the door I know you're in there!" he yelled.
I glanced at my baby who was falling asleep in her bassinette. Not wanting him to wake her up, I got up and shut my bedroom door and then locked it just in case he got through my front door. While he continued his barbaric ranting, I texted Mark and let him know what was going on. It didn't take him long to get back in his truck and head back over to my house. I watched from my balcony as the two men exchanged words.
"Hey man, what the hell are you doing here?" Mark asked him as he got out of his truck.
Kevin turned around and stepped off the porch, "I'm here to see my future stepdaughter of course."
Mark chuckled, "Yeah I've noticed that you've been coming to see her very often. Something going on I should know about?"
"Oh no man," Kevin said. "I just love seeing her happy that's all. I mean you guy put her through so much hell the last year I just figured she wouldn't mind seeing someone who actually cares about her."
"Is that right?" Mark asked.
"Yeah that's right." Kevin responded.
Mark folded his arms across his chest and smirked, "Look Kevin, I'm going to keep it real with you. Your future wife knows you've been coming to see her daughter very often, and it won't be long until she has you followed."
"What's your point?"
"My point is…I know your true feelings towards Carmen, and if I were you I would STOP trying to get in her pants. She's already been through enough as it is…and here you are trying to screw her life up again."
"Oh yea? Well I love Carmen with all my heart." He said before looking over his shoulder at me, "And I want to show it to her."
I folded my arms and backed off a little hating the strange stare in his eyes.
"You've already shown her enough." Mark snapped before grabbing the collar of Kevin's shirt. "NOW…THIS IS MY LAST TIME…LEAVE CARMEN ALONE OR YOU'RE A DEAD MAN…GOT IT?"
Kevin laughed and then pulled himself free of Mark's grip. "Looks like I've got some competition."
They stared coldly at each other before Kevin walked to his car and left. I was so thrilled that he backed down from Mark, otherwise I would have had to explain to my mother why her fiancé was all bruised up. Mark glanced up at me and winked making me blush a crimson red. I walked back into my room and headed downstairs to let my new bestie inside.
