Chapter 5
After Happy left, I shower and head to bed. I had just dozed off when I hear a knock on the door. I get out of bed and head to the door and looking through the peephole, I see Angel standing there. I open the door and he pulls me into a hug and I smell perfume on him. I pull away, shaking my head and ask "What are you doing here Angel?" He steps inside and I close the door behind him and he says "I need you Cari." he says. I shake my head. "You're drunk." I say as I walk away. He follows me to the hallway and I open the linen closet and pull out a pillow and blanket. "Take the couch." I tell him as I stand there with my arms crossed. He lowers his head and takes the pillow and blanket to the couch. As he gets settled in, he looks at me still standing there and says "I love you Cari." I nod and say "You too Angel." before heading to my room. I lay there for a little bit just thinking and decide that even if he didn't show up today that he's still Mateo's father. I get up and quietly move to the living room and take one of the ultrasound pictures out of my purse and put it on the table below his phone and head back to bed.
I wake up the next morning and head to the kitchen for coffee and see Angel is gone, and he took the ultrasound picture. I move to the kitchen and see that he started the coffee maker. I pour a cup and sit at the table before I hear my phone ring. I look at the caller ID and see it's Happy. "Good morning Hap." I say. "Morning little girl. How are you the kid this morning?" he asks and I can't help but smile. "We're good Hap. How's your morning going?" he asks. "Good. Heading back up that way for a bit. Thought I'd drop by the diner on my way through and see you for a few." he tells me. "I'd like that." I tell him. We go on talking for a few minutes before I have to get ready for work.
I've been at work for a few hours when I hear the bell over the door ding. I look up and see Happy walk in and smile as I tell my boss "I'm taking my break." She nods and I head out from behind the counter and walk up to Happy and he hugs me and kisses my cheek. "Wanna head outside?" I ask and he nods. We walk outside and he laces his fingers with mine and leads me over to a bench. We sit down and he puts his arm across the back of the bench. "How you're shift going?" he asks. "It's okay. Not too bad." I tell him. "You heard from your baby daddy yet?" he asks. "Yeah. He came by after you left last night and was drunk, smelling like perfume. While I'm at the doctor making sure our son is healthy, he's getting laid after telling me he would be there." I tell him, looking down at my hands and he tilts my chin up and says "I know I'm not his old man but if you need anything for him, tell me." he tells me and I nod. "I appreciate that Happy." I tell him and he kisses me softly before putting his forehead to mine.
What I didn't know was that Angel was across the street and saw me and Happy together. Getting pissed off, he goes to head over to me and Creeper gets in front of him. "Nah brother. You bailed on her and then bailed on seeing your kid. You can't get pissed that someone else has taken interest. This is all on you." Creeper tells him and Angel shakes his head. "You need to decide if you're gonna be in his life or not. That kid deserves someone that will be there and if you won't, don't get mad when another man does." Angel looks at him and shakes his head before they all mount their bikes and head to the clubhouse.
My break is almost over and Happy walks me back inside. "You know this is twice that you've driven more than two hours just to spend time with me." I tell him. "You're worth it." he tells me. I look into his eyes and say "I like you Happy but I can't just rush into anything. I have Mateo to think about." I tell him. "I know. Figured we'd talk and just see where it went." he tells me and I say "I think I can handle that." It's time for me to clock back in and he kisses me and says "I'll call you tonight." I nod and say "Ride safe. Please." He nods before heading to his bike to leave. "Boyfriend?" my boss asks. "Don't know yet." I tell her and she says "He's hot." I look at her and say "That he is." before we both start laughing and get back to work.
I am sitting at home that night when there's a knock on the door. I open it and see Angel standing there. "Are you fucking stupid?" he asks and I'm shocked at how he's talking to me. "Excuse me?" I ask. "You fucking Happy now? Bet that kid ain't even mine." he tells me. I slap him across the face and say "Fuck you Angel. Get the fuck out of here." I say and go to close the door but he stops me. "No. Are you fucking him?" he asks. "Not that it's your business but no." I tell him. "Not my business? You telling me that's my kid and then I see you all snuggled up with the man that killed Mama." he tells me. I look at him and say "You said you were good with him." I say. "Not good enough to let him touch my Old Lady." he says. "I'm not your Old Lady Angel." I tell him softly. He goes to step closer and I step back. "You sure that kid is mine?" he asks. "Yes Angel. The only one I've been with in more than a year is you." I tell him. "I don't want you seeing Happy again. I don't want him near my kid." he tells me and that pisses me off. "You don't get a say in that." I tell him. "The fuck I don't." he tells me. "No you don't. This entire time you've not asked how Mateo is doing. You told me you would be at the appointment and didn't show but then showed up here drunk and smelling like whores. You can go and fuck whoever you want but I can't spend time with a man that is not only showing interest in me but asks how Mateo is doing every single time he talks to me." I tell him. I walk to the door and open it. "Get out." I tell him. "No." He tells me. "Get the fuck out." I tell him through gritted teeth and he moves towards the door. "This ain't over." he tells me. "Yeah. It is." I tell him before slamming the door behind him. As soon as I get the door closed I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. "Fuck." I say as I almost double over. "Something's wrong."