Chapter Fourteen-Love
I was in love. I in love with my ex-girlfriend, my ex high school girlfriend. We had found each other once again, but now she was unavailable. She was seeing a kind of a jerk guy. Donovan didn't give a damn about Jonny and he didn't care about Kim's friends. He ignored the little boy more often than not and whenever I was around he was silent. I didn't know what Kimberly told him about me, about us and our past, but the guy just didn't care that the past was in the past, well as far as he and Kim knew anyway.
A month past before I truly saw how much the man neglected Jonny.
One day, when I was dropping off Jonny to Kim's house, Donovan was there and I noticed exactly what Jonny had been talking about.
Donovan seemed to ignore Jonny. He spent most of his time actively avoiding speaking to the boy. Kim seemed too blinded by her love to notice.
It bothered me. The man wanted to be in Kim's life but he didn't want her son. Jonny was a great kid, Donovan would be lucky to have him for a son.
Another week passed before I decided to say something to Kim. But my plans were ruined.
Kim and I were at my place, less likely to be interrupted by her boyfriend, Jonny ran around my front yard. Kim and I were on the porch watching him.
I turned to Kim and took a deep breath.
"Kim? There's something I want to say," I started.
"Me too," she said excitedly.
She looked so happy.
"You first," I offered.
Kim turned to me.
"You remember Donny and I had a date last night?"
How could I? I was the one who watched her son.
"Well," she dragged out and held up her left hand and showed me the new flashy, diamond ring. An engagement ring.
I gulped.
"Donny, proposed," Kim squealed.
My stomach dropped.
"Congratulations," I said with a forced smile.
Kim grabbed me and hugged me tightly. She let me go a few second later.
"So," she said swiping a lock of hair behind her ear. "What did you have to say?
"Never mind, it's not important," I lied. "Have you told Jonny?"
"Not yet, but I was thinking of taking him for ice cream and giving him the news then."
Kim's eyes sparkled and I caved. I didn't have the heart to tell her that Jonny did not like her new fiancé.
I felt sorry for myself, but I felt even worse for Jonny.
A couple of days later and I was trying to get use to the idea of Kim marrying Donovan. I didn't like it but I could not ruin her happiness.
I wanted her to be happy and if Donovan made her happy then he was the right man for her. Even though a part of me felt that he was the wrong choice, I would say nothing.
It was late on a Friday and I was grading papers when I heard a small knock at my door. When I opened it, I saw Jonny standing there, a cab in my drive.
"Jonny, what are you doing here?" I asked shocked.
"I ran away," he answered moving under my arm and entering my house. "Can you pay the cab man? I told him you're my dad."
I grabbed my wallet and paid the cab driver. I thanked him for bringing Jonny to me safely before watching him drive off.
"Why are you here?" I asked Jonny as I entered my living room. He was sitting on my couch.
"My mom's marrying Mr. Donovan," was his answer.
I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a stern look.
"Jonny, you should be at home with your mom."
"Mr. Donovan is there. Tommy, I don't like him. I want you to be my dad."
He ran to me and gave me a big hug, squeezing my legs tightly.
"That's not going to happen."
"But I like you."
"Your mom likes Donovan."
"But you like my mom?"
It was a question I couldn't deny, so instead, I changed the subject.
"Speaking of your mom, I should call her."
"No," Jonny whined.
"I haven't a choice. She must be worried sick about you."
I watched Jonny pout and return to my couch before I grabbed my phone and called Kim.
After I explained everything to her, she decided to pick Jonny up that night. She was in my home within 20 minutes.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "I will pay you back for the cab."
"Don't worry about it," I said. "But, Kim, we need to talk."
"About what?" she asked.
"About why Jonny came to me in the first place," I sighed. "It's about Donovan."
"What about Donny?"
I could tell that she was suspicious, scared, and worried all at the same time of what I was going to say.
"I don't think you should marry him," I said.
Kim crossed her arms over her chest.
"It's not your choice to make," she said firmly.
"It's because of Jonny," I said ignoring what she just said.
"What?"
The fear reappeared in her eyes.
"It's nothing you're thinking of," I said quickly. "Jonny doesn't like Donovan and to be honest I don't think Donovan likes Jonny."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. The last time I was over at your place, I noticed Donovan barely paid attention to Jonny."
Kim opened her mouth to argue with me but I stopped her.
"Jonny told me he doesn't like Donovan."
"Oh," Kim said. "I thought you were jealous."
She laughed nervously.
"A bit," I said honestly. "But I'm not telling you this win your heart. I'm telling you for Jonny's sake. Kim you deserve a guy who loves you and Jonny. That guy isn't Donovan."
Kim looked nervous as she soaked up the information.
"Talk to Donovan. Make sure he's ready to be a dad before you marry him."
Once I said my peace, Kim and Jonny left.
Much later that night, there was another knock at my door. I had to climb out of bed to answer it. It was Kim and like Jonny, she ducked under my arm to enter my home.
"Kim?"
"I'm sorry," she said. "I know it's late but I just had to see you."
"What happened?" O asled/
Kim was fidgeting. Tears had built up in her eyes.
"I talked to Donny as soon as I got home," she said. We' talked about Jonny."
She choked a bit.
"He said that he never imagined becoming a dad so soon, but he would try. I asked him if he would like to spend time with Jonny to get to know him before we get married. He said he couldn't wait to marry me."
She gasped.
"I think you're right. Donny isn't interested in knowing my son."
Kim started to cry. I hugged her. She continued to cry for a few more minutes before she moved away.
"I honestly thought that Donny would have been a good fit."
"I know," I said.
"I just want someone who can love me and my son. Who can that be? How long before I find him?"
I stared into her eyes. I felt a strong urge and I acted on it. I kissed her. I kissed her with all the love that I had for her back in high school and I kissed her with all of the love that had grown since she came back into my life. And ash kissed me back. Despite everything, she kissed me back.
She smiled nervously when we stopped and smiled back happily.
"I can be all those things for you," I finally said. "I am all those things. I care about you and Jonny. I want to have a future with you. I love you, Kimberly."
I went to kiss her again and she pulled away.
"I have to go," she said. "I left Donny and Jonny."
I nodded as I watched her leave. I was afraid I said and did something wrong. I didn't know then that I would see her again the next day.
END OF CH. 14