Then There Was You: A Single Parent Collection

by Gianna Gabriela

  “Yes,” she says, not skipping a beat as she crosses her arms in front of her. I have to stop myself from smiling. I can’t have her thinking I want her going around kicking other kids. But there’s something about her sass, her spunk, that feels familiar.

  “Ari, you have a beautiful name,” I start again trying to gain her trust. But also, I really do like her name. “How old are you?”

  “Thanks… I’m six. As I was saying, Kayden Harrison should be the one in trouble, not me.” I make a mental note to remember the other child’s name for when her father inevitably asks.

  “You kicked him though…” I remind her.

  “Yes,” she says firmly. “But that’s his fault,” she says once again. The tears that were falling down her face are nowhere to be found. Instead, there’s a fire there and I recognize it as steely determination.

  I try a different approach. “And why do you think it’s his fault?”

  “Because… he called me names and then he pushed me.” We did not get this side of the story. Hearing it now, if true, I understand why she did it.

  “He pushed you?”

  “Yes. I was playing with a ladybug at the playground and he called me an idiot and stupid. Then, he pushed me and I unintentionally stepped on the ladybug. So, I kicked him in the shin.”

  Wow. I mean, if I were her age and a kid called me those words and pushed me, I’d probably kick them too. As the principal, though, that’s not something I’m allowed to say. “Those are not nice things. He shouldn’t be calling you that. He also shouldn’t have pushed you. But you know that kicking him back wasn’t the right thing to do, right?”

  “My dad taught me to not let others hurt me. He said if someone attacks me, I have the right to defend myself.” With the way she recounts what happened, I find myself believing her. She’s never been in trouble before, Hannah told me as much. I’m sure her father will not be happy to learn that we called him about his daughter kicking someone without first figuring out that she was pushed first. And called names. The more I learn, the less I’m looking forward to the conversation with her dad.

  “You seem like a very smart kid to me,” I tell her.

  “That’s what my daddy says,” she replies with a winning smile.

  Her dad sounds like an especially interesting man. “I get why your father would say that. But you can’t be going around kicking other kids.”

  “Kids shouldn’t be going around pushing other people and calling them names. If Kayden hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have kicked him,” she says, shrugging. Trying not to laugh, I let out an uncharacteristic snort.

  This six year old girl speaks with more confidence than I’ve ever spoken.

  “I agree with you on the first part. No one should be going around pushing people or calling them names. I’ll make sure I talk to Kayden. But if it happens again, instead of taking matters into your own hands and kicking someone else, just let me know, okay?”

  “Are you going to take care of it?” she asks, pinning me down with an inquisitive look.

  “Absolutely,” I assure her.

  “Are you okay?” the door opens wide and my world freezes as I sit there and look up at someone I never expect to see. What is Christian doing here? I swear it feels like being hit by a truck, blinded by the sun, and pushed under water all at once. Nothing makes sense. I don’t know what to feel.

  Confusion.

  Heartbreak.

  Shock.

  There are too many emotions running through my mind at once to focus on just one.

  “Hi Daddy,” Ari says, getting up from the chair and running straight toward him. Daddy. Did she just call him that? Christian? My Christian?

  The person standing in front of me is not the boy I fell in love with. No, a man has taken his place. This version is taller, with broad shoulders and a strong jaw. If it weren’t for his piercing eyes, which are currently focused on me, I’d be convinced it isn’t the same person. Christian had been gorgeous in high school, but that fades in comparison to the man he’s become.

  Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I focus on one thing only, the only thing that matters... he has a daughter.

  “This is Mr. Cole, Ari’s dad,” Hannah says as she stands to the left of him. I didn’t even realize she was here until now. Her introduction of the guy who broke my heart confirms to me that I’m not crazy. That it’s really him. That Ari is his daughter. That he’s standing in front of me just mere inches away.

  “Amari,” my name falls from his lips as he lifts his daughter in his arms and embraces her. He looks at me and I see the confusion in his eyes. That makes two of us. He didn’t know I was back. I didn’t think he had stayed here. That wasn’t the only thing I didn’t know.

  I look at him and then at Hannah. My eyes move to the girl in his arms. The one hugging him like that’s her lifeline and looking at him like he’s her hero. I don’t know what to do. I bring my hand to my chest, feeling like that’s the only thing I can do to stop myself from falling apart. I feel my heart breaking all over again.

  He stayed in Forest Pines.

  He’s in this room.

  He has a daughter.

  He left me.

  He moved on.

  “Ari, why don’t we go get your things while your dad speaks to Ms. Santana?” Hannah says and I know there’s no way she missed the tension in the room. The way Christian uttered my name with familiarity. The way my face is probably pale and my words have left me.

  “Is it okay if I go with her, Daddy?” Ari asks, bringing her small hands to Christian’s chin and dragging his attention toward her. He tears his eyes away from me and looks at his daughter. I intrude in their moment, watching the way he inspects her to make sure nothing’s wrong before nodding.

  He sets her down and Ari holds on to Hannah’s hand. They both walk out of the room and the moment the door closes the tension in the room becomes twofold.

  Christian Cole.

  My high school sweetheart.

  He’s not my anything anymore.

  He made me fall in love with him and then he left me.

  Christian doesn’t move. Doesn’t attempt to get closer to me. He just stands there next to the door and I bet he’s weighing whether he should stay and try to talk to me or follow his daughter out and avoid this altogether.

  I don’t move either. I stay seated because if I stand I may fall. I haven’t seen him in six years.

  His daughter is six years old; the realization comes out of nowhere.

  “She’s six.” Those are the first words to leave my mouth since he entered the room. Since he barged in and flipped my world upside down, again.

  “I didn’t know you were back,” he says, avoiding my statement.

  “She’s your daughter and she’s six,” I tell him, again ignoring his words. Of course that’s his kid, she called him dad. He barged in here looking for her. She’s got his eyes and his confidence. That’s why it all seemed so familiar. Ari is a copy of him. Him and someone else.

  I close my eyes. I know he’s here. I know this is real. But I wish so much that it wasn’t. After being here for the last couple of weeks, the last thing I expected was this. Yes, I knew there was a chance he may have stayed here. I knew I could run in to him at any point if he was. But I was hoping he was gone. I never expected that my assistant would call him in because his daughter kicked someone and I’d be standing in this room face to face with him.

  I open my eyes and find him taking a few steps toward me. I shake my head, which causes him to stop moving. It takes me longer than it should, but I finally put two and two together.

  He can tell from the look in my eyes that I know. He hangs his head and moves toward me again. “It’s not what you think,” he starts to defend himself.

  Chills run through my body the moment those words leave his mouth because it confirms that I’m right. I may be bad at math, but this is really simple. Six years. Six years ago we were in high school. It was s
enior year. He was my boyfriend. Six years ago was when he broke my heart.

  “Did you think I was going to follow you around? And do what? Go to college with you? Be your doting boyfriend forever.” The words he said to me as he broke up with me six years ago come back to mind.

  He used those words to drive the knife into my heart and tear me to shreds.

  He should’ve used some simpler words.

  He should’ve just told me… he cheated.

  About the Author

  Gianna Gabriela is originally from Rhode Island. She’s a small-town girl living in the Big Ol’ City of New York. She considers herself a writer of gorgeous alpha-males and strong heroines. She’s been reading for years and calls it her addiction. Her favorite genre is anything in the YA/NA Romance Realm.

  She loves the saying that “a room without books is like a body without a soul.” Her favorite color is black, she loves most sports, and doesn’t like painting her nails because it takes a lot of work to remove the nail polish.

  Keep up to date - sign up for Gianna’s newsletter!

  FIGHTING FOR US

  HEATHER LYN

  NOTE TO READERS

  Due to graphic scenes of a violent nature contained within the story, some may find the story effects them in ways they may not feel comfortable with. I hope this does not deter you from reading but you have been warned, just in case.

  XOXO Heather

  PROLOGUE

  LEVI

  “Daddy!”

  Shrieking loudly, my two-year-old daughter Lily runs past me, blonde hair tumbling across her face. Smiling, I drop to my hands and knees and chase after her, growling as I do. When I catch her, I snatch her by the waist and roll onto my back, holding her above me.

  “Airpwane!”

  Lily’s loud burst of giggles fills the small space as she kicks her arms and legs around. After only a few minutes, I sit up and drop her onto my lap. Immediately she looks defeated, and I give her a small smile.

  “Sorry, baby girl, but Mommy is gonna be here soon and you need lunch.”

  Dragging myself up off the floor, I toss her into the air and take her out to my little kitchen. She climbs into her booster seat and I grab a loaf of bread from the cabinet, busying myself with making a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before snagging her the last juice box from my fridge.

  Sitting across from her, I pull my cell from my pocket and check the time. Dana is ten minutes late. Not surprising. She’s not exactly the most together person, but she gave me my daughter, so I deal with her.

  Two hours later, I’m sitting with Lily in my lap watching some show she loves called Paw Patrol, still no sign of Dana. I’ve called her four times and sent a multitude of texts. I know I should be worried, but I’m just completely fucking annoyed. Dana has no concern for anybody but herself and I’m tired of it. I only get Lily on the weekends, and I’ve been thinking about fighting her for more time. We broke up a mere month after my daughter was born, and at the time, Dana was a decent mother. When she was given primary custody, I didn’t fight, thinking it was best for her parents to be amicable. Now I regret that decision.

  I just opened a tattoo shop downtown with my younger brother, Caden, and business has actually been pretty good. We’re young, but we’re good at what we do. I’m not trying to sound like a cocky son of a bitch, but it’s the truth. Not just anyone can slap a tattoo on someone and call it art. No, we work fucking hard and constantly try to improve our craft. There’s nothing in the world like giving someone fresh ink. Absolutely nothing.

  One more hour of no Dana and I’ve had enough. Switching off the television, I scoop up a sleeping Lily and as carefully as I can manage, I grab her bag by the front door and my keys from the hook. Carrying her out to my truck, I reach for the back door when I feel my cell vibrate. Dropping the bag, I pull out my phone, and in that moment, my entire world changes.

  Dana: I’m sorry, Levi, but I can’t do it anymore. I’m just not cut out to be a mom. Lily is better off without me. I hope one day she understands.

  Levi: She’s your daughter, how can you just abandon her? Are you fucking kidding me right now? What is wrong with you?

  Dana: I never wanted to be a parent.

  Locking my phone, I stand in the quiet parking lot of my apartment building, my little girl still asleep, her sweet face tucked into my neck. Scrubbing a hand down my face, I have to fight the combination of anger and sadness. Placing a gentle kiss to her soft hair, I turn around and carry her back into my apartment. Locking the door behind me, I take her to her bedroom and set her on the bed. She doesn’t stir, and I quietly shut the door behind me.

  Dropping onto the couch, I pull my phone out yet again and scroll through the contacts until I find the number I need. Taking a deep breath, I steady myself with what I need to do, then hit the button to connect the call.

  “Hey, Levi. How’s it going?”

  “Dad, hey. Listen, you got some free time later?”

  “Of course. What’s going on, Levi?”

  Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes.

  “I need to file for full custody.”

  1

  LEVI

  Two Years Later

  “All right, man. Take it easy, and Cade will see you in a couple of weeks for the final session.”

  Ending the call, I shove my cell into my pocket and huff out a breath. Looking up at the clock on the wall of our shop, I see I need to go pick Lily up from my parents’. Marveled Misfits Ink, the shop Caden and I own, is closed to clients every Monday and Tuesday. I came in today to do some paperwork, and some fuckwad felt the need to call and triple-check every move he needs to make. Cade inked him just a couple days ago, and the guy is already asking about his next appointment. Like I know anything about it. He’s not my client, and I don’t have time for this shit.

  Swinging out to my Ford parked in front of the shop, I climb in and rev the engine. Checking the time on my watch, I’m annoyed to see I missed lunch with my mom and Lily, but I’m still out early enough that we can take advantage of this beautiful day. Switching the onscreen navigation to my call log, I dial my mom, the loud ringing filling the cab.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Momma. I’m on my way over now.”

  “Levi, oh good. I should prepare you, Lily isn’t feeling well. Poor thing threw up her lunch about an hour ago.”

  Shit.

  “Is she okay?” I press the gas pedal close to the floor in order to get there faster. In her four years, Lily has never really been sick.

  “Honey, she’s fine. She’s lying on the couch now watching some princess movie with her bunny, waiting for you.”

  “I’ll be there soon. Love you, Momma.”

  I disconnect the call and focus on the road in front of me. My little girl needs me, and nothing is going to stop me from getting there in the next ten minutes. Breaking a few speeding laws on the way, I’m pulling in the driveway soon enough. Parking next to the garage, I slam the door shut and run inside, shoving my keys in my pocket as I do.

  “Momma!” Shouting as I yank the front door open, I move through the kitchen, the house completely silent. Swinging into the den, I find my mom in her rocking chair and Lily asleep on the couch next to her. My mom holds her finger to her lips and puts the magazine she was reading down, pulling me from the room.

  “Let her rest, honey. She’s fine.”

  Ignoring her, I drop to my knees in front of the couch, brushing the soft blonde locks away from my little girl’s face. Softly kissing her warm forehead, I let my hand rest on her small cheek, thumb caressing her skin gently. Her big blue eyes flutter open and land on me.

  “Daddy,” she whispers.

  “Hey, baby. I’m here now. How you feeling?”

  “I don’t feel good, Daddy. I frew up and my belly hurts.”

  “I’m sorry, Lil. What can I do to make it better?”

  “Can we go home, Daddy? I wanna go home.”

  “Of cour
se.”

  Placing another kiss to her forehead, I stand up and pull the blanket off her small body. Grabbing her bunny, I tuck it under my arm and gently lift her off the couch. She tucks her face into my neck and I feel the heat radiating off her body.

  “Does she have a fever?” I ask.

  “Just over 101. I gave her some Tylenol, and she’s kept all the water down I gave her.”

  Clutching Lily in my arms, I give my mom a kiss on the cheek.

  “Love you. I have no clue what I’d do without you.”

  “Love you too, Levi. Get that sweet girl home to her bed.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Winking, I carry Lily out to my truck and settle her in her booster seat. In the bright daylight, I can see how flushed her cheeks are, and her eyes are droopy. Snapping the last buckle, I rush around the back of my truck and climb in, rushing to make the few-minute drive to my house a couple blocks over. Pulling in my driveway, I park and pull Lily from her seat, carrying her inside and upstairs to her bedroom. I help her change into her favorite nightgown and tuck her into bed. Checking my watch again, I do the math on when she needs more medicine and go across the hall to my master bedroom.

  Figuring I have a few minutes at least, I step into my adjoining bathroom and rush through a quick shower. Towel-drying my hair, I change into a pair of sweats and an old tee before poking my head in to check on my baby. Sound asleep. Leaving the door ajar, I head back downstairs to grab some cold pizza from dinner last night, not bothering to heat it up. Snagging a water from the fridge, I take the pizza box with me into the living room and turn on the television, searching for something to watch.

  Our DVR is loaded with kid shows and movies, and I hardly have time to keep up with television shows anyway, so I settle on an old rerun of Houseand kick my feet up on the coffee table. I’ve only made it through another slice and half the episode when I hear her.