9

"No, It's not like that you idiot" Jay huffs at Allan making me laugh. They were fighting over how Allan was doing some TikTok dance incorrectly.

"If you're going to pinpoint everything I'm doing wrong then I might as well sit down on this one" Allan exhales loudly.

"No, you promised me you were going to do this with me! C'mon" Jay whines like a child.

I was amused watching this whole scene, "Well I'm trying but you're just antagonizing me, why not do it with Maria? She knows the dance"

"It's a dance for your song!" Jay narrows his eyes at Allan, "I want to do it with you. Now suck it up and look at what I'm doing" Jay groans. Allan rolls his eyes and makes a face at me as we watch Jay break into dance once again.

....

I press the phone to my ear and wait for it to answer, "Hi there" Karter's voice rings in my ear making me smile.

"Hey, so I accidentally picked up too much Chinese food and I'm outside your hotel, would it be alright if I come up maybe?" I asked rather nervously, fidgeting with the bag in my hand.

"I'm offended that you're asking instead of just coming right up," Karter says.

I beam, "I'll be right up," I say and hang up.

"Thanks for the ride buddy" I look over at Allan.

"Of course, have fun, stay safe" Allan smiles as we drive to the back entrance of the hotel after making sure we are not being followed by any paps.

"Make sure to use protection" Allan winks at me and I playfully roll my eyes as I wave to him walking inside the building.

Karter has been in LA for over a week now and we've basically been inseparable the entire week. Every day either one of us makes up excuses to come see each other, it's nice to see we're both equally smitten with one another. He's leaving this Friday though so I'm already starting to get a little bummed.

I step out of the elevator and see Karter was leaning against his room, his arms crossed, his eyes sparkle as he sees me. I walk towards him and immediately Karter grabs my waist pulling me to him as he bites his lower lip, "I'm so glad you called, I was afraid you were getting sick of me"

I bring my thumb and index finger to his face, "Just a lil bit" I joke causing Karter to squeeze my waist.

"Hope you like Chinese," I say moving away from him walking inside his hotel room which as per usual was slightly messy which triggered something in me as always. I put the food on the table and start clearing up a little bit. I'm a neat freak, I can't control myself.

"How do you always look so stunning?" Karter asks as I pick the clothes up from the floor.

"Shut up" I mumble, my cheeks heating up as Karter brings two glasses from the kitchen area and sets them down on the table.

Karter sighs, "Maria" he pauses, "Not again, can you please not clean my room" Karter looks at me rather frustrated.

I quickly fold his sweater and set it aside, "I'm sorry, I just get distracted and I'm not able to control my thoughts from thinking about anything else." I shrug, looking around the room. It was still messy but not something I can't handle, nothing was thrown on the floor, the bed was made well kinda.

"I cleaned before you got here, for you," Karter says taking a seat on the couch.

I suppress a laugh, "I'm sorry but it doesn't look like it"

Karter looks at me offended, "I tried okay"

I smile as I sit on the couch facing him, "Why does it bother you though? Do you have OCD or something?" Karter asks.

My cleaning habits have nothing to do with it but I have been diagnosed with OCD when I was 18, I should just be honest and tell him that. It's not a big deal, it's fine. But what if he asks me questions about what obsessive and compulsive thoughts and tendencies I struggle with? I really don't want to spend the night talking about how I live my life and see that look of pity flash across his face as it does everyone else's.

I shrug, "I'm just a neat freak" I state simply which is the truth, I'm not denying having OCD.

"I love Chinese food," Karter grins to himself opening the containers.

"Me too" I smile, grabbing the box of chowmein.

I was about to dig in when we hear Karter's phone going off in the background. Karter gets up and checks the caller ID, he flashes me an apologetic smile, "I need to take this, I'm sorry"

I smile, "It's totally fine, I'll be here, go take it" Karter smiles back and steps outside onto the balcony.

I set my plate down and decide to clean up a little more until Karter gets done with his call. I fix the bedsheets neatly so they look like house cleaning just came a second ago. Some of Karter's clothes that I folded were resting on the bed, I put them in the closet carefully. There were empty bottles and cups on his side tables, I clear them and throw the trash away. I pick up his shoes and put them near the closet, I throw empty junk food wrappers into the bin and clear the plates in the kitchen. I smile to myself once I look around the room which was practically spotless now. I go to the bathroom to wash my hands.

I get back to the couch and was about to take out my phone when the balcony door opens and Karter walks back in.

"I'm so sorry," Karter apologizes sitting down next to me.

"It's totally fine" I smile at him.

Karter furrows his eyebrows and sets his phone down, "Did you clean up again?" a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

"I was just utilizing my time" I shrug and Karter rolls his eyes.

Karter gulps and stares at me then bite the inside of his cheek. He shakes his head and grabs my hand, "I have to tell you something Maria" Karter's tone is laced with seriousness.

"Yeah?"

Karter looks into my eyes, a nervous and scared expression plastered on his face "I'm afraid what I'm about to tell you is really going to freak you out"

I move my hand away from him, "Do you have a girlfriend? Oh my God Karter are you fucking married?" I automatically assume the worse.

"What no no no" Karter shakes his head moving closer to me.

"Then what is it? You're stressing me out" I say raising my voice by one octave.

"I have an 8-year-old son, Bruce. He was who I was just on the phone with." Karter's forehead puckers.

I'm taken aback, "What? Why am I only finding out that you're a dad right now? After 3 months?"

Karter's eyes soften as he reaches for my hand, "I know I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you the first night we met but we clicked instantly and I really liked you and you're so young I thought it would scare you if you knew I had a kid. It has scared girls in the past who were older than you, I didn't want to take the chances. Then I left for New York and I started falling for you even more and I didn't want to tell you over the phone. The past week has been complete and utter bliss I just didn't know how to bring it up. I'm sorry, you have every right to be mad, if you never want to speak to me again I understand"

"No" I shake my head, "I'm just a little disappointed you waited this long to tell me about this hugely important part of your life" I frown slightly.

"I'm sorry" Karter squeezes my hand.

"I like the name, Bruce" I smile and a smile appears on Karter's lips.

"I was the one who decided it"

"Do you mind showing me pictures of him?" I ask and Karter's face lights up. He grabs his phone and pulls up a picture of a boy. He had blonde hair and his eyes and smile were just like Karter's.

"Karter, he's adorable. He literally looks just like you with blonde hair" I say and Karter laughs.

"Yeah we get that a lot" He slides his finger across his screen and there's another picture of Karter and Bruce, with Karter holding him in his arms, "This one's a bit old, he's bigger now but I love this picture"

I smile, "aww my heart"

"Hot single dad is actually something that pulls women's attention, next time you should lead with that" I smirk at Karter and he throws his head back laughing and puts his phone aside.

"Well if we break up, I'll keep that in mind," Karter says and I raise an eyebrow.

"Break up insinuates we are in a relationship," I tilt my head and smile at him coyly.

"Are we not?" a look of amusement plastered on Karter's face.

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" I humor him.

"Maria Reed, will you officially be my girlfriend?" Karter asks, flashing me his perfect grin.

I roll my head back, "Sure, I'll just have to tell the 8 other guys I'm talking to" I shrug.

Karter rolls his eyes, "Sure"

"So is it just you and Bruce or do you co-parent?" I ask as we start to dig into the now cold food.

"Yeah I co-parent with Emma," Karter says.

"Your ex?" I ask.

"Oh no Emma and I have never been together, it's actually a long story" Karter chuckles.

"I'm all ears" I smile.

"So Emma and I have been friends since middle school, she's the closest thing I have to a sister. She's been with me through everything really. She's family at this point" Karter says and I smile nodding at him.

"Anyways, for as long as I've known Emma she's always wanted to be a mom since we were kids ourselves and about 10 ish years ago when we were 24, Emma was sick and tired of failed relationship after failed relationship, she really did not want to wait years to find the perfect person and then become a mom, she thought being a mom was her life calling, her happiness and she was ready for it now. So she approached me asking me to donate my sperm to her, I was freaked out when she asked as I never thought I wanted kids ever or a family especially considering the way I was raised I just didn't want to do it. But she persuaded me, she said she loves me and my genes and she feels more comfortable than going to a clinic and getting a faceless dude and I'd get to be cool uncle Karter that's it no dad to it" Karter says.

"So you guys slept together once and there came Bruce?" I ask once it seemed like Karter was finished.

"Oh no," Karter chuckles, "Crucial detail I forgot to add, Emma, is gay so we never fornicated, just when I made up my mind we saw a specialist and soon she was pregnant." Karter shrugs taking a bite of his rice.

"So does Bruce know you're his dad or are you?" I asked perplexed.

Karter chuckles shaking his head, "I'm sorry I'm such a terrible storyteller, fucks sake" I smile as Karter takes another bite, "So Emma being my family I took care of her during her pregnancy, set up a crib all that baby stuff. I was there in the delivery room with her, ready to become an uncle" Karter pauses, "Then I remember it so clearly, It's honestly like a scene from a movie" Karter chuckles softly to himself.

"It was the night Bruce was born, we were still in the hospital I was looking after Emma and Bruce and he started crying in the middle of the night so I quickly got up and held him in my arms not wanting to wake up Emma. I had held him earlier that day but there in the dark, him snuggling onto me, holding him in my arms as he stopped crying I realized this is my kid. I don't want to be cool uncle Karter, I want to be his dad, I want to be a part of this child's life as a parent" Karter says taking another sip of his drink, "So after we got home I spoke to Emma about it and she wasn't pleased in the beginning. She said parenting isn't a phase and I can't just decide when to become a parent or not since she knew how much I disliked the idea of becoming one. So the next 6 months, I proved to her how serious I was being the parent for Bruce. I wanted to be his dad and I'd do anything for this kid. After a while, Emma was convinced and we filled all the legal forms and whatnot and it's just been the dad's life ever since" Karter shrugs with a smile.

"You sound like a great dad" I put my hand on top of his.

"I try" Karter grins at me.

"Bruce is a massive fan of yours might I add" Karter tilts his head and grins.

"Is he now?" I smile.

"Just like his father, he has impeccable taste" Karter winks.