Chapter Thirteen: Place To Stay- part: 2

Adrian's pov

I watched in shock, fascination, and worry as Ever landed blow after blow on her mother's face while she laughed and cried. A sickening crack filled the air before her father, whom I now know as Aaron, pulled her away and handed her to me. 

Ever didn't struggle either. She seemed almost catatonic as she leaned into my side, tugging at the hem of my black t-shirt. I changed my mind about what I said before. Women aren't scary. 

They're terrifying… 

......

Ever's pov 

I don't know why I did what I did. Maybe it was because I was so stressed that I finally snapped. Or maybe it was because I have wanted to do that for a long time. Whatever the reason, I do not feel bad one bit, if anything, I feel numb. 

So when my father pulled me away from Diana, I let him. I'm too exhausted to care about anything right now. Especially about the things my so-called mother was saying. 

"YOU CRAZY BITCH! I SHOULD'VE GIVEN YOU UP WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE! THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR–"

"DIANA! Have you no shame? That's our daughter you're talking about!" It was my father's turn to snap as he turned to her. 

"You know for a damn fact that Ever was telling the truth! We weren't there or her!" he took a deep breath as he continued. 

"Hell, Diana! Do you even remember the last time you spoke to her about school, her friends, her life? 'Cause I sure as hell don't! We were so worried about ourselves, and our careers that we neglected the most important piece of our lives." as he was talking, my father stood beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder while giving me a sincere, gentle smile. 

"alright… Fine… If that's how you feel, you can go with her…" Diana's voice was so quiet, I almost didn't hear her. But I did, and honestly… I wasn't surprised. 

"Okay then… I will!" 

"What?" 

"I said I'll go, that way I can make amends with my daughter! And so that way I can be a part of her children's lives. because I missed out on so much already, I won't miss out on this! And if I haven't made myself clear…" My father walked towards a now weeping Diana and crouched down to be at eye level with her. 

"I want a divorce… Let's go kids! Lunch is on me! I have a divorce to celebrate!" After he said his piece, Dad rushed us back to Adrian's car, where he helped me get in before running to his car. 

"YOU BITCH! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW THAT YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY BIT OF HAPPINESS AWAY FROM ME!? FIRST NIKO AND NOW YOUR FATHER!? WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME–!"

Who's Niko? And how did I take him away from her?...

Before I could ask any questions, Adrian started driving, following my father's white Range Rover down the street. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel and I could hear Jade throwing profanities out the window about Diana. So much has happened in the last two days that right now, all I wanna do is sleep and talk to my babies. 

with slightly shaking hands, I grabbed Adrian's left hand and pulled it into my lap. Playing with his fingers and the rings that adorn them, I found myself in a rabbit hole of thoughts yet again. 

Who is Niko? Does Dad know who Niko is? Will he answer me if I ask? If he doesn't know or if he doesn't answer, should I look for him myself? I wouldn't even know where to start! 

HOW THE HELL DID I TAKE HIM AWAY FROM HER IF I DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL HE IS?! 

"Precious, I'm so sorry… " The anguish in his voice snapped me out of my thoughts. 

He wasn't looking at me, but could still see the guilt and regret displayed all over his face. Regret and guilt that shouldn't be there. 

"Adrian, you don't have anything to apologize for…" As I was saying this, he just kept shaking his head and I noticed how his lips slightly trembled. 

"pull over for a second…" I flagged my father down telling him to pull over as well. Then I looked in the backseat at Bri who was still trying to calm Jade down and nodded my head towards my father's car. 

"I'll text you the address…" she whispered as she led Jade out of Adrian's car and into my father's. I'm so thankful that Bri and I don't need words to communicate. 

"what are you doing?" Adrian asked as he watched Jade enter my father's car confused. He still wasn't looking at me, and it kinda hurt. 

"Adrian, please look at me… " he hesitated, looking everywhere but at me. so I placed my hand on his chin and slightly turned his head placing the same hand on his cheek, stroking it gently. 

"Why are you apologizing to me when you did nothing wrong?..." my heart melted as I watched him lean into my touch with his eyes closed. 

"I should have said something when those people were calling you those horrible names and I didn't so I'm–" his voice cracked. 

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that you have gone through so much in the last two days. I'm sorry that your mother said all of those things to you, no one should ever have to hear their parents call them things like that. I'm sorry that Enzo is a piece of sh–" 

I couldn't let him finish. It hurt too much to listen to him apologize for things that weren't his fault. It seemed like this was personal for him, and made a mental note to ask him about this another time. Asking now would open a can of worms that I'm sure he's not ready to open. 

I pulled him into my chest, letting his head rest on my shoulder, and instantly he wrapped his arms around my waist holding me tight. I gently stroked his back, running my hands along his spine up to the back of his neck. 

"Please don't apologize for things that aren't your fault. I don't blame you for not saying anything. I'm not upset about the things they said to me, it's nothing I haven't heard before." he pulled me even closer to his chest. 

"Especially from Enzo's parents, though I'm still surprised his dad never said anything to me," I chuckled lightly, pulling away slightly to cup his cheeks. 

"I don't blame you, so please don't blame yourself okay?" staring deeply into his eyes, it was now that I realized how close we were. I could feel his warm minty breath caress my face and I know that if either of us moved even the slightest bit, our noses would touch. 

He was the first to move, only he didn't move back. Our noses brushed against each other and my breath hitched. My eyes closed the instant I felt his large warm hands caress my cheek. Do I want him to kiss me? Would this be okay? I mean I don't really know him and he doesn't know me. I don't think I'm ready… 

A small gasp left my mouth when I felt him press a kiss against my forehead and another on the tip of my nose before moving back to his side of the car. 

Why do I feel so… Disappointed? 

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have–" I opened my eyes with a soft smile that grew when I saw the slight blush that dusted his ears. 

"Adrian what did I say? Stop apologizing! It felt… Nice…" It was now my turn to blush as I looked out the window feeling embarrassed. From the reflection of the window I could see the smile on his lips and I knew that I wanted to be the reason he smiles like that. 

But it shouldn't be possible! I can't have feelings for him! I just can't… 

...…

"So, where are you gonna be staying in the meantime?" I asked my dad, popping three fries into my mouth. 

He had taken us to a small diner on the outskirts of town, close to the nearby college dorms.

"I'll probably just stay in my office until I can get a small apartment… What about you, where are you going to stay? "

I looked over at Bri, who was flirting with Jade in the corner of the large booth. They were adorable, and I'm about to ruin it. 

"Bri, do you think your parents would let me stay with you? At least for a little while? "

"I'm sorry, I don't know. You know how many siblings I have, plus our house is really small– don't get me wrong, my parents love you! But with my mom also being seven months pregnant, I just don't think we'll have the room… " Bri looked genuinely sorry as she was trying to explain. I had honestly forgotten that her mom was also pregnant so I understand, but now I'm stumped. 

"no worries I'll figure something else out… I hope" I muttered the last part to myself rubbing my face feeling tired. Both physically and mentally. 

"If it's alright sir, " Adrian started, looking across the table at my father with an undesirable look in his eyes. 

"I know a place Ever might be able to stay, I'd have to make sure it was okay with her first… " he started pulling out his phone and I couldn't help but wonder who she was. 

"And where might this place be? " Dad asked, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed. I think he was trying to look intimidating.

"My mom lives close to the community college that's around here, she lives by herself so I don't think she'll mind the company. Plus I think she and Ever would get along great! "

"You don't live with your mother, son?" and here comes protective mode. I get that he's just trying to make up for lost time, but this is ridiculous. 

"no sir, I own an apartment with jade in the next town over…" I noticed how Adrian swallowed thickly and I wanted to laugh. So maybe Dad's intimidation/ interrogation is having its effects after all. 

"So how old are you exactly?" I think he was having a little too much fun with this, and by the subtle wink he sent me only confirms it. 

"21, sir, " Holy! I thought he was like 19! I guess looks really can be deceiving. 

"I see… and what exactly are your plans for my daughter?" Oh. My. Gosh. Please tell me he didn't just-. Oh God, he did! I choked on the Sprite I had been drinking, making me cough so hard I almost threw up. 

"Dad! You can't just ask–" Adrian placed a hand on my shoulder, chuckling slightly. 

"It's fine, precious, I can answer," he looked over at my dad who was glancing between us with a knowing smirk and a raised brow. 

"I want to be there for her. Sir, I have known your daughter for only a day and I can confidently say that I would like to get to know her," he paused, turning his head to look at me with a wide grin. I think my heart stopped with how breathtaking his smile is. I wish he would smile at me like that some more. 

"and maybe one day, we could be something more?..." Yup! I am officially deceased. Eyes wide, head empty. Speechless. Is it hot in here? Why am I so sweaty? 

"and you are aware that my daughter is pregnant, correct?" my dad was liking what he was hearing so far, I could tell by the way he's trying his hardest not to smile right now. 

"Yes, sir, I've already made a vow to myself and to those little beans that I will be there for them, and that I will be the father theirs couldn't be… If that's okay with you?" Adrian seemed super shy as he said all of these things, and my heart couldn't take it. 

He is such a dork, it's adorable. Hearing the way he talked about my kids warmed my heart like no other, and my eyes became blurry. 

"I'm okay with that… " is it possible to fall in love with someone after knowing them for one day? Because I think I just did.

"Well if she's fine with it, I'm fine with it! Go ahead and give your mother a call, son." 

I shimmied my way out of the booth so Adrian could make the call outside, and when he stood up, I almost forgot how tall this man truly is! The top of my head just barely reaches his shoulders. 

With a kiss on my cheek, he bolted out of the diner rendering me speechless yet again. 

"I think I like him for you~," I thought Dad was just teasing me, but when I turned back to face him he was genuinely smiling. And I let out a loud laugh when I saw both Jade and Bri nodding in agreement. Though I won't say it out loud– I think I like him for me too. 

...…

Adrian's POV 

I waited for a few seconds before the other end finally picked up. 

ON THE PHONE 

P: "Hey kid! What's up?" 

A: "Hey Paula, nothing much really. How are you?" 

P: "Oh, I'm alright! Just working on some poor boy's car. It looks like someone took a baseball bat to it before throwing a few dozen eggs at it… 

There was a short pause, before a loud sigh could be heard. 

P:" What'd you do? Do you need parts for your bike again? Jake told me about those bastards that ambushed you last night…" 

I honestly forgot all about that. 

A: " No, that's not why I was calling… it just… Well, you see… –"

P: "oh for the love of all that is holy! Would you spi it out already I ain't got all day!" 

A: Well you see there's this girl and she's well… Pregnant– 

P:" ADRIAN MICHAEL WOLF! DIDYOU GET SOME POOR GIRL PREGNANT! OF YOU DID I SWEAR–"

A: No! They're not mine! She's just a friend in need of some help! I swear! 

P: " …Wait, is this the same girl you guys picked up last night? What happened, is everything alright? "

A: "Well it's a bit hard to explain, but she needs a place to stay for a while… i was just wondering if–"

P: "no." 

A: "no? What do you mean no? You didn't let me finish! "

P:  "... *sigh* fine go ahead… "

A: "it won't be for forever, I promise, she's only 18, the father's not in the picture, her mom kicked her out and her dad just filed for divorce… and… I think I like her"

Silence… 

I could hear her take another deep breath and mutter a slight 'dammit' under her breath. 

P: "… fine, bring her over… Did her father at least agree to this?"

A:  "yeah he did, is it okay if he comes too? He wants to meet you," 

I think he does anyway. I mean why wouldn't he? 

P: "That's fine I guess… see you later kid… "

END OF PHONE CALL 

Well now that that's settled… Time to tell Ever the good news

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