The Runaway Bride

Chapter 14

To be honest I was surprised when Reid came home with Eli.

I was even more surprised that Eli came with him without any fuss. I mean I get that they are getting close but Eli always doesn't like it when I don't or Chris doesn't pick him up.

He doesn't even like it when Aria picks him up. She had told them he is whining the whole time and is in a horrible mood.

But seeing Eli in such a cheery mood just surprised me.

He barely even glanced at me and laughed along with his dad.

"I'm glad you guys are having fun," I said staring at both of them with my arms crossed.

"Mommy Reid got me a phone," he said holding out an iPhone in his hand.

I gaped. "He what?" I yelled loudly. I took the phone out of his hand. "You are not allowed to have a phone right now," I raised my voice slightly.

"But mommy it's mine," he said.

"No but come on take off your shoes," I told him.

He huffed but went to take off his shoes.

I stared down at Reid.

"What?" He asked.

"Are you kidding me? He's not even kindergarten yet and you're getting him a phone?" I yelled at him.

"What? He was using mine on our way back and thought he could have one also," he said as if that was an excuse.

"Don't spoil my kid. Especially with expensive things," I said handing him back the phone.

"You do realize he's rich right," he said taking the phone back. "You can't tell me not spoil my kid. I will as much as I can," he said.

"He's not growing up as you did. So yes I can tell you not to spoil him," I told him.

"Your f*****g unbelievable at times. Eli would have better growing up with me than with you from the beginning," he muttered.

My jaw dropped and I could feel the heat rushing to my body. He did not just say that!

The audacity he had to say that only made me angrier.

This fight began because of a phone but right now this was beyond that.

"Are you f*****g serious right now? Where were you then? Huh? You only came back now. Frankly, I wished you never even did," I shouted.

I waited for him to say something but instead, he pulled me against him my chest collided with his and I barely had time to react to what had happened.

He stared at me intensely and I was afraid he might actually hurt me in the way he was staring.

"Mommy..." I heard Eli's scared voice as we both turn to look at how scared he looked.

Reid let me go immediately and I rushed to Eli. I picked him up and brought him into his room.

"Why are you fighting?" Eli asked.

I hated this. I hated all of this. Reid being here is making my son ask questions I never wanted him to ask.

It was why I left in the first place when I was pregnant.

"It's nothing baby. You get ready for bath time okay. I'll be in there to help you in a sec," I told him and left out the door.

I found Reid standing exactly where he was and I stomped over to him.

"I want you out," I say.

"What?" He asks confused.

"You heard me. I can't have you here. This is not good for Eli or me. Please just get out," I say to him.

"I told you I'm not leaving before. So you can't tell me to leave," he's taking a step closer.

"Reid listen you being here is not a good idea. I don't want Elias to see what just happened again. I just need you out please I'm begging you to leave," I plead.

He moved away from me. Pacing around the room. Until he stopped. He stared at me but didn't say anything. He let out a loud sigh and walked to the front door and left.

I let out a breath placing a hand on my beating heart.

This is was what I needed.

I needed him gone. Now all I can do is hope it's for good.

I rushed back into Eli's room and got him ready for the night and put him to bed after all our nightly routine.

"Mommy, will Reid be back?" He asked as I tuck him further into the bed.

"I don't know little prince,"

“I don’t need the phone mommy. You can give it back to Reid,” he says.

I give him a sad smile and brushed his hair back and placed a kiss on top of his forehead.

-

It was 3 in the morning when I heard rummaging in the living room.

I sat up in bed high in alert and grabbed the closes thing I could find to knock someone out and to my luck, all I could find was my night lamp.

I climbed out of bed clutching the lamp in my arms and slowly made my way to the living room.

I quickly turned on the light and run to hit the man with it but stopped dead in my tracks when they put their arms in front of them stopping me.

"Reid!" I exclaimed quietly. "I thought someone broke in," I say setting the lamp down.

He rolled his eyes. "And the best thing you could find was a lamp to protect yourself and our child?"

"It was what was close to me," I shrugged my shoulder.

"Of course it was," he sighed.

I shook my head. "What are you doing back? Didn't I tell you to leave?"

He took a step closer and I moved. "You know the thing is I did leave. I left and I went back to my house," he says.

I looked at him confusion setting in me waiting for him to say more.

"But I realized that you have no right to tell me to stay away from my son. As much as you are his mother I'm his father. I left once because I was being selfish but the moment I looked into his eyes I knew there was nothing more I want to protect in my life. So whether you like it or not I'm staying and if you still want me out I'm taking Elias with me," he finished saying.

I stare at him open-mouthed. He was being unbelievable. Threatening me once again to take Eli away from me.

"You can't take Eli away from me. He will never come with you," I told him in a matter of factory tone.

"I'll take you to court and when I win custody he will have no choice."

"You can't do that to him," I say.

"And I don't want too but you leave me no choice. I want to be there as his father. And I want us to be a family. I know I was being a horrible husband but at least let me try to be a good dad," there's was a hint of pleading in his voice.

It's not even like I could think about it. I didn't know whether this exactly was a good idea but this was Eli.

All of this is only ever for him.

"Okay," I say.

"Okay?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes okay. I'll let you live here. I'll let you be a good dad to Eli but this does not mean I'm letting you be with me. I want you to stop your mine crap and let me on my own." I told him strictly.

He opened his mouth to say something but doesn't say much. He simply nods.

Now let's try this again.

Reid Hall was to be a father. And only a father.