His daughter (8 years ago)
1323 Words
The next morning I wake up to both missed calls and text messages. A bunch of them were from Austin but there were also a couple from Becca and Nick. I didn't call nor text Austin last night when I made it home. So he was blowing up my phone asking if I had made it. Then he sent a text saying that he knew I was home because he ended up calling Becca. Nick sent a few messages saying that he was sorry he didn't tell me about JP. Just as I was going through the text from Becca, my phone rings. It's Austin.
"Hey."
"Hey. How'd you sleep?"
"Can't complain. How was the rest of your night at work?"
"It was fine. Everything went smoothly. How is your wrist?"
"It's fine. Just bruised. What are you doing today?"
"Not a thing. I was actually calling to see if you wanted to go grab lunch. Then I could take you to pick your car up."
I really was not in the mood to do anything but I did need to get out of the house. I eventually needed to tell Austin who JP is before he finds out from someone else.
"Sure. Come get me in about an hour. I need to shower and all."
"Why don't I come on over now and shower with you?" he chuckles.
"How long is it going to take you to get here?" I ask as I hear a knock at my front door.
"It'll take me about 10 minutes."
I walk over to my door and look out the peephole. You have got to be kidding me.
"Hmmm, just be here in an hour. I'll make it up to you later. See you soon. Bye!"
I hang up before he has a chance to say anything back.
Opening my door I stand face to face with JP.
"Why are you here?"
"Can we talk, please?"
"You have 10 minutes. I have got to shower and get ready to go out with Austin for lunch." I step back allowing him inside.
"So, Austin is your boyfriend?"
"Not that it's any of your business but yes. We have been together for about 8 months now."
"That's nice. Anything else new with you?"
"Look, JP, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to make small talk with you. What is it that you really want?"
"I need to explain why I'm here. I know you are wondering why here. I was out of options. Maggie is threatening to take McKayla from me. She wants the two of us to get back together, I don't want to be with her. So, she is trying to get full custody of her. I love my daughter. My lawyer said the best thing I could do to make sure Maggie didn't get full custody is to get a good job and show that I have stability in my life. So I called Nick. Nick got me a job here. It pays well. I didn't move here to try and inconvenience your life at all. I just had to do what I had to do to make sure that Maggie does not take my daughter from me. If it were up to me I would have McKayla with me every day. But Maggie is her mother."
I didn't know what to say. This was not the same JP that I left behind 2 years ago.
"I understand that. I would do the same thing if I were in your position. How will you see McKayla being this far away from them?"
"Maggie and Mckayla actually live about an hour and a half away from here."
"Oh wow. I didn't know they moved this way too."
"Yeah. They moved 3 months ago. I didn't want to reach out and ask Nick for help but I ran out of options. I knew you wouldn't want to see me, but I'm sorry. I had to put my daughter first."
"JP, I understand. That's who you should put first."
"So, can we at least try to be friends?" He is staring at me like he used to do. A warm tingly feeling spread through my body. Great, my body is betraying me. I don't want to feel anything towards him. I'd be lying if I said I haven't missed him. I can't be thinking like this. Austin is my boyfriend.
"Will you please stop looking at me like that."
"I'm not looking at you any type of way. Can we try to be friends or not?"
"Fine. Yes, we can try to be friends. Now, you need to leave so I can shower. Austin will be here soon. You went over your 10 minute time frame. Get my number from Nick and text me so I'll know your number."
"Oh, I actually already know your number. I got it from Nick about a month ago."
"Why?"
"I was going to call you and apologize for the past but I decided not to. He told me that you had been doing good. So I talked myself out of calling you."
"Good call. Now that you are here, I have to find a way to tell Austin who you are."
"I'm a friend Liv. That's all he needs to know. You don't have to tell him about our past."
"I guess you're right. We will talk more later. I really have to go shower and get ready."
"Alright. I'll talk to you later then."
***
So Austin and I didn't make it out of the house when he got here. Instead, we settled for a cozy, heavy makeout session. Oh, by the way, I'm still a virgin. 20 years old and a virgin. I'm pathetic I know, I'm just not ready to share that with someone yet.
"You. Make. Me. Crazy." Austin managed to get out in between kisses as I am straddling him on the couch.
I pull back. "Why?"
"All of this kissing and you grinding on me. I want you."
I stare at him. "I'm sorry, I just can't. I'm not ready." I pull myself away from him and off his lap as I sit on the couch beside him.
"You can't even give me head?"
"Where is this coming from, Austin? You have never tried to pressure me into anything."
"I'm just tired of waiting on you to be ready. We have been together for nearly 8 months. How is that not enough time?"
"It just isn't. I don't want to have s*x with you. I'm not saying never. I'm just saying not now."
"Whatever. I'm going home. I'm about done waiting." He gets up and walks to the front door.
"What the f**k is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I'm not going to keep waiting on you to be ready Olivia. I'm a guy and I have needs"
I am pissed. No pissed is an understatement.
"f**k you Austin. Let me make this easy for you since you are a guy and have needs. You basically just said if I kept you waiting you were going to leave. Leave. I'm picking for you. We are done. I will not let any guy disrespect my choices. And when you go into work tonight let Frank know that I quit. I won't be back."
Austin snatches my front door open and just as it is slamming I hear him say,"b***h"
I scream. Not at anyone but I just scream. I am so frustrated. I just quit my job. What was I thinking? There is no way I am going to be able to pay the rent for this place without a job. Good thing I just paid rent last week for this month, so I have a little bit to figure out next month.
When JP comes around everything seems to crash down around me. It happened when I was 18 and now it's happening again.
- Writer
