“Xai.”
“Ten minutes.”
It takes a few minutes but I finally hear the locks turn and the door cracks open.
As soon as it does, Averi and Romi sing my name.
“Xai!”
“Hey, beauties,” I say.
“Go to your room. I’ll be right out here,” Adora says, then steps from behind the door. She has a scowl on her face but it doesn’t block her beauty. When I smile, she rolls her big, pretty eyes then swipes her hand for me to step back. She answered and opened the door; I’ll do whatever she wants. I step back and she walks out. She closes her door then leans back with her arms crossed. “You got your ten. Talk,” she snaps.
My time is limited and I don’t want to waste it. I start with the most important thing. “I love you, Adora. I really do and I’m sorry, really sorry, for a lot of things but mainly I’m sorry that I hurt you. On everything, I never wanted to do that. Never.That night, I went to help my brother. I didn’t know what had happened, but when I got there and saw your mo…Miss Beverly in the car, I did everything to get her out. I carried her to my truck and took her to get help. Grabbing her phone was a mistake. Kadean thought it was mine. Even though I took her to the hospital, I feel like I should have done more. Fuck that, I should've done more. I regret that, even knowing what I know about her on that road that night, I regret that.”
“You’re the only person who knows the truth,” she utters, barely above a whisper, then quickly wipes a tear from her cheek.
“And I only know because you trust and love me.”
“Used to,” she says.
“I know you still do because I love you. What we have, that shit doesn’t just go away. Now, your trust, yeah, I lost that and I’ll do whatever I need to do to get that back, starting with what I should have been man enough to do the day I met you at the dentist office.” I pull her mother’s cell from my pocket and hold it out to her. She grabs it and flips it open. “That’s yours and I was dead ass wrong for listening to your messages. And whatever reason I had doesn’t even matter, but I need you to know I didn’t see you as a pitiful woman. I didn’t seek you out. All I knew was your name and voice but I fell in love with the beautiful woman and loving mother behind the voice.” More tears stream down her face so I step closer and thumb them away. “I’m sorry, love. So sorry, and if you give me a chance, I’ll apologize every day and do whatever you say and want for me to earn your trust. Please,” I beg because that’s what I’ll do for her. I’ll beg and plead until she takes me back.
“I can’t,” she utters and I feel a pull in my damn chest.
“Yes, you can, love.” I thumb her tears again then plant a kiss on her forehead. “I love you so much, Adora. I know you love me too.”
“Love didn’t stop you from keeping this from me.”
“Nah but fear of losing you did,” I honestly admit. My hand snakes behind her neck and I squeeze lightly. Her head lifts and my eyes lock with her tear-filled ones. “I loved you wrong then, give me a chance to love you the right way.” I lean in to kiss her lips, and when she doesn’t draw back, I take what’s mine and kiss her with all the love, apologies, and remorse I have, hoping she feels me.
When our lips part, she drops her head. “Your ten minutes are up. I need to get back inside to them,” she says anddamn!
Defeated but not giving up, I lift her chin and stare into her eyes. “Answer me this. Do you still love me?”
“That’s not the issue.”
“Just answer the question. Do you?”
While shaking her head, she sighs. “Yes but?—”
“Only focus on the yes tonight. While I’m up, not able to sleep without you, I want you to think about that. Can you do that for me, pretty girl?”
“I gotta go,” she says.
After kissing her again with no resistance from her, I say, “Do that for me. Think about us tonight and please unblock me so tomorrow I can hear what you thought about.”
“Good night, Xai,” is all she says.
“Good night, pretty girl. I love you.”
She turns to open the door then walks into the house. I stand at the door for a moment, praying that her listening to me and allowing me to kiss her soft lips means something. If it doesn’t, I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m not letting up until I have my baby back in my life.
Chapter 22
Adora
God! I can’t breathe.
