Forever the One (Always and Forever 3)

“Yeah, let’s.”

“Yay! Okay! Let’s eat, I’m hungry and I still need to find a cute outfit for tonight!”

I check myself out in the mirror one last time before I leave to go get L. My freshly shaven face makes me look like I did when I was in high school. I hate it, but Lana thinks it’s sexy and she gets what she wants. Especially on our date night. My crew cut hair is gelled back, looking slick and clean. I chose a pair of black jeans to pair with my denim button up shirt and black hoodie. It’s raining tonight, which means Lana probably didn’t wear her red dress and I’m bummed, I love that dress on her. Who am I kidding, I love everything on her.

Grabbing my keys I lock up my apartment then head to the elevator. I get to her floor, stepping out. Walking toward L’s door I see an envelope sitting just outside it. Weird, we have mailboxes in the lobby. Who would put this shit here? Unlocking her door with my key Shay gave me, I walk in while opening the envelope.

I don’t see Lana and all I hear is her loud music. She loves loud music, she probably didn’t hear the doorbell ring when whoever it was came and left this. Opening up the envelope I pour out the contents and my face starts t

o burn, my eyes dilating to the point where they must be black. Laid out in front of me on the counter are pictures of Joel and Lana when they dated.

I lift the note accompanied with the pictures and read, “Thought you might want these back. Miss you baby, I’ll see you soon.” Holy fuck, the fucker contacted her. He had the god damn nerve to send her this. How did he find her address? Why? How? Who fucking delivered these? That fucker is in jail and I know damn well this had to be sent out by someone he knew. Fuck me, I slam my fist down on the counter, the loud boom echoing through the kitchen. I snatch up all the pictures and the letter. Seeing her in these pictures, kissing, hugging, touching this motherfucker just pisses me off more.

I open the door and walk down the hall to the courtesy trashcan they have by the elevators. I rip them up so damn good that nothing is left then I throw them in the bin. I stare at the ripped pieces and consider burning the whole trashcan, regardless of the fire codes. I tear my eyes away and put my joined hands behind me, resting them on my head. I start to pace up and down her floor, irritated—furious. How is this possible? Does he have men on the outside still watching my woman? The thought has me weakening, my knees wanting to buckle and my heart dangerously close to stopping. I want to end that man, I should have. I shouldn’t have stopped the night I hit him.

“Kings, baby. What are you doing?” I suck in a deep breath and turn to see Lana standing in her doorway. The memory of seeing her there almost lifeless still playing at the forefront of my mind. I take a deep breath and drop my arms down. She looks adorable in her white silk robe, ending mid-thigh. Her hair is curled framing her small face, she’s so innocent looking.

I think up a lie quick. “Nothing, I thought I dropped my wallet in the elevator. I didn’t though, so we’re good.” Shaking off the memories as best I can, I walk up to her wrapping her up and squeezing her in my arms, so fucking tight. I’m so God damn thankful I showed up that night. If I didn’t, she wouldn’t be here. A world without Lana is a world I can’t exist in.

“That’s quite the welcome hug. Bad day at work?” she questions, leaning back. She’s shorter than my 6’0 frame, I bend over with her when she bends back to look at my face. I don’t want to let her go, I need to hold her to make sure this shit isn’t a dream. Joel is fucking with my woman, he is making good on his threat and I know here and now that I won’t tell Lana. I am not going to watch her disappear into the shadows again, looking over her shoulder everywhere she goes. I put on a front, no trace of Joel anywhere. I look into her eyes.

“Yeah, it was,” I lie. I promised myself that night that Joel was dead to her. I’m keeping that promise. She doesn’t need to know about the fucking letter and I will take care of this once and for all. How? I don’t know yet, but if it’s my one last dance with the devil, I will follow through on it.

“Well, I hope I don’t make it worse because...” She kisses my neck right under my ear where she knows I like it. I’m starting to feel a little better already.

“What?”

“I need to fly home to Utah, see my parents—tell them about the baby.”

“You mean your dad?” She giggles. He hates me like sluts hate monogamy.

“Yeah, Kings. I gotta tell dad. I’ll only be gone a couple days.”

“Wait, you’ll? No, no, we’ll be gone a couple days. I’m going with you.” She smiles, running her palm under my shirt, her fingers feeling good on my heated skin.

“I love you for that, but you don’t need to be subjected to dad’s ridicule.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. Daddy James never liked me. He thought I was a punk piece of shit and I was. Jeffery James is a Sergeant in the Marines and he’s a scary bastard. That’s why Lana hid the abuse from him. She didn’t want him to risk his career by killing a man or risk his safety.

“I’ll go, you’re my woman and that’s our baby,” I tug open the bottom part of her robe and run my hands over her tiny belly, “so I need to man up and face your dad like a gentleman.” She rolls her eyes and pats my chest.

“I didn’t say it was gonna be easy Kingston and I’m not strong enough to stop my daddy from kicking your ass. Be ready.” She winks walking away. Lana does have a valid point—he may just kill me.

Following her into her bedroom I sit in the grey lounge chair by the windows looking out over the city lights while she finishes getting ready. I get lost in thoughts of telling her dad, seeing it ending with me in a casket with my loved ones standing around me. I knocked up his only daughter, his only child. His baby fucking girl. He’s gonna be pissed and I just hope he doesn’t make Lana change her mind about us.

Nervous, I pick at my lip thinking about everything that has happened in the past twenty four hours. We made a huge step as a couple, by actually becoming a couple. Then I see that shit in the envelope and it knocks me on my ass. Joel was the sole reason we haven’t been together this whole time. Now, she starts to let him go, let the past go and he finds a way back in.

Why? Why does he want a way back in? I knew he was crazy, I just thought putting him behind bars for a pathetic five years would get him to fuck off. Thank you justice system, five years obviously didn’t help. He only has one year left and then he’ll be out. Out to come for my woman. The past four years crept up on us and now it’s shining in my face like a red warning light. I know when I’m in Utah I’m gonna have to see that fucker, go to the place that holds a monster. Why do I have this feeling deep in my gut that this isn’t over?

“Kings. You okay?” I turn my head quickly, looking at Lana’s figure standing behind me. The sound of rain hits her window. I’m doing a shitty fucking job of playing cool.

“Yeah. I’m fine babe. Fuck me you look sexy! Come give me some lovin.” I divert the conversation and reach my hand out to her. She looks fucking delicious in leather pants with thigh high black books and a sheer maroon top and some sexy black lacy bra thing under her blouse.

“Scratch going out tonight. I wanna stay in and unwrap this present.” I pull her onto my lap and my mouth finds her cleavage, biting her tit.

“Ouch! Hey!” She laughs, that simple noise brings me back to reality and fully in the moment with her. I lift my head and drop the smile from my face, looking deeply into her eyes, searching them. Reaching up her soft, warm palm curves against my face as her forehead drops to mine.

“You aren’t okay? Did something happen today?” Closing my eyes and taking a deep inhale, I smell her feminine peach smell and my heart about jumps out of my fucking chest.

“No, I just missed you.” That’s only a partial lie.