Falling Into Love with You (The Hate-Love Duet 2)

“She told you that?”

“My mother hasn’t been shy about her lack of attachment to me. Anyway, she brought me to him, but he didn’t want me, either. So, she did her best.”

Laila is visibly floored. “I’m so sorry, Savage. Growing up, did you see your father, at all?”

“I saw him, now and again. Whenever he’d started feeling guilty about ignoring my existence. He’d come over, but only when he was drunk. Usually on my birthday or Christmas and we’d try to play happy family for a hot minute. But things always turned into a screaming match between my parents, and I’d run and hide in my closet. Which by the way, doubled as my bedroom, by choice. I’ve always liked small spaces. Anyway, fast-forward to Chicago, after I’d moved there and had been living with Mimi for a couple years—”

“Where did you live with your mom?”

“Phoenix.”

Laila’s eyebrows ride up.

“Yeah, you hate-fucked me in my hometown,” I say. I wink. “It definitely made it extra special for me. Anyway, my sperm donor father got out of prison when I was fifteen or so. He showed up at Mimi’s apartment, angry that she’d taken me in, when he wasn’t sure I was his kid. He told her I was conning her. Planning to steal from her. So, I flattened his stupid ass.” I smile. “I was fifteen and my father was three inches taller than me—and I took his ass down.”

“Whoa.”

“It felt amazing when I was standing over him. That was the moment I realized how small he truly was—and that he had zero power over me. It was a huge turning point for Mimi and me. Until then, I’d been a little asshole to her. Always testing her. Trying to prove my theory she was going to throw me out at some point. But after that, I realized I loved her and that I’d do anything for her. Anything. And that’s when I said to myself, ‘Why not give her a real chance here? Why not stop being an asshole and start listening to her?’ So, that’s what I did. I started following her rules, and giving her the respect she deserved. And it was the best thing I’ve ever done. From that point, everything started falling into place for me. I befriended Kendrick and Kai, seeing as how I was going to be sticking around, and that’s when I realized I could write songs and sing. Everything came together for me after that.”

“I’m so glad you decided to let Mimi love you.”

“I can’t imagine who I’d be right now if I hadn’t.”

“Is it Sasha’s mom or dad who’s Mimi’s kid?”

“Her father, Frank. He died in an accident at work when Sasha was eleven. Apparently, he was an amazing guy. Really sweet and kind. Thanks to Frank, Mimi knew she was capable of having a normal, loving son. Poor Mimi always blamed herself for my father, her second son, being such a dickbag. But at least Frank gave her some comfort that my father’s assholery wasn’t her fault. Mimi once told me she felt like my father was born without a complete soul. Like, he just didn’t feel things the way other people did. She said it only got worse when his dad, Mimi’s husband, died.”

Laila looks down at her bowl of soup, looking distraught. “I’m sorry you’ve had it so rough, Savage.”

“Nobody has it easy in life, really. Speaking of which, tell me about your asshole father.”

Laila drags her spoon through her bowl of soup, gathering her thoughts. “My parents got married when my mom got accidentally pregnant with my sister. When things became rocky in their marriage, they decided in their infinite wisdom to have a second baby to ‘fix’ things.”

“Brilliant plan.”

Laila rolls her eyes. “Yeah. Obviously, my existence didn’t fix a damned thing. I remember my dad often being loud and angry when Angel and I were little. He’d punch holes in walls. Smash plates and lamps onto the ground. And then, one day, my father did the unthinkable: he punched my mom in the face during an argument and broke a bone under her eye.”

“Jesus.”

“My mom took Angel and me to live with my aunt in Whittier. We lived there until my mom could afford an apartment of our own.”

“Did you keep in touch with your father through all that?”

“Sort of. My sister was done with him the day we moved out. But I kept in touch for a while, by phone, and listened to him tell me how sorry he was. How much he’d changed. But one day, I heard my mom crying while talking to him on the phone, so I listened in. And the way he was cussing her out . . . That’s when I knew he was still the same asshole who’d broken her face. And that’s when I was done with him for good, too. I grabbed the phone and told him to fuck off and never speak to any of us again. Angel got on the phone and said the same. We told our mom we’d always take care of her and not to bother trying to squeeze any child support out of him, again. It wasn’t worth it. And we’ve been a threesome ever since.”