Missed me?

I had gotten a call from one of my teammates and I thought he wanted to talk about the Super Bowl tomorrow, but as soon as I answered the phone, he was telling me how he saw my girl down where he lived. "My girl?" I asked him. He said "not that one, the other one. Your Little One one." It was funny how well my teammates aside from Dante really knew me. I got the address of the place he said she was staying at and headed out the door. Kyle was with his grandparents because of the Super Bowl tomorrow, so I could just leave.

I parked the 'Stang outside the building and looked up at it after stepping out of the car. It was a small place, smaller than the place she lived at with Abby and ZhiZhi, but it was nice anyhow. I walked inside the building and knocked on the first door I could find. An older lady opened the door and I took a picture out of my pocket. "Do you know this girl?" I asked her, and she nodded. "Oh, sure. She lives just down the hall in 5." Smiling brightly at her, I thanked her and walked down the hall.

Knocking on the door, I put the picture back in my pocket and slid my hands in my pants, pulling out the small jewelry box I had stopped off to get on my way over here. It was a simple silver chain with a C charm and an alexandrite stone, her birthstone, on the top of the C. It was really beautiful, and I hoped she liked it. She deserved a huge apology, and I hoped this was the first step toward that.

I had gotten the urge to dance. But I knew that was impossible. I wasn't huge yet but trying to dance would surely wear me down and I'd find myself passed out on the couch for the rest of the day. So I settled for trying to find a new hobby. And I did just that. Painting. It was actually a lot more fun that I had expected. So, after setting up my station, I flipped on some music and change into a ratty old tank top and jogging pants, pulled my hair back and started painting.

By the time I was half through with the picture I was attempting to make, I had more paint on my face and clothes than actually on the easel. "Well, honey, mommy is not made for the painting business it seems." I murmured as I rubbed over my growing stomach. "We'll try something new tomorrow. We have the world at our feet." I pulled my cell phone out, texting Dante to ask him about my sister. When he said there was no new change I sent a text to her, just in case she answered her messages someday. I wanted her to know I was thinking of her. Even if the phone was with Dante.

I heard a knock and wondered who the hell it could be and remembered I had set up for dinner to be ordered around this time. "Mmmm, food!" I said, walking to the door and pulling it open. I stopped in my tracks, my eyes growing instantly cold. I wasn't sure how the hell he found me but I wasn't speaking to him. I figured he would have gotten that with my ignoring all his messages. "Go away." I grunted, moving to shut the door but he shoved his body in the way. "Go!"

Pushing the door open carefully, I reached in and grabbed her by her wrist. "Not a chance," I said, pushing the door shut and holding the tiny box up to her. "I've been an ass. I'm here to apologize. Please, let me try to make things better. For you. For me." I looked down at her stomach. "For our child." I placed my hand on her stomach. "I'm sorry for all the horrible things I've done. I'm sorry I haven't been the friend I am supposed to be. I'm sorry I haven't been the father I should have been from the beginning." I nodded my head softly. "I'm sorry. Please." I held the box up for her more. The box was velvet and her favorite color. "Accept this as a token of my sorry ass. And know that I never meant to hurt you."

I looked down from the mint green box up to Jackson's face, tears bubbling in my eyes. I wanted to hate him. God I did. I had every right too. He was an ass. He treated me like a whore... like I wasn't anything but a fresh piece of ass he used when his real woman disappeared but I was so lonely all the time. It was only so much comfort talking to a child in your stomach. And he was right I did owe it to our child to try. I slowly reached up, taking the box from him and opening it. It was a gorgeous gift which made a tear spill out of my eye and slide down my cheek. I quickly rubbed it away and closed the box. "I'm sorry too." And I was. I shut him out. I know I did. "Thank you." I rubbed another tear away and stepped back from him, turning my back to him when I knew more tears were coming. "I was just painting before you came. Damn thing looks like a silly mess but.." I rubbed at my face and turned back to him as I folded my arms over my chest and held the box there. "How.. eh.. have you been? Excited for tomorrow?"

I looked over at her painting, actually liking the silly mess as she called it. Looking back at her back, I shrugged my shoulders, sliding my hands in my pockets. "I guess. Dante's not suspended or worse, so he'll be able to play tomorrow. That's a good thing, I guess." Sighing softly, I shook my head. "Although, I don't know what good he'll be since all he can do is think about ZhiZhi." Taking a few steps closer to her, I leaned my head down by her ear, talking softly. "So, how much will you take for your silly mess?" I asked, completely joking, but I would buy it from her if she really wanted to sell it.

I went from frowning about my sister to smiling. "You couldn't pay me enough!" I said, laughing, shoving him playfully. "Besides, it's not finished." I brushed one of my loose curls back and heard the door. "Mmmmmmmm food! I want some so badly! Stay here." I walked over and opened the door, not finding the delivery man but my neighbor Steve. "Hey, Steve, what's up?" He stuffed his hands in his pockets of his jeans. "I was wondering if you eh... wanted.. to.. eh... go... to eh... dinner with me?"

I listened as Steve, or whoever he was, stammer through asking her out. Shaking my head, I walked over to the door, taking it in one hand placing my hand on Carly's shoulder. "Maybe some other time, pal. Do you know what a raincheck is?" I rubbed Carly's shoulder softly, staring the scrawny little dude down. If he wanted to pick a fight with me over Carly, I'd feel very sorry for him. I'd laugh, but I'd feel very sorry for him.

I went to say something but felt Jackson come up behind me. I turned my eyes up to him, shaking my head while trying to not laugh. He didn't even realize how scary he could be. Steve took a step back. "I.. oh.. yeah... I... oh... sorry. I'll.. I we can talk later Carly." He turned and walked away. "Bye, Steven!" I yelled after him. I turned to Jackson shutting the door and hitting his gut playfully. "Seriously! You can't scare away potential suitors!" I laughed.

"Excuse me? I can do whatever I want," I told her, crossing my arms over my chest, looking down at her. "You are making my baby in there, don't you know? I can't have some half-pint raising my daughter." Shaking my head, I laughed. "Come on. Check seriously, Little One. Someone's gotta be better than me to be in my baby's life."

I opened the box again, pulling the necklace out and turning my back to him. "Help me.. please." I pushed my hair back and laughed. "You realize that the baby and I aren't a package deal. Of course nobody would be a better dad for her than you! But that doesn't mean I can't find someone for myself thank you very much."

I held the necklace in both hands, fastening it for her, leaning forward and kissing the back of her neck. "And what if I am that someone for yourself?" I was torn between two women, I knew that, but I did love Carly, and I could resign myself to believing that Abigail loved the Goomba and was marrying him. So, I didn't have to be completely miserable, did I? "Maybe we could try?"

I glanced over my shoulder at him. "You really think that's going to smart when we both love other people, Jackson? Honestly?" I knew Jeff and I were done. Just as much as Jackson and Abigail were but that didn't change how our hearts felt and what our hearts wanted. But at the same time not being alone forever felt comfortable and favorable. But I wasn't going to start a family and be together for that reason alone. Not when in the end it would just hurt us.

"But we do love each other, Little One. We both want what's best for each other, and I don't want either of us to be miserable." Shaking my head, I turned her to face me. "I'm not saying we jump right in, but I'm just saying we give us a try. What do you say?"

I turned my body toward his, getting closer. "I say I guess it's not the end of the world just to try. So sure." I smiled up at him. "I guess this means I can't get dinner with Steven huh?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Why would you want to? I mean, think about it. He's so small. And if he's small everywhere the eye can see..." I nodded my head, almost wincing at the thought. "Now, did you say something about dinner when the he knocked at the door?"

"Please! You're a big guy and small yourself down there!" I busted out laughing. "And yes... dinner... and..." I heard the knock and smiled. "There it is. Plenty of Chinese food if you want some." I went to answer the door and shoved him aside playfully as I laughed. I paid the man and bumped the door closed with my hip.

"You know, maybe I'll just have to remind you how small I am not later," I said, walking into the kitchen to find some plates and forks. "What do you got to drink?"

I set the food down on the coffee table and glanced over my shoulder at him in the kitchen. "Eh, water, juice or milk. No beer or nothing.. oh and diet Pepsi. That's it."