One Night

Chapter Two- One Year Later

A lot can happen in 365 days. Seasons change, friends come and go, and you become another year older. But in that year since I had met and connected with Luke, the majority of my year was spent with nausea and swollen ankles. That was because the bastard lied to me about being infertile. Now, I had a three month old little girl, when I was still a kid myself. 

Without any guidance, I was forced to learn day by day, having purchased ninety-nine perfect if her baby necessities from thrift stores and at the mercy of those at college.

 I was three months away from graduating, on my way to making things perfectly right with Nate-who was now separated from his wife...but...I couldn't lie to myself. My life had ended when I learned of Lila's existence. But even though my bitter anger, when I would look at my daughter, I could see flickers of Luke within her. She held the same dimple on one side of her face and a half smile that she sported whenever she felt happy. It had been these similarities that made me miss him-even if he was a bastard. 

But all of that would come to a head as I was making my way into college-having to postpone my graduation by a year to take care of Lila. I approached Nate's classroom where he was eagerly waiting for me at the edge of his desk. Dressed in his usual dress shirt and dark slacks, he was one handsome devil with his Latin heritage present in his strong bone structure and dark honey complexion. 

"I was wondering if you would show…" he spoke while pulling my essay away from my grasp, forcing my lips a centimeter or so from his own. Nate was a s****l kisser, as many men were...but I was here for a reason; and it was not to get my hormones matched. 

"I have to get back to Lila…" I informed him, commenting on how I didn't trust the 16 year old babysitter I was forced to leave her with. I quickly gathered the papers before feeling his grip hard on my arm. 

"I'll pay her double to keep you here with me." He spoke while forcing me against his body. He was toned; in a way that showed he cared a great deal about his physical appearance. And he was charming...but all I could think about was my daughter. 

"It has been weeks since I've seen you...just you...in a setting that wasn't my classroom...although we never seemed to care if we could be caught before…" he spoke while leading my hand to his zipper. The excitement of sneaking around between classes was never lost on me until I learned of his marriage. Once I had, I kept away from him the best I could until learning of Lila's existence. He then took Lila under his wing and separated from his wife. I gave him a chance under this new pretense of a relationship...but it seemed "slow" to him meant handjobs and blowjobs-neither or which I had given. 

"I really need to get back…" I pushed while trying to remain polite before he brought his face to my hand. Believing this was romantic, he kissed me-where I had given a quick peck before pulling away. 

"I signed the divorce papers today." He expressed while moving to his desk and giving me a copy of the legal document to view. "It's officially done." A smile was present on his face after a weight formed on my heart. Before me, Nate and Heidi were happy; at least to some degree. I was responsible for its end. 

"Can we talk about it over dinner?" I asked him, wanting to buy time to process what this would mean for us. He nodded and gave me a French kiss that I slid away from nervously before disappearing into the hall and back home. 

Paying the sitter and reviewing my paper, I edited my mistakes to learn from later before then hearing a knock at my door. My neighbors were always asking to borrow something as an excuse to see Lila, as some were those I attended college with that were now moving onto the next step of their lives. So as I opened the door to expect one of these nosy neighbors, I stood stunned as I noticed a figure dressed in an army uniform. 

"Luke?" I spoke his name in disbelief, thinking I had imagined him as I had done many times before in my moments of lustful weakness. 

"Hey there...can I come in?" He questioned as a long bag sat over his shoulder and down his back. He seemed different somehow, but his main features remained the same. I was speechless as I moved away from the door and let him pass. I analyzed these small changes; a bit more muscle tone, some scruff on his recently clean shaven complexion, and a scar right below his left eye that was still healing from combat. 

"So-" as he went to ask me how I had been or why he was present, he froze when seeing Lila. Only three months, she was in her crib beside the couch in the living room, fast asleep for the first time in what felt like years. 

It was clear that he was surprised, as I expected him to have been, but then anger set beneath this gaze. 

"Is she...how old is she?" He asked through gritted teeth. I paused for a moment before moving towards her as she began to wrestle with her sleeping position. Pulling her into my arms, I brought her to his view. I could see the love he had in his eyes when seeing her innocence that he envied and treasured in the eyes looking back to him. However, my silence forced him to ask me the question again. 

"How old is she?" He asked again, this time keeping his steel gaze upon me. 

"Three months." I spoke sheepishly, knowing he would make that connection sooner or later. I saw the gears move rapidly behind his eyes before he seemed to have been punched in the chest. 

"She's…"

"I don't know." I lied. I knew very well whom my s****l partners had been, even more so, that there was only one I had unprotected s*x with. I suppose that is my own fault for having believed him when he claimed impotence. 

"Oh…" there seemed to be more pain than relief in this realization. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised…." I could feel my blood boil, realizing that he would call me a w***e for not knowing her father. But instead, with a saddened expression, he spoke an unexpected kindness to me. "I can't expect only one person to see what I see in you." 

"Oh…"

He then snatched a piece of paper and quickly scribbled something before setting it onto the nearby counter. 

"If you decide you need someone or if I can do anything...I'm staying here…" I read the address before looking back up at him. "How did you know where I was?" 

"It wasn't easy...maybe if you let me take you to dinner then I will explain it." He commented with a cheeky smirk-that same smirk that got me pregnant to begin with. Although I was angry at him, I couldn't believe he stood before me; willing to participate to help me with her. I felt guilty for lying on her paternity; but I had so many questions and I know he held all the answers. "And bring her...I would really love to see you both again." I nodded as we made plans for that night-completely forgetting about Nate.