Chapter 131
I gulped hard, my eyes flitting back and forth between Cali and the woman across me. Well this was awkward. I pat Cali's small thigh softly, not knowing how to react to the situation at hand. I didn't want to break Cali's heart and yet I didn't want to hurt Adam's newfound happiness. If she makes him happy then that's all I've ever wanted for him.
"There you guys are! We've been searching everywhere for you!" Preston walked in, clapping his hand joyously as he saw us sitting on the couch before he finally noticed the woman in the same room as us.
When the girl saw Adam walk in, she shot to her feet with her eyes full of tears and her hands in fists. "You! I thought you said you weren't with anyone! Who is she?!" She screamed, her eyes shining with hurt and betrayal. Boy, was this one in love.
"Oh boy," Preston mumbled as he carried on walking towards me. He picked up his brother and sister before bolting out of the room to avoid the predetermined screaming. He left me with these two, that bitch.
I looked nervously between the two of them. The girl was about to scream at Adam again and I decided to step in. I didn't know if this girl knew about Adam's past but judging from how she was blowing this out of proportion, I would guess not. I wasn't sure if Adam was purposely not telling her about it but I couldn't let him ruin his chance at a decent relationship like this. She looked like a kind person who was capable of loving someone without destroying their lives.
"Hey, I know it might not be my place to cut in but it's really not Adam's fault. I was his girlfriend, yes. But that was before an accident that made him an amnesiac. So, I'm pretty sure he's entitled to date whoever he's interested in right now since I'm not sure where we even stand." I explained quickly, not wanting her screams to scare the kids. I didn't want Cali to feel like it was her fault that someone was angry.
My explanation seemed to calm her down a bit.
"You never told me about having amnesia?" She asked Adam. Since I didn't know the answer to this one, I chose to remain quiet.
"I wasn't ready to talk about it." Adam answered smoothly. His girlfriend looked torn between accepting that answer or demanding further explanation. In the end, she chose to take what she could get.
"I don't think we did a proper introduction earlier. I'm Cassandra but you can call me Case. I'm Adam's ex and his high school classmate." I introduced myself, successfully not choking on the word ex. It was still hard to believe but I had to accept reality.
"I'm Kiara, it's nice to meet you." She offered me a forced smile and I gave her a mirroring one.
I decided to give them some privacy and search for Preston instead to see what he wanted me to come over for. My heart was honestly in pieces. I never thought I was one to get attached but this was just too much. I think it would have been much easier if Kiara was a bitch than the nice girl that I think she is. It was hard to hate her or be angry if she wasn't a bitch. Not that I didn't wish the best for Adam. It was just a hard pill to swallow.
I stopped short at the kitchen where I saw Pio and Cali eating some crackers. Pio saw me walking in and offered me some with an adorable toothy smile. It took everything in me not to coo at him. I kissed both of their foreheads and took a cracker before turning to Preston and raising an eyebrow.
"Shit, Case. I swear I didn't know about this. I'm really sorry about that." Preston rushed out and I waved him off. I'll get over it, eventually.
"So why did you want me to come over?" I asked him, getting straight to the point and earning a sheepish look from him. "I kind of wanted to bring you out for lunch to let you meet my girlfriend?" I felt a pang in my chest that I couldn't describe. Everyone was finding their own happiness and love and here I was trying to defend the love and happiness I have left.
"Why'd you want to do that? I'm barely your friend." Okay that sounded much harsher than I intended it to be.
"That's not true Case. You're like my little sister and I want you to meet her. I've only asked her out yesterday but I want you to be able to get to know her." Preston said and I had to suck in a breath, feeling touched.
I rushed to him and gave him a tight hug, not sure why I was being so emotional lately.
"By the way, you look like shit. What happened to you?"
I hit Preston lightly on the shoulder for his comment before shrugging.
"You should've seen the other person." I joked lightly but his expression turned serious.
"You're sure you're alright? Nothing broken right? I saw you limping earlier." He shot question after question and I simply nodded and shook my head.
"I'm okay." I told him simply.
"Are you sure you're okay with your girlfriend seeing me like this? I wasn't really ready to meet anyone important today." I asked him nervously only to see his encouraging smile.
"Don't worry, she'll love you." I smiled back at him before turning to the kids when Cali started pouting and crossing her arms at Preston. "We get to come too right?" That made Preston chuckle and nod.
"Let's go then!" I clapped my hands together, gathering Pio in my arms and letting Cali take my right hand as she licked on one of the crackers like a lollipop.
Preston grabbed his keys and said goodbye to Adam and his girlfriend that is not me. I'll have to get over that quickly. He wasn't mine, not anymore. What's that saying? You'll let them go if you love them? Well that shit sounds much easier than it feels right now.
I covered up the tears that were gathering in my eyes as a yawn and rubbed my eyes as I helped the kids to put on their shoes. When we were all gathered in the car, Preston turned on a song and we belted out to it during the whole ride.
We got out of the car once Preston had parked it, and entered the cafe with the kids clinging onto my hands. Preston opened the door for us and I looked around at the cafe, appreciating the sweet smell of something brewing and the ambience of the place. But I stopped short when my eyes landed on a familiar face.
Maddison.
She couldn't be.
No way.
Please don't be Preston's girlfriend. Please don't do this universe.
Preston waved at her and she waved back. She froze when her eyes met mine and saw me holding Pio and Cali.
Goddammit universe. Why do you hate me so much?!
