Unrequited Hate - Chapter Fifteen
From the author of "Duality of Alexa", here is a story where hatred and love collide.
Chapter Fifteen.
Evan fell asleep upright on the couch after going over what happened. The sun was peaking through the windows now as Adrienne came into the room.
Her movements woke him up as she passed him to get to the kitchen.
Evan's neck was so stiff that he did a few neck rolls to crank them out.
Getting the baby's cereal ready helped occupy Adrienne's mind. She had decided a walk on the beach would be a perfect morning spent with Knox.
Her hand froze in mid-motion as she caught a whiff of Evan's scent. Slightly looking over her shoulder, she offered him some cereal and milk. As he went to prepare his meal, she walked out to get Knox.
The baby was awake and waiting to be fed.
"You're awake, huh? Hungry?"
The baby gave her a toothless smile.
She sighed, "You're growing up so quickly!" She tickled the happy little boy and brought him to the kitchen.
Adrienne fed him in good nature and got ready for their walk. Evan included himself.
The baby carrier was a perfect invention for times like these. The walk was a comfortable silence and involved a lot of attention given to Knox.
At one point, Adrienne found herself lost in a smile exchange with Evan.
Realizing this, she stuttered! "Did... Did you want to hold him now?"
And like that, their smiles were wiped off their faces.
"Are you tired? I can.. I mean.. I don't mind."
"What if we just take a rest on the nearest bench, yeah?"
"Sure," he nodded.
At the end of the strip of beach they were on, they sat on a bench that held a portrait of a sun sitting on top of the serene water.
Evan draped his arm across the top of the bench as they sat. Using the same hand he coaxed Adrienne to snuggle in the crook of his arm. From far we could look like a family, he mused.
Knox was out of the carrier and bouncing on Adrienne's lap. Impulsively, Evan kissed the top of her head.
She smiled secretly to herself.
With an upturned face she asked, "What was that for?"
"I just felt like it," he shrugged.
With a sigh he changed the subject, "So this is the life you'd sell your company for?"
He could feel her shoulder tense. Instinctively, he snaked his arm around her waist and gave a little squeeze.
"I'm not here to attack you and your dreams. I just want to understand you."
She sighed.
"So who is he?" He asked.
She stopped bouncing the baby and held him firmly in her arms. It was almost as if she was afraid she's drop Knox.
"Who?"
"This man you picture settling down with."
Butterflies formed out of nothing, in the pit of stomach. Did he not know? Seriously? Forget it.
"No one, specific."
"No?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.
She shrugged, "What if it was you? What would you do?"
"I'd quickly ask you to marry me, of course!" He answered without a flinch or hesitation.
Adrienne's jaw dropped as her head swung and their eyes met.
Without a second thought, she leaned up and gave him a soft kiss. Amused, he looked down at her and asked, "what was that for?"
She shrugged, "I just felt like it."
Meanwhile, Knox, oblivious to the world around him, jumped a few times in his aunt's grasp and laughed.
The kisses were left alone. The moments were gone, but the atmosphere remained ever so pleasant.
By the time they got home, Alexa and Xander were waiting with a full meal prepared for lunch.
"So....?" Alexa asked her best friend. "How was it? Ready for your turn?"
Adrienne gushed a loud, "I loved it!! I'd love to live like this every day." Suddenly she froze and blushed. Had she meant that as a double statement? Would they think that?
Slowly she looked around the table and all the knowing smiles revealed that they took it as she loved every moment with Knox AND Evan.
She inwardly slapped her forehead and bowed a little.
Suddenly, a spark of something flickered in her mind.
Lifting her head, remembering what Evan so confidently said earlier, Adrienne stared directly at him and spoke without a second thought.
"It's you."
Evan's face lit up but he didn't say anything in response. She was sure he understood what she meant by that.
When no words were exchanged with her, Adrienne excused herself and got up to go. Two seconds after, Evan shot right out of his seat, too.
Meanwhile, Alexa and Xander watched on in amusement and confusion.
"What just happened?" Xander asked his wife.
"I have a guess or two..." Alexa replied.
Deep in thought, Xander frowned.
Alexa caught him off-guard with a kiss. "Don't be concerned, honey. Things will be fine between those two."
Xander nodded.
They finished their dinner and spent quality time with their baby boy.
Evan fell asleep upright on the couch after going over what happened. The sun was peaking through the windows now as Adrienne came into the room.
Her movements woke him up as she passed him to get to the kitchen.
Evan's neck was so stiff that he did a few neck rolls to crank them out.
Getting the baby's cereal ready helped occupy Adrienne's mind. She had decided a walk on the beach would be a perfect morning spent with Knox.
Her hand froze in mid-motion as she caught a whiff of Evan's scent. Slightly looking over her shoulder, she offered him some cereal and milk. As he went to prepare his meal, she walked out to get Knox.
The baby was awake and waiting to be fed.
"You're awake, huh? Hungry?"
The baby gave her a toothless smile.
She sighed, "You're growing up so quickly!" She tickled the happy little boy and brought him to the kitchen.
Adrienne fed him in good nature and got ready for their walk. Evan included himself.
The baby carrier was a perfect invention for times like these. The walk was a comfortable silence and involved a lot of attention given to Knox.
At one point, Adrienne found herself lost in a smile exchange with Evan.
Realizing this, she stuttered! "Did... Did you want to hold him now?"
And like that, their smiles were wiped off their faces.
"Are you tired? I can.. I mean.. I don't mind."
"What if we just take a rest on the nearest bench, yeah?"
"Sure," he nodded.
At the end of the strip of beach they were on, they sat on a bench that held a portrait of a sun sitting on top of the serene water.
Evan draped his arm across the top of the bench as they sat. Using the same hand he coaxed Adrienne to snuggle in the crook of his arm. From far we could look like a family, he mused.
Knox was out of the carrier and bouncing on Adrienne's lap. Impulsively, Evan kissed the top of her head.
She smiled secretly to herself.
With an upturned face she asked, "What was that for?"
"I just felt like it," he shrugged.
With a sigh he changed the subject, "So this is the life you'd sell your company for?"
He could feel her shoulder tense. Instinctively, he snaked his arm around her waist and gave a little squeeze.
"I'm not here to attack you and your dreams. I just want to understand you."
She sighed.
"So who is he?" He asked.
She stopped bouncing the baby and held him firmly in her arms. It was almost as if she was afraid she's drop Knox.
"Who?"
"This man you picture settling down with."
Butterflies formed out of nothing, in the pit of stomach. Did he not know? Seriously? Forget it.
"No one, specific."
"No?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.
She shrugged, "What if it was you? What would you do?"
"I'd quickly ask you to marry me, of course!" He answered without a flinch or hesitation.
Adrienne's jaw dropped as her head swung and their eyes met.
Without a second thought, she leaned up and gave him a soft kiss. Amused, he looked down at her and asked, "what was that for?"
She shrugged, "I just felt like it."
Meanwhile, Knox, oblivious to the world around him, jumped a few times in his aunt's grasp and laughed.
The kisses were left alone. The moments were gone, but the atmosphere remained ever so pleasant.
By the time they got home, Alexa and Xander were waiting with a full meal prepared for lunch.
"So....?" Alexa asked her best friend. "How was it? Ready for your turn?"
Adrienne gushed a loud, "I loved it!! I'd love to live like this every day." Suddenly she froze and blushed. Had she meant that as a double statement? Would they think that?
Slowly she looked around the table and all the knowing smiles revealed that they took it as she loved every moment with Knox AND Evan.
She inwardly slapped her forehead and bowed a little.
Suddenly, a spark of something flickered in her mind.
Lifting her head, remembering what Evan so confidently said earlier, Adrienne stared directly at him and spoke without a second thought.
"It's you."
Evan's face lit up but he didn't say anything in response. She was sure he understood what she meant by that.
When no words were exchanged with her, Adrienne excused herself and got up to go. Two seconds after, Evan shot right out of his seat, too.
Meanwhile, Alexa and Xander watched on in amusement and confusion.
"What just happened?" Xander asked his wife.
"I have a guess or two..." Alexa replied.
Deep in thought, Xander frowned.
Alexa caught him off-guard with a kiss. "Don't be concerned, honey. Things will be fine between those two."
Xander nodded.
They finished their dinner and spent quality time with their baby boy.
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