Collin’s P.O.V
Home.
The last week of the trip was easy, we just did the same thing we always did, but the last 32 hours were boring, we all sobered up to drive home, and I’m the only one in the car, I left a day early because I just wanted to get home. I didn’t have my phone and I really want to see my daughter, but I don’t want to see Tessa. It is just the package I’m going to have to get.
I parked my car in the parking Garage and ran to the elevator not wanting to spend anymore time away from my bed. But, of course, the elevator takes the longest time to get to the ninth floor.
I arrived at my door, unlocking it, walking in, closing the door behind me and leaving everything in the entrance way, running to my bedroom and plopping down on my bed; taking a sigh of relief.
My phone was laying right where I had left it by accident, under my pillow, shut off not being able to stand the missed phone calls from Tessa. But I was stupid, I should’ve just told her to stop calling me instead of shutting my phone off.
I turned my phone on, and waited the short few minutes for my Iphone to turn on. When it finally loaded and the service was connected, I had seen the 42 missed calls and the two voicemails left from Tessa. No text messages, the only other person who called was my mother but I don’t answer her calls since Iris was conceived.
I unlocked my phone and clicked my voicemail box, not quite ready to listen to them, my heart my break or I’ll get really pissed off.
The first one, about a week and a half into my trip, “Hey Collin, it’s your ex here, god thats weird to say but anyways, I noticed all your stuff is gone from the apartment and your car isn’t in the parking garage, plus you’re still not answering your phone, so I thought maybe leaving a message would change your mind. I’m really sorry--” you could hear Iris babbling in the background, and Tessa’s voice breaking, “Anyways I just wanted to update you on Iris, her front tooth is almost in, she’s an early bloomer just like her uncles, and she’s starting to smile, it’s adorable. I love you, please answer my calls.” she hung up the phone and I erased it, I listened to the other one, “Hey Collin, I know you’re not uhm, answering my calls but I thought I’d let you know that Iris is in the hospital right now, she woke me up screaming and crying tugging at her ears. I know you are mad at me, you have every right, as I did, but please put your anger aside and come down here for your daughter.” I knew I was going to get pissed. I can’t believe I went away, I wasn’t even there and it had to be an emergency Tessa wouldn’t over exaggerate over nothing.
I called Nickolas, wanting real advice, from someone who could actually help.
“Finally you’re answering someone’s calls, what do you want?”
“Advise. About what the f*ck I should do.”
“Well Tessa didn’t mean to kiss her doctor I’m sure, why not give her another chance and stop being a d*ck.”
“It’s not about her Nick. I don’t know what I want. She basically cheated.”
“You had three weeks to think of what you wanted. You didn’t think once that you didn’t want to lose her? And it was just a kiss. They didn’t have sex. I forgave Sydney when she would come to me and tell me the truth. The last time she did it. I told if she does it one more time; we’re over. She hasn’t done it in three years.”
“I just don’t know if we’re in the same place anymore Nickolas.”
“Then go talk to her Collin. It doesn’t hurt to have a conversation with her. You could always bring your relationship back to what it was before you both had Iris. Don’t be one of those guys that leave when it gets hard. I will kill you myself.”
“Right now? I just got back.”
“If you don’t go now. You’ll never want to go.”
***
I was parked right outside Tessa’s apartment complex. I had got the address from Nick, because Tessa never gave me the address to her new place. It was small, and looked rundown from what we live in now, but it’s what Tessa could provide. Her dads truck was parked out front, Tessa’s car was in the driveway.
I was anxious, I felt more pressured now that her dad was here, but I know I needed to check on my daughter, three weeks away from her was too long and I should’ve went home the moment I thought something was wrong.
I got out of my car and walked up the stairway to her apartment. I could hear them talking, I’m glad they got close, I just wish it wasn’t when I was gone.
I was wearing regular blue jeans and my striped buttoned shirt, a very different clothing option for me, but the rest of my clothes or dirty or still packed in cases.
I knocked on the door, my keys in my hands, and the conversation in the house pausing, a peephole non existent, I heard the door unlock and open a little bit, Tessa wearing a pink sweater and a pair of ripped shorts, her hair up.
Tessa P.O.V
“Dad! There is no way you ever thought that of mom, she’s not that, unique.” I laughed as we ate scrambled eggs with picante sauce and turkey bacon.
“No really, I thought your mother was like aligned in the stars, she was the most beautiful woman I ever met. She wasn’t always crazy.” I couldn’t stop laughing, there was no more tears, never thought about Collin, it was my dad, my daughter and me. Mom would call and dad would say he’s out of town working, it was fun.
My dad being here allowed me to do school work and catch up instead of continuously falling behind, I get housework done and I freakin love the easiness, the conversations with with my dad feels like he’s reenergized me the way Collin did.
“What was high school like with mom?”
“She was beautiful, she was of course in a younger grade than I but she was everything my heart wanted, and I didn’t believe in Destiny then but I could tell she was the woman for me. She was a lot like you. Timid, bashful, very innocent, which, was dangerous but I took that opportunity and she got pregnant with you we spent many happy years together but she got scared and put her guard up and now we’re here.”
“The twins were first dad, she was crazy before me.”
“I know but she wasn’t always crazy, you just got the bad end of the stick and I regret what she did to you, I tried stopping it but I couldn’t I’m--” my dad was interrupted with a knock on my door, unfortunately there is no peephole like the one back at the other apartment but it is what I payed for.
“I wasn’t expecting anybody were you?”
“I wouldn’t invite anybody without your knowledge.” I got off the bar stool and walked to the door I unlocked it and opened it slightly, the figure that stood there startled me, I’m sure my face went white, and I’m sure I was going to faint.
“C-Collin?” I let go of the door as it swung open further on it’s own, my dad behind me.
“Hey, I got your messages” he stood fiddling with his keys.
“You’re a little late.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“Iris was really sick and you didn’t bother to come to the hospital. I needed you. She needed you. We needed you! Where were you?”
“I was in Oregon with the guys, we went to the woods the day after I ended the relationship.” I had shut the door on Collin for saying that. He didn’t have to rub it in my face that he broke up with me, but when I turned around my dad had this look in his face was basically yelling at me ′turn your booty around, open that door and let him in′ I turned around, opened the door and saw Collin walking down the pathway.
“Come inside. We’ll talk it out, Iris should be up soon.” I walked away back into the kitchen/living room where my food remained.
Collin probably doesn’t recognise much of me, I’ve lost about 20 pounds since he left, I’ve been working out a few times a day, my dad will take care of Iris to have his time with her and she loves him so much it’s so cute watching her smile everyday at him.
I only wish we didn’t have to live in this dump, I wish I could provide so much more for her like Collin could.
Collins P.O.V
Her body was like it was before she was pregnant, a slim curve, her thigh gap very prominent, and her a** small, but it’s tempting me. She looks great, she looks happy and healthy, her dad is giving us space to talk, of course it’s small and the walls aren’t really concrete and soundproof so it’s not much we could go on but I did want to talk to Tessa, I want to talk about my heart, and see where she’s at.
“Tessa, I’m sorry I didn’t answer your phone calls, and I’m pissed I wasn’t there when Iris was in the hospital, I had left my phone under my pillow by accident, throughout the entire camping trip I meant to go to town, I meant to call you, I meant to check up on you and Iris, but we were drunk every day, hungover every morning, and there was no way we could get into the city.”
Her legs were crossed, the bedroom was kind of messy which was unlike her, our house was always cleaned, the laundry and dishes always done.
Iris was in the same room as her sound asleep, not waking up by the talking her mom and I were doing, and, I know Tessa would never, ever, co sleep, she doesn’t feel like it gives the child the independence she needs, and she likes separating Iris from the possible noises that could wake her up.
“I’m not mad that you went to go have fun, but I have to tell you something that happened, and I don’t think you’re going to be any happier about than I was, I felt guilty.” she grabbed my hand and looked at me, her eyes in a pleading way “I don’t know how I can tell you this, so I’m just going to tell you. When I had gone to the hospital Jake was the emergency room doctor or director I’m still not sure but you weren’t answering your phone, I thought you were mad at me, I was vulnerable and well, he kissed me and I kissed him back--”
I got up from the bed running a hand through my hair, looking at the wall. I know we broke up, I know I said I didn’t want to get back together with her, but I still love her; I’m still in love with her.
“Collin, that wasn’t all that happened.”
She looked down and I looked back at her, “Did you sleep with him?” my voice shaky, not wanting to hear if she did or not.
“No. But he did touch me, at first I accepted, but the more he touched me there the more I felt ashamed of myself, the more I thought about you. I haven’t seen of him or heard anything from him, I don’t want to do anything with him.”
I sat back down on the bed, I was pissed, and I wanted to go to Denver, punch him in the f**king face, and spit on him for touching Tessa like that, but it wasn’t my place anymore.
“If that’s how you felt, I can’t be mad at what you did, we broke up, and believe me I regret doing it, I just feel like we should explore our relationship after the court battle there’s way too much drama for us to be in a healthy relationship together, it’s proven time and time again, I think we should rewind and be friends first, not hopeless romantics.”
Tessa grabbed my face and leaned in kissing my lips, surprising me, “Don’t forget me.” she got up as did I; we hugged and we had a casual conversation with her dad.
It’s like the first day I met her, I couldn’t stop staring, or smiling, the beautiful, blonde, innocent, girl, standing in the grips of my hands, and I have to play cat and mouse with her.
She’s going to be the life and death of me.