Page 97 of Heart of a Savage
“I love you too. Goodnight.”
I closed his door, heading to my room to shower and prepare for bed. Once that was complete, I said a prayer for myself, my son, my family, and Arie, then lay awake in my bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I couldn’t believe my life had come to this. I used to be okay with being alone. I was comfortable with it just being my son and me, and Jalea occasionally. It wasn’t until a mean-ass girl came into my life, bringing with her a gust of good and bad energy. I made it my mission for her to surrender her heart to me. I promised to take care of it, and I did for the most part. I never wanted to hurt her because she had already been introduced to pain. However, my dumb decision regarding her uncle caused me to lose her, and all I wanted was for her to come back to me. I could fix it if she would just let me.
The doorbell sounded, and I frowned, wondering who could have been coming to my house at ten o’clock at night. I pulled up the security camera, noticing someone standing in a black hooded mink that covered most of their face. I stood from the bed, grabbed my gun, and went downstairs to answer the door.
I pulled the door open, aiming my gun at the person’s head until they lifted it. My heart fluttered seeing her standing there looking beautiful as ever.
“Arie…” I whispered, not believing she was standing here in front of me.
We both stood, staring at each other until she broke the silence. “Are you going to let me in? It’s kind of cold out here.”
“Y-yeah.” I took her hand, guiding her inside, and closed the door, locking it.
“It looks real Christmas-y in here,” she noted, looking at all the Christmas decorations around the house.
“I do it every year for MJ… How have you been, Arieana?”
“C-can I have something to drink, please?”
“Sure. What would you like?”
“Water is fine. Bottled if you have it.”
“Be right back.”
I went to grab her a bottle of water. My thoughts were running wild because after five damn months, she finally decided to show up on my doorstep, on Christmas Eve of all days. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t fucking exultant to see her, though. I headed back to the living room, and she was standing there, her coat still on, looking slightly nervous. I handed her the water, and she gulped some down before staring at me.
“Please, have a seat,” I offered.
“I will, but first I need to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
“For the past five months, I battled with myself on whether I should come here. With everything that happened, I really wanted to forget about you… But I couldn’t. You came into my life and showed me a love that was different from what I’d always known. I took a chance and allowed myself to open my heart to you, and you fumbled.”
“Arie—”
She cut me off, holding her hand up. “Let me finish, please.”
“You got the floor, mama.”
“Even after my irrational behavior, I still wanted you because what you promised, you did provide. I got a taste of the soft life, and I loved it… still love it. You were right. What my uncle did was his stupid choice, and his cross to bear. I can’t be mad at you for protecting your father, when I was doing the same for him… only our team lost the battle.” She swiped a tear from her eye and looked at me. “What I’m trying to say is that I love you, and I want back what you promised me.” She opened her coat to reveal a small, round bump.
I backed into the couch, totally blown away by her reveal.
I knew something was up. I had been way too emotional these days and missing her something terrible. My moms told me I had been cranky lately, but she knew why. I was dealing with a broken heart and didn’t know how to receive that.
My eyes misted as I took a seat on the chair in the corner. Arie walked up to me, took my hands, and placed them on her stomach.
“Where have you been staying?”
“In South Carolina with Paige and Harvey.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I asked them not to tell you… I’m sorry, Messiah.”
