XXIX
"Daddy, why is your hair so long?" Leon asks and I spit out the tea back into the cup.
"Because the ladies like it that way." I reply and he grins. "I'm sure they don't like you only because of your hair."
I tilt my to the side, shrugging. "I's probably because of my face as well, don't you think?" I ask him and he nods enthusiastically.
It's crazy how much he looks like me - he has the same hair, the same smile, the same brows, everything but the eyes and I think I'm still in shock over the fact that my child is sitting a feet away from me.
In a flash, he escapes Elizabeth's grip and runs into my lap. "I'm really happy you're here, daddy."
Startled by the affection, I take a few seconds to respond, patting him on top of his head and rubbing his back. He's tiny - well, not too tiny for his age - but I'm afraid I might crush him.
Elizabeth doesn't say a word, only observes. Observes what she once hoped she would see every day.
2 years ago
"No more alcohol for you, young lady." Axel swats the plastic cup filled with Malibu Cola from the young brunette girl who has been on his mind constantly since he met her two weeks ago.
She pouts and reaches for the drink. "Noo, give me back my love. I need him."
He smiles at her, shaking his head and she pulls them to the dance floor filled with drunk teens. "Show me how you can dance." she orders him and he tries to sway in an elegant matter to impress her but he only makes her snort at him. She, instead, goes with the dance she enjoys, and it's the worlds most awful dance moves but her face gives off pure enjoyment.
"You two are so cute." an irrelevant person tells them and Elizabeth turns to them. "No, we're not. We're not a couple."
Contradictory to her words, she hugs his side and kisses Axel's cheek.
"Fine then." they reply and leave. They take up the majority of the dance floor anyway.
***
I snap out of the memory. I push all the memories of us climbing out of our parent's houses to meet at 2 a.m. in the morning, of all the touches, of the dancing lessons we've attended because that's exactly what they are.
Memories.
And from the beginning of our relationship. It was a great relationship.
And then it went to shit, especially after she cheated on me.
"Leon, your grandmum is here to pick you up. Come say bye to mommy." Elizabeth orders our son and he runs to give her a kiss on the cheek, then right back to me to give me one, too.
Elizabeth accompanies Leon to the car and when she returns, awkward silence spreads around us.
"Why now? Why did I have to find out now?" I rub my hands over my face. "Why did you have to wait for two years to tell me that we have a child together?"
She simply shrugs in reply. "Does it make a difference?"
I look at her dumbfoundedly. "Are you fucking kidding me? Of course it does! You- I deserved to know about this! You don't have the right to just barge into my life now that I'm famous and turn it upside down!" I can't believe this bitch.
"We can still be together. It makes sense." she tries to argue and it shocks me so much that I stand up and then sit back down because of the weird looks people give me.
Fucking prudish cafes and its people.
"No we can't. First off, because I have a girlfriend who is expecting my child at the moment and actually told me about it. Second off, because you're a bitch. You cheated on me. Why would I ever want to be with you again?" I spit out the words angrily. The nerve of this woman.
She shrinks on her seat. Sniffing a bit. I want to feel bad for her, but I refuse to do so.
"Because you loved me." she replies quietly and I purse my lips.
I take a deep breath to calm my anger before I reply. "You know what? Yes. I did. Very much. So much that I let you screw me up. But guess what? That's past tense, bitch. I don't want anything to do with you anymore, all I want from now on is the small part of you in that amazing little person you brought to this world. I want to be a part of his life, and I will be. You cannot stop me from that because I have the upper fucking hand and you know it - I control the press. I can tell them anything about you. I have enough money to probably control all your friends and family. So don't even try to argue with me about Leon." I stand up for real this time.
"Oh, and there's more. I will fight for custudy, you can bet on that. And I will win. You ruined my life all those years ago, now I will ruin yours. Eye for an eye, bitch." With that, I walk away from my first love and my first big mistake.
Cold air sobers me up from my emotions. What should I do now?
I should tell Soph, probably.
How the fuck will I tell her? Baby, guess what. I bumped into my child today. He's absolutely adorable.
I groan and do what I do best. I head straight for the closest bar.