Chapter 42
995words
Jevan's POV
"Babe, how does the twelve of November sounds?" Adobi asked as she scribbled notes into her notepad.
My uninterested presence was obvious. I was busy typing a respond email to my uncle EJ.
"Jevan!" she shouted, getting my attention finally.
"What's up?"
"I'm asking about our wedding date and all you can do is not pay attention to me?"
"I'm sorry baby. I just have a lot going on right now. Work is becoming hectic and..."
She facepalm herself. "Baby, that's for another day. At this moment, I need you to set a date."
I heaved a long sigh. "Don't you think we're moving too fast?"
"Too fast? We've been college sweethearts for YEARS. How is that moving too fast, Jevan?!" she asked with a shout.
"You're right. But I can't get into this right now. We'll discuss this another time." I peeled myself off the couch and Adobi caught me and wrapped her arms around me. She stared up at my face, studying me.
"Are we okay? Because ever since Paris, I've been getting a different vibe from you. It's like you're slipping away. What's wrong and how can I fix it?" she sweetly asked.
She was so caring. I loved that about her.
"Really, it's nothing. We're okay."
We headed upstairs to my bedroom afterwards.
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That weekend, I met with my family for dinner. I had a huge question on my mind and when I couldn't take the weight of it anymore, I blurted it out for everyone to hear me. "Is it possible for a Hollen to have hazel eyes?"
Every eyes fell on their significant other.
My grandmother, Emma, looked to my grandfather, Ethan.
My mom looked to my dad.
Jada and Jase stared right back at me with their grey eyes like mine.
The silence lasted for about five minutes before my father cleared his throat to speak up. "Scientifically, anything is possible, son, but when it comes to the Hollens, it's not. Grey eyes is the main characteristic of our bloodline. It's our telling. It's our signature. It's been like that for centuries. Right, dad?"
"You're correct," my grandpa agreed.
I slumped.
"What's this about, Jevan?" my mom asked.
"I was just curious. Blossom has a son so I was...."
"She's back? Oh, it's been ages since I've seen her. Are you two going to..." my mother went on but she stopped herself.
"Who's Blossom?" grandma Emma asked.
"Jevan's high school sweetheart and the love of his life," Jada inserted.
"But, what about Abadilo?" Grandma asked again and everyone laughed at the mispronunciation of Adobi's name.
"What's so funny?" she asked, digging into her bed of greens.
"Her name is Adobi, grandma," I clarified.
"Ohh. Adobi. What about her then?"
"We're very much together and we're doing just fine. Blossom... Blossom was just a girl I met in high school."
Dinner went on with Jada doing her usual talking. She was the new owner of a hair salon and beauty spa and she was on the verge of taking the next step with her boyfriend.
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On Monday afternoon, at my office, Adobi's mother came to see me.
"Jevan, I'll get straight to the point as I know you're a very busy man. Adobi said you're not committing to the wedding plans she's making. Why is that?"
I adjusted myself up-right as she stood directly in front my desk.
"Miss Street, with all due respect, I don't see how that is your place to ask me such questions."
"Of course it is. She's my daughter! And if you think you're going to break her heart and run all over her, you better think again."
"Excuse me?" I rose from my seat,
"You can stop right there. I have no intentions of hurting your daughter or stringing her along but in case you weren't informed, I didn't propose to Adobi, she proposed to me! So pardon me if I'm having a little delay in setting a date for the wedding."
"I can understand that. My only concern is that if there's really going to be a date. Adobi is pretty shaken up and she's scared that you might be falling out of love with her. Is that the case?"
"It's not."
"Good then. I'll assure my daughter that she has nothing to worry about." She turned to leave. "Oh, don't forget the meeting next week," she added before walking out the door.
I shook my head.
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Blossom's POV
"Mommy, why I don't have a daddy?" Jason asked.
I dreaded that question because I knew one day, he would eventually stop believing the fairy tale lies I've been spoon-feeding him.
"Baby, we've been through this. You're special, that's why you don't have a dad."
"Well, my teacher said that everyone is special and the other kids got dads," he outsmarted.
"That's correct. That's because they need a dad," I covered.
"Well, I'll be needing a dad on Friday," he pouted and tears filled his eyes.
"Jason, what's wrong?" I quickly went to his side.
"Our class is having a father-son dance. All the kids are teasing me and calling me a bastard because I don't have a dad and I can't go. I really want to go, mommy."
I pulled him in for a hug. "Baby, it's okay. You and I can have our own dance on Friday, how does that sound?"
He nodded but I knew he wasn't happy. What the hell was I doing to my child?
I was depriving him of a father. His father.
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Later that week, I decided to message Hunter to ask him if he can take Jason to the dance. Instead of texting me back, he called.
"I'm sorry, I wouldn't be able to make it. I'm currently out of the country. I'm not getting back until Sunday," he apologized.
"That's fine. Jason really wants to go to the dance," I spoke.
