(5) Crying and Walmart

Zoey's POV

I pace by my office window biting down hard on my lower lip in frustration. At this point I really don't care if it even bleeds. I am a raw bundle of nerves right now. My hands bounce on my hips as I move back and forth in the room like my ass is in fire. "Son of a b-"

I can't believe this.

I'm going to see Xavier again. The very same man that rejected us eight years ago. The man I loved so deeply. The man I trusted with my very own life. The man that...

Hot tears silently roll down my red cheeks. I immediately clamp a hand over my mouth to stop myself from crying out in frustration. I've hid away this pent up sadness for so long... and now.

No. I can not do this...

I can't believe that I'm still crying over the bastard after all this time.

I furiously wipe away the falling tears with the back of my hand. A sharp sting burns behind my eyes but I ignore it. I can't afford to waste another drop of tears, instead I let out a shaky breath I walk over to my desk grabbing up my bag and phone on the way out.

My heels click harshly against the shiny tiled floor as I hurry down to the elevator. I step inside when it reaches my floor and press the button for the parking lot.

Managing to nod to the few people at the front, I make my way to the back and lean on the cool steel wall. I wait patiently while the others gets off at different stops.

A couple seconds of eternity later I finally get to the underground parking lot. I step out digging in the bottom of my purse for the car keys. Feeling the round plastic key ring I pull it out walking over to the parked Honda Civic.

Deactivating the alarm I climb in and fling my bag on the passenger seat which cause all my belongings to spill out onto the carpet.

Just great...

I really can't take it anymore. I have to let it all out... b-before it consumed me. The first real tear slide, followed by another and another. Resting my head on the steering wheel I begin to cry for what seems like hours.

If only my friends were here. If only Kat was here.

Everyone is miles away focusing on their own lives. Becca is off with her husband touring the world, last I heard they were in Australia. Kat is with her fiancé in New York pursuing her fashion career. Alexandra is a dentist in Idaho and I am here in California.

We still text via W******p but sometimes I just need my girls here. I can definitely hear what Kat of eight years ago would say in this situation. A little smile tug at my lips, she says the craziest things sometimes.

A ping comes from the Iphone startling me. Wiping my now very sticky face on my hand I reach over and take it off the carpet. Dusting a fur off the front, I look at the pop-up notification. It's from Jaz.

Jaz ❤: I'm going back to the house.

I send a quick reply telling her where the keys are hidden and that I am on my way.

Reaching over I pick up all the stuff and throw them back in my bag making sure it's zipped this time before placing it back on the seat. Grabbing a few wipes I carefully wipe all the smudged makeup off my face and hands.

I'm an awful crier.

Crumpling them up I stuff it in the side of my handbag. I then check in the rearview to see if I look decent before inserting the key and driving out of the lot.

×××××

I reach Tyler's school just in time, I observe as I kill the engine. Kids are pouring of the classes and unto the flat grass in front of the driveway to greet their parents. Some are standing around with their friends talking.

Looking around I spot my son in the sea of children. I wait for a while as he joins a group of his classmates.

What the hell will happen when Xavier shows his face after all this time? What if he wants to get back in our lives?

Maybe he's not even going to come, this is just another mediocre company he wants to snatch up. I think he has people for these types of things, it's just financial planning and statistics but there is zero confirmation as yet.

Taking a few calm breaths I honk once letting him know I am already here and waiting on him. A bright smile appears on his face when he sees the sliver Honda. Waving goodbye to the boys, he walks over with his friend in tow.

They both climb in the back throwing their bags on the seat beside them.

"Hey Mom," Tyler beams once he is settled in.

"Hi Miss Martinez," his friend, Lucas, greets me flashing a smile of his own. He absentmindedly runs a hand over his curly hair.

Lucas and Tyler have been best friends ever since we moved here. Lucas is truly a second son to me, he is very kind and minds his manners. He's a overall just a really great kid to have around.

I pick them both from school in the evenings when his parents are out of town. He hates driving with his chauffeur.

I think his mother is a neronsurgeon to some degree. She has a very thick Caribbean accent, sometimes I truly can't understand a word she's saying. His dad is a business man, I have no idea what he does but sadly he's not around much. They are both busy with their careers it seems.

"Hello boys," I smile at them in the rearview before driving off. "How was your day?"

"Good," Tyler replies from the back in a nonchalant tone. He's obviously hiding something. I frowned at the thought, times like this I wish he has father or at least a fatherly figure around.

"Okay," I mumble focusing on the busy street in front of me.

The boys start to talk in hushed voices. I hear snippets of it but I can not figure what it is all about. I can hardly hear them. They've mentioned their career day on Wednesday at which some special celebrity guest speaker is suppose to make a grand appearance, that much I know they were conversing about.

It's a bit unsettling to dwell on. He's obviously pulling away from me. Sighing I try to shift my mind from it. I'll just focus on mentally preparing a grocery list. Since Jaz is here, I'm going to need a few more things. Thankfully, I don't have to go out of my way as I am going to pass a Walmart on the way home.

"I'm stopping by Walmart," I announce

to the chattering boys in the back.

"Can you grab me a new lunch bag? Preferably pink... with Disney princesses?" Ty asks in a shaky voice. His nervous voice.

"Ty..." I look at him through the rearview mirror. He's a bit slumped over and his face is contorted into one of sadness. He looks a bit miserable.

"Mom please don't ask. Just do it for me please. I did something that I need to make up for," I hear a sigh. "I have the money right here. I can go buy it myself..."

"No, both of you are staying." I pull up off the street and into Walmart's parking lot. I eye him in the rearview mirror, he sulks in his seat. "We need to talk about this,"

Finding a good parking spot near the building I grab my purse on the way out.

"Oh, and Ms. Zoey please can you get a pack of band-aids too?" Lucas yells from the car.

Shaking my head, I give him a thumbs and I continue to walk up to the building. Once inside I grab a small hand basket since I'm not planning to stay long or buy that many things.

I grab some snickers bar from the front for Jaz and her favourite and potato chips I know she is craving. I add a few more healthy organic snacks to the cart that I think the boys will like and the pack of band-aid. Stopping by the kids section, I search for a Disney princess bag.

There's a lot here. What do I even chose from?

I opt for a cool cute one that stands out the most to me. It has bows, poka dots and everything.

That's it about it. I am just going to grab some juice and fruit popsicle for the boys then I'm finished.

I barely got in the new aisle when something hard collides with my face.

Ouch!

My hand immediately goes up to my forehead. Thankfully it isn't bleeding but it still hurts. Really really hurts.

Now I have to pick up some aspirin as well or maybe go to the freaking hospital. Great, just what I planned on doing.

"Porca miseria! You blind motherfucking figlio di puttana! " I curse switching in and out of my mother's native language —Italian. "Cazzo! Bastardo!"

Everything from early just come rushing back in colassoral waves and I can't help what spewed from my mouth or that they were a confused kid watching me nearby. I have no control over my own mouth.

I want to kick this stranger in the balls so badly!

"Woah. Woah. Woah. I'm sorry—" the frosty refridgator door close revealing a set of deep brown eyes.

________________________________________________________________________________

Translation: Damnit! You blind motherfucking son of a bitch! Fuck! Bastard!

What do you is going to happen next?

What is Tyler hiding?

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Kellisa Kelly