CHAPTER 59

I needed air. I couldn't breathe in there. It felt like someone had closed all my respiratory organs. I just couldn't breathe.

I handed Diego over to Aliyah and walked out of the studio, gaining a little attention. Fuck!

"Sewa!" The sound of Antonio's voice from behind me stopped me. Thankfully we were already outside and away from the eyes and ears of people.

"Look, all I ask is that you listen to me," he pleaded. I heard his footsteps coming close to me. I couldn't move. I didn't let my body move.

When I was sure he was directly behind me, I turned to him.

"I love you, and that's all that matters to me. I'm sorry for all the lies, for everything," he apologized.

Looking at him closely, I could tell he had lost weight. He looked beaten up, and the bags under his eyes didn't help one bit.

He touched the sides of my face lightly, caressing my cheeks.

"I want you and everything that comes with you. Diego? I want him. And I want you to know that I'm not just saying that to get you back, I really mean it. I want the child," he said. His words released the waterfall in my eyes.

"I'm sorry," I cried, and he pulled me in for a hug.

"I'm sorry for being so selfish. I love you. I love you so much it hurts," I cried into his chest.

"Daddy?" We heard a new voice from beside us.

I smiled at Diego, ruffling his hair.

"Yes," Antonio smiled and picked him up in his arms.

“You should spend the night with him,” I told Antonio. He gave me a disapproving look.

“Come with us?” He asked and I shook my head.

“You missed seven years of his life, you should be focused on getting to know him,” I told him.

“I know, but I want you to come with us. I’ve missed you. Two weeks without you has been hell, and I don’t want to spend any more time without you by my side,” Antonio said.

“Diego, do you like her?” Antonio asked the little boy, and he nodded excitedly.

“Then tell her to come with us,” Antonio smiled.

“Come with us,” Diego said shyly.

“You play dirty, sir,” I scolded Antonio.

“Okay fine,” I smiled.

Things weren’t completely okay between Antonio and me. We still had a lot to talk about and go over, like what his phobia of kids was and how he got over it, but in that moment, I didn’t want to think about anything or anyone, just a smiling Antonio and his son in his arms.

It really did take me leaving him for him to get back to his senses. I liked that. Antonio was trying. He was changing, and though the process was slow, he was making huge progress.

“Excuse me,” a deep voice sounded from behind us. It was oddly familiar, too familiar. I knew that voice all too well.

“Noah?” I called out.

He was sporting a black tuxedo, looking fine as hell. It felt like I hadn’t seen him or talked to him in ages.

I didn’t miss the way Antonio became stiff. Calm down, sir!

“Can you give us a minute, please?” I asked Antonio. He looked from me to Noah, then nodded and left with Diego in his arms.

“It’s been a while,” Noah stated.

“How have you been?” I asked him.

“I’ve had better days,” he smiled.

“I didn’t think you were interested enough in Antonio to show up here,” I laughed.

“I’m not. I knew you’d be here, and I guess I wanted to see you one last time,” he said.

“One last time?” I asked, confused.

“Yeah, I’m moving to a small town,” he said.

“It's only going to be for a while though. I’ll be back,” he added and I nodded.

“I never got the chance to apologize to you for the way I acted that evening. I know this is an excuse, but I was going through a lot... and I hadn’t slept... A lot of things were wrong with me that day,” I let out a strained laugh.

“Yeah, it’s cool. I wanted to apologize too. I said the wrong words. I didn’t mean any of it, I was just angry that I lost to him,” he said and I nodded my head.

“I want to ask if we could be friends again, but the awkward tension—nah, I don’t want that,” he said and I nodded.

“Bye, Sewa, I wish you the best with him,” he said and I thanked him.

Noah had always been too understanding, too nice, too cool. I envied how he could stay calm and collected when other people would throw a fit. He was a fine man, a very fine man, he just picked the wrong girl.

As I watched him walk away from me, I expected to feel some type of emptiness, knowing I probably would never see him again, but I didn’t. Instead, I felt like our friendship had been rekindled and we’d become close again—sans the emotional part, of course, or Antonio would kill us both.

“Well, you coming?” Antonio’s loud voice asked me.

I turned in the direction of his voice and laughed. He really stayed close by in case something happened.

“I see you still don’t trust me,” I joked.

“I do. It’s him I don’t trust. He’s like a snake,” he said when I got to him. I laughed at his words.

“Diego is staying with Harry and Aliyah for the night. You know what that means, right?” Antonio asked and I shook my head.

“It means I’ll get to rip this dress from your skin,” he said seductively. I gulped hard.

“Then what?” I asked him.

“Then I'll kiss every part of your skin,” he whispered in my ear. I felt a rush of liquid pool between my legs.

“Then what?” I asked, biting my lips.

“Then I'll fuck you’d like a stranger,” he smirked.

Yes, Daddy.