Chapter 7
Amara's POV:
“I heard you like your vintage car toys,” Zavier said, trying to make conversation with his son.
“Yeah! Come, come,” Sebastian said excitedly and jumped off of me, taking Zavier’s hand in his. Zavier looked over at me, probably checking to see if I was okay with this.
“You can go—just know that you brought this on yourself,” I joked, and Zavier laughed nervously in response. I knew my boy; he’d end up showing Zavier all his toys one by one, and if he were lucky, he’d get to touch Sebastian’s favorite one.
“Okay, buddy.” Zavier followed along with the little boy.
I watched as the two played together in Sebastian’s room. It started with Sebastian showing his father all his car toys. Sebastian seemed quite fond of him because he even let him play with his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, his favorite! I left the two and went ahead to start my chores. There wasn’t much—just some clothes I had to wash and fold, along with the dishes from last night. When I finished up, I went and checked on the two and saw Sebastian had managed to get Zavier to read to him. The little boy leaned on his father’s chest, two pairs of green eyes on a book about a tiger and his family. I quietly closed the door and went to the living room, deciding to watch a bit of my favorite TV show for now.
~~~
I heard the door open, and when I saw Nicole step in, I walked up to her after pausing the show.
“Who is Bash talking to?” Nicole asked, putting down her bag by the door and walking closer to me, frowning as she looked towards the boy's room.
“His father…” I answered, giving her an awkward look.
“Excuse me?” My friend frowned.
“Shh, let’s go out on the balcony and talk.” I tucked away my phone and got up, leading the way to the balcony.
“Yeah, we definitely need to talk,” she said, eyes opened wide. I took a seat on the chair across from her and started telling her all that had happened. She seemed confused at first but then a lot more relieved.
“I’m glad things are working out, then. College will be expensive in a few years,” Nicole joked, looking through the glass door and then back at me.
“I don’t want Zavier to be in his life just for financial support, jeez.” I shook my head and sank into the chair.
“I know; I’m just teasing. The fact that he’s been here for so long proves he’s enjoying the time spent with his son,” she assured me, patting my shoulder. She was right. Zavier was spending quite a lot of time here, and I could hear waves of laughter and giggles coming from Sebastian's room whenever I got close to the door.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt.” Zavier walked through the doorway, his eyes focused on me before he realized someone else was present too. "Oh, I’m Zavier—"
Nicole cut him off. “Fuentes, I know. I’m Nicole. Nice to meet the father of my godson.” She shook his hand, a broad smile on her lips as she then looked over at me with a brow raised. My God, she was going to embarrass me, huh.
“Oh, uh, nice to meet you too,” he replied before almost being pushed over by Sebastian, who ran over to me.
“Bath time, Mama!” I looked at Sebastian. He was full of color with lots of paint all over his arms, face, and even his chest.
“Yeah, uh, we started painting, and he must’ve mistaken himself for the paper.” Zavier laughed awkwardly while Sebastian just smiled, proud of himself. Nicole just giggled and offered the little one a high five.
“It’s okay. Come on, baby.” I got up and picked up Sebastian, resting him on one side of my hip.
I took Sebastian, who was giggling, to the bathtub, and got him ready for a bath. Once I finished up, I was a little wet and wrapped Sebastian in his towel. I took my eyes off him for a second, but in that second, he ran off to Zavier, hugging the man.
“Let’s get you some clothes, bud.” Zavier walked to his drawer and opened the first one.
“Blue shirt, please,” Sebastian asked sweetly, holding onto the towel. His head was tipped up, so he could see his father.
“Um,” Zavier mumbled, looking at the drawer he just opened, which had his pants.
I opened the one next to it and took out the blue shirt. “Here you go.”
I helped Zavier put on Sebastian’s clothes and get him ready. I was honestly quite surprised he was still awake. Usually by now, Sebastian would go down for a nap, but the boy seemed to be having quite some fun, so I let it pass for today.
“Come read, please?” Sebastian ran to Zavier, his little legs moving as fast as they could as he clutched a book in his right hand.
“Again?” Zavier asked, pouting. Sebastian was definitely making use of this opportunity to get in lots of fun with the man he had just met.
“Yes, please,” he asked, climbing onto his father’s lap and handing him the book.
“Oh, okay,” Zavier mumbled and opened up the book. I watched the two for a moment as Zavier read the story to him and patiently answered all the little questions Sebastian had. A slight smile formed on my lips, and Zavier looked over at me for a moment before Sebastian asked him what happened to the dinosaurs.
~~~
By now, more time had passed, so I decided I’d check in on the two. They both seemed to be enjoying the time spent together a lot, so I let them be, but at some point, I grew curious. Didn't Zavier have work? I heard his phone ringing many times until it was switched to silent.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but don’t you have work today?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“Sundays are my days off. If I’m intruding, do tell me. I didn’t mean to stay this long,” Zavier said, looking at the time on his watch and then at me.
“No, no. It’s okay. Will you be staying for dinner?” I was quick to say.
“Is Nicole okay with that?” he asked softly, looking over my shoulder as he held the car toy Sebastian had just handed him.
“She’s going out for dinner.” I shrugged.
“Then I hope you don’t mind,” he replied, placing the car on the track as Sebastian did the same with his car.
“We’re racing, Mama! I’m winning,” the little boy said happily, green eyes glued on the track as his red car remained in the lead.
“Really? That’s amazing, baby.” I winked at Zavier.
“Yeah, Mama!”
“I’m going to make pizza. What toppings would you like on yours?” I asked, looking over at my son’s father.
“Cheese and sausage!” Sebastian answered the moment he heard pizza. His attention was now all mine.
“I was talking to Zavi, but okay.” I chuckled, as did Zavier.
“Anything but pork.” He shrugged and reset the track, picking out another car.
“Yeah, yeah, allergies,” I mumbled and walked off. I couldn’t believe I invited him for dinner. Just yesterday, I was screaming at him and kicking him out.
~~~
Zavier’s POV:
I never expected to have so much fun with a two-year-old. He was full of so much energy and life. The picture he painted was a gift to me. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I sure would treasure it. Perhaps knowing about him before now wouldn’t have been bad. While reading, Sebastian fell asleep on me, and I carefully put him on his bed and let him rest until dinner. I pulled out my phone and saw several missed calls from Tessa and my sisters, and a lot from my mother.
“Hey, Mama.” I called her back, which resulted in her scolding me in Spanish. “Lo siento. I was just a bit busy and wanted some time for myself. I’ll come by tomorrow, maybe,” I replied, and waited till she said her goodbyes before ending the call and then texting my sisters. Now, time for Tessa.
“Tess, I’m sorry I ignored your calls. I was busy spending time with Sebastian…I swear he’s the coolest little boy I know,” I said, full of excitement; I couldn’t contain it.
“I’m glad you two got to bond,” she said happily, and I hummed in response before remembering she had her meetings.
“How’d your meetings go, Tess?”
“Somewhat good, but they want me to get a different architect,” Tessa answered, almost squealing.
“That’s fine. I’ll help you search for good ones. I’m proud of you, but, uh, I’ve got to go. Dinner time,” I said, looking through the glass door and watching as Sebastian ran around his mother and giggled, looking up at her. She picked him up and planted a kiss on his forehead before letting him down again.
“Mm-hmm, me too, and thanks! Enjoy dinner,” she said then ended the call.
I walked back inside and saw the pizzas lying on the table. The smaller one belonged to Sebastian, and I assumed the large one topped with mushrooms, chicken, cheese, and bell peppers was for Amara and me.
“This looks delicious,” I said, helping Sebastian up to his chair.
“Yeah! Mommy always makes good food!”
“I know, bud.” I smiled, sitting down too, and watched as Amara smiled at us and sat across from me.
“Well, thank you both so much.” She placed a slice on Sebastian’s plate and cut it up into smaller pieces for him.
Once dinner was over, Amara got Sebastian ready for bed. I helped by reading him yet another story. Luckily, he passed out after three minutes of reading. I turned off the lights and walked to the kitchen, where I saw Amara cleaning up the table, and I joined her so I could ask her a question. “So, I was wondering if maybe, from time to time, you can bring him over? Maybe for dinners?”
“That would be easier for me, so it would be possible, yeah. What about the staff at your house? Won't they see?” Amara asked, placing Sebastian’s pizza in a container along with the last slice of the one we ate.
“There are only two, but I guess I’ll send them away earlier if that will be better for you,” I offered, hoping she would say yes. Dinner with Sebastian would give me the chance to see him daily.
“It would. Thank you.”