Chapter 14

I am surprised at the moment when his lips touch mine and move skillfully, and for a second, I stay still and astonished, processing what is happening, but soon my lips recognize his and start moving as if in a synchronized dance.

Johnny bites my lower lip, causing me to release an almost inaudible moan that dies down as soon as I feel his tongue brushing against mine. "This man kissed so well," I already knew, although the memory of his lips on mine that night was not clear in my memory, this one I will remember perfectly.

I separate for lack of air, and my eyes remain on his, which are now darkened, his intense blues are now even more...

He holds my gaze for several seconds, then releases my waist, takes my hand, and starts walking again without saying anything else. I don't mention anything either and just let him guide me wherever he wants to take me.

We enter a baby store he wanted to take me to a specific place in the store, and yes, we stop at a spot where there were only cribs.

"I like that one," he says, pointing in a direction as if nothing happened, as if nothing had happened.

I look at him for a little longer than necessary, trying to decipher something in his gaze, but there's nothing. I give up and turn in the direction he's pointing at. It's a beautiful U-shaped crib in white.

"It's very nice, but... don't you think it's too early to buy the crib?" I ask in a whisper, looking at our intertwined hands for a second before turning back to the crib.

"Maybe, but it's better to get ahead of things, don't you think?" he assures with a smile, looking at me in a way I can't quite distinguish.

I just nod, feeling somewhat uncomfortable... The way he looked at me unsettles me. I hear him call a woman who works here since he asks her for the crib and other furniture to decorate the room. He pays and gives my home address for them to send the things there.

We head to the girls' clothing section, it was my turn to choose. I bought... well, Johnny bought, he didn't want me to pay for anything because he said he wanted to be the one to buy everything for her for the first time. We bought dresses, lots of dresses, animal-themed and colorful pajamas, onesies with phrases, and many more simple ones. Almost everything was pink or feminine colors at Johnny's request.

I don't voice my opinion or demand anything throughout the entire journey, I simply let him do and buy whatever he wants... Later, I would come without him and buy things in all colors.

It's almost getting dark, we spent a long time at the mall, and that can be confirmed by all the bags and packages we're carrying. In the end, we got hungry, and Johnny invited me to eat. We had a great time; maybe if he stops being so annoying, our relationship would be better.

The kiss comes to my mind, and my head tilts to the left, finding his profile, as I repeat to myself that I shouldn't waste this moment of peace by delving into it... After all, I won't see him until Friday.

"Hey... aren't you going to say anything?" I ask, looking at his profile while he drives. He gives me a glance along with a beautiful smile.

"What do you want me to say? I had a great time with you, Laura. When you're less annoying, you're more pleasant," he teases, laughing and looking back at the road.

"Oh! Look, I was just thinking the same thing about you," I mockingly retort, although it's true. He laughs even more and shakes his head. "But I'm serious, you know what I mean..."

"What do you expect? Do you want me to apologize?" I shrug, turning my gaze back to the front. "Well, no, Laura. Why am I supposed to apologize for kissing the mother of my daughter? That baby isn't there thanks to the Holy Spirit, we did many more things for her to be there."

I feel my cheeks burn from his words and I avoid looking at him even more to avoid meeting his eyes, focusing on the window to my right.

"You know very well the circumstances for which she's here, and I know very well what she means to you..."

"We arrived," he cuts in, serious and angry.

I know he has changed a lot in recent months, but I can't... I just can't forget that at some point, he mentally rejected my daughter and even referred to her as a mistake.

He gets out of the car, slamming the door, and I watch him walk and curse towards the front door of my house. I sigh, grabbing my bag and phone, which start ringing in my hands. I look at the screen—it's Lazarus, the man who is helping me with the remodeling of my future company. I slide my finger across the screen while opening the car door, stepping out, and closing it again.

"Laura! Darling! Lazarus is gay," he's calling to give you the report on the new facilities that are ready, but I lost my laptop, and with it, your email, gorgeous. Can you give it to me again?"

"Sure, Lazarus, no problem," I reply as I enter the house and find Johnny sitting on the couch with a glass in his hands. He watches me attentively, furrowing his brow. "I'll send it to you by text in a moment, just a little oversight." I head straight to the stairs to go up.

I don't want to be with a Johnny whose gaze clearly says, "I won't kill you because you have my daughter inside you."

"Thanks, princess, that's why I love you," he laughs.

"I love you too, Lazarus," I bid farewell, smiling, and end the call.

"So you love him?" he turns around quickly towards my bedroom door, where Johnny stands with a troubled expression.

He wasn't so angry when I left him downstairs...

"Why do you care, Johnny? I don't want to fight with you anymore, I'm tired," I murmur, turning my back to him and picking up my bag from the bed to take it to the closet.

"Who is Lazarus?" he asks, ignoring me.

"Why does it matter to you, Johnny?" His face reddens even more, and I decide to respond not out of fear or anything like that, I just don't want to fight. "He's a friend, okay? Now, I want to shower and sleep. Can you leave?" He doesn't move. "Please?" I insist.

Instead of leaving, he enters and hurries over to me. My phone rings again, and I manage to see on the screen that it's Liliam calling this time. He also looks at the phone.

"Because I wanted to," he says, and I look at him confused. "The kiss, Laura, I did it because I was dying to kiss you," he adds. "You wanted a reason, right?... Well, there it is. Goodnight, Laura, sleep well." He kisses my forehead, and when he starts to leave, I stop him by taking his hand and placing it right where he can feel the sudden movement of my baby.

His expression changes immediately, and the furrowed brow turns into a genuinely surprised look. He had never felt her before; it was something I had been experiencing for a few days, but I kept it to myself. Sometimes she moved while Johnny was with me, but I never told him.

The man next to me seems to be in a state of shock, but when his eyes meet mine, excitement overwhelms him, and the smile on his lips remains imprinted in my memory. The baby's movements become more continuous, causing some discomfort, but nothing I can't bear.

"Thank you. Thank you, Laura," Johnny whispers, hugging me for the first time since I arrived in Los Angeles.

And why deny it? I like him so much, as much as he surprises me.

"Don't thank me. You also deserved to feel her; after all, she's your daughter too," I shrug, trying to downplay it. "Goodnight, I'm tired," I smile.

He nods and leaves. I walk up to the window, and a few minutes later, I see him leave the house, approach his car, get in, and drive away.

Today was a day full of surprises...