Kya & Xavier: It's Always Been You (Life As We Know It Book 1) (14 page)

Xavier Lee

I was finally going to get to see Ky tonight
even though I knew she was probably still not going to talk to me at least I
would get the chance to try. I wasn’t really in the mood to be around a bunch a
people but Ethan’s New Year’s Eve party at his parent’s lake house was probably
the only chance I had of getting near Ky any time soon. She had promised Toni
that she would come so I was hopeful because she knew that I would be there
which meant that she knew that she would see me at some point and yet she still
promised to be there. I swear I hope she didn’t change her mind.

I needed to find a way to talk to her
and figure this thing out. She hadn’t called, text or even opened any of the
text I sent her. I know for sure because she made a point off keeping her read
receipt on all the time, she wanted people to know when she was ignoring them.
People meaning mostly me
.
 
This whole Tori thing really had me screwed.
I couldn’t believe that I let myself get caught out there like that. I needed
to talk to someone who could possibly understand what I was dealing with so I
called my aunt. She would definitely give me an ear full but she would also
tell me what I needed to do.

“Hey baby, how are you?’ She said
cheerfully when she heard my voice.

“Hey auntie, what are you guys up
to?”

“Just getting ready for tonight. Your
sister’s got a house full coming.”

“No hot dates for your tonight?” I
said and smiled at the thought of my aunt dating.

“Oh no, baby I’m too old for all
that. The only partying I’ll be doing tonight is with my sparkling cider and a
sweet potato pie.”

“Good answer because I better be the only
man in your life.”

“Always and forever, so what about
you. You have big plans for tonight?
 
Leigh told me you’re going to somebodies lake
house.”

“Yes ma’am, one of my teammates is
having a party at his parent’s lake house tonight.”

“Well you guys better be safe. No
drinking and driving”

“Come on auntie you know I know
better than that.”

“Still needs to be said, you can
never be too safe. Well I need to finish cooking for later so have fun tonight
and I love you.”

“I will.” I paused “Auntie.”

“Yes baby?”

“I think I messed up.”

“Messed up how?” She asked now
sounding concerned.

“I did something stupid.”

“Xavier tell me what’s going on.” She
said sternly.

“There’s this girl at school and we
kind of kicked it for a while but, well she’s pregnant.”

“Oh baby, I thought you knew better
than that.” She said sounding a little disappointed.

“Auntie I swear I don’t think it’s
mine, but there’s nothing I can do to prove it. I haven’t been with her in
forever and she all of a sudden tells me she pregnant.”

“All you can do is wait. Once she has
it you can get a test to know for sure but for now all you can do is wait.”

“But I know it’s not mine. It can’t
be. She’s just pissed because she found out about Kya and then all of a sudden
she’s pregnant.”

“I've told you about playing with
girls hearts like that. A woman scorned is a dangerous thing. Well there’s
nothing you can do until that baby gets here. How far a long is she.”

“I don’t know haven't talked to her
but if it’s mine she’d have to be at least three or four months.” I totally
ignored the part about playing with hearts. My aunt had been through to many
situations with girls that I had strung along in high school showing up at our
house angry or crying over my lack of commitment to them. My aunt always took
the time to talk things through with them even when I refused to, so there was
no point in me pretending I was totally innocent in this.

“And how does Kya feel about all of
this.”

“She won't talk to me.”

“Can you blame her?”

“She won't even give me a chance to explain.”

“What's there to explain baby? You
may or may not be a father soon. How do you expect her to feel about that? Just
give her time and hopefully things will work out but for now you have to
respect her decision. I know it's not what you want but you made that bed and
as for this other girl, you need to be there for her no matter how you feel
about her. That baby didn’t ask to be here so you be a man and be responsible
until you know for sure.”
Not happening!

“Are you disappointed?” I knew she
was I could hear it in her voice.

“I don't think you're ready to be a
father. You need to live first baby but if it happens to work out that way then
we'll deal with it. I love you no matter what so try not to worry about it too
much until you actually know for sure. I'll be praying about this and you need
to also.”

“Trust me I have, and I love you
too.”

I hung up and checked the time. I
needed to be leaving soon so it was time for me to get dressed. Ethan said we
would be outside so I put on a long sleeve shirt, my North Face jacket and my
fleece lined bucket hat before I left my room. It was extremely cold this time
of year so I wanted to be prepared. The dorms were quite since almost everyone
had gone home for winter break and most of the team had left hours ago for
Ethan's lake house. When I got outside the cold air sent chills through me
faster than I expected so I unlocked my doors, tossed my bag in the back and
then started my jeep with the heat on high. The party was just outside of
Raleigh and I already had the address in my GPS so I pulled out the parking lot
and cranked up the radio prepared for my hour drive.

When I arrived at the house I turned
off my Jeep and sat there for a minute before I got out. I wasn’t prepared to
get in there and have Kya totally ignore me so I had to get my head right.
There had to be at least twenty cars lining the street and about ten more
parked in the yard. I was sure the entire team would be there along with most
of the cheerleaders that they were dating but it seemed like way more than that
was already here. I wasn’t really in the mood to party but I was hopeful about
the chance at seeing Kya and it was pretty much the main reason why I was even
there.

The oversized lake house was lined
with white Christmas lights that made it glow and the reflection shimmered on the
lake that sat below it. Ethan’s parents were loaded and you could tell with
just one glance at this house. I opened the door to my Jeep, stepped out and
adjusted my jeans before I slide my keys in my front pocket and my phone in my
back pocket. Another car was pulling up as I made my way towards the walkway
lined with florescent stars and then up to the front door. I rang the doorbell
and a few minutes Ethan’s mom answered dressed like a magazine cover as usual. The
light from the chandelier in the foyer shined through every diamond she was
wearing making them sparkle like the lights that lined the house. Her jewelry
was always subtle but you knew it was there and you knew it’s worth.

“Xavier.” She stepped towards me and
initiated a loose one armed hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. Make yourself at
home. Where are your things? I hope you’re staying tonight.” She said and
smiled.

“Yes ma’am my bags in the car. I’ll
get it later.”

“Wonderful. Well welcome.” She said
with a huge smile.

“Hey there’s our number one shooting
guard.” Ethan’s dad said as he entered the room. “I’m glad you made it.”
Although Ethan was adopted he and his dad looked similar. They were both tall
with dark complexions,
 
jet black hair
and dark round eyes. Ethan’s dad was very fit and looked a lot younger than he
really was. On many occasions he had hung with us on the court during pickup
games that we played when I had gone home with Ethan to visit his family.

“What’s good Mr. E.” I said and then
extended my hand towards him which he accepted and then initiated a quick hug.
His parents were huggers which I wasn’t quite use to.

“You flying solo tonight Xavier.” His
father asked noticing that I had arrived alone. He had never meet Kya but I
knew from conversations with Ethan that his parents knew about us. Ethan said
his mother was the match maker type so he had to tell her that I had someone in
order to shut her down from to trying to set me up every time she saw me.

“Yeah, just chilling tonight.”

“Well there’s plenty of pretty girls
here for you to kiss at midnight so I’m sure you’ll do alright.” He said and
then smiled at me.

“Jonathan, leave this young man
alone. He’s here to hang out with his friends not to make a love connection.”

“I know honey.” He said and then
kissed his wife on the cheek.

“The kids are all over so make yourself
at home and have fun. I think Ethan’s on the deck.” She said pointing to the
back of the house.

I walked towards the back of the
house where I could hear music blasting and saw a bunch of people grouped
together on the oversized deck through the glass doors that closed it off from
the rest of the house. When I stepped outside I recognized most of the faces
but there were a few mixed in that I didn’t know which I figured were friends
of friends. That’s the way most college parties went and Ethan was cool with
just about everyone so he wouldn’t turn anyone away.

“What up Zay.” Ethan yelled and held
his arms up in the air. He was sitting on the rail that lined the deck with Toni
leaning against his leg.

“Sup E.” I said and made my way
towards him. I sent a few head nods and pounds to my teammates before I made it
to him and Toni.

“You just getting here?” Ethan asked.

“I been here for a minute. I was
talking to your parents.”

“Did my mom make you give her your
keys?” He asked.

“Nah, what’s up?”

“She’s taking keys to make sure nobody
does anything stupid tonight.”

“Nah, I told her I was staying though
so that’s probably why.”

“Sup Toni.” I said when I noticed her
staring at me.

“Xavier.” She said dryly.

I ignored her attitude. “She here?”

“Not yet, she wanted to drive just in
case she didn’t feel like staying.” Toni said trying to let me know that I was
the reason why Kya might not want to stay.

“She’s on her way right?” Ethan said
trying to keep me and Toni civil.

“Yeah, she should be here in a few.”
Toni said and then cut her eyes at Ethan.

I decided it was best to keep my
distance from Toni for now so I decided to grab a beer and chill with some of
my teammates. The deck was crowded with people even though it was December in
North Carolina and freezing outside. Ethan's parents had several fire pits and outdoor
heaters placed across the deck which were completely surrounded with only a few
brave souls lining the deck or cuddle up tucked away in corners. I used the
edge of the deck to knock the cap off my beer and slid it in my pocket before I
turned the bottle up. The beer felt cold going down my throat which gave me a
chill. The air was crisp and dry with a slight breeze coming off the lake
making things worse.

“Hey stranger.” I heard someone say
so I turned and saw Michelle standing behind me. She had on a red and gray hat
with ear flaps and a ball on top of it with matching gloves and a scarf.

“What are doing here?” I asked.

“Well I'm glad to see you too.” She
said with a disappointed look on her face. Which immediately made me feel bad
when I realized how it came out.

“I just figured you would have gone
home for winter break. Wherever home is.” I said realizing that I knew absolutely
nothing about her.

“I did but Shaunie asked me to come
to this with her so I came back early and here I am.” She said with a smile.

“You guys staying?” I asked, not
really sure why because it didn't matter to me either way even though I knew
she would read into it and think it did.

“Probably so.” She said and held up
the cup she was holding. “What about you?”

“Looks like it.” I said and held up
the beer I was working on.

“Good.” She said with a silly grin “Looks
like my night just got promising.”

“I’ll have to see about that.” I said
even though I had no interest in spending my night with her. I had no plans on
doing anything with anyone that could possibly make my situation with Kya worse
than it already was.

“Yes we will.” She said and the
pushed past me purposely brushing up against me making sure her hand made
contact below my waste. She looked back and with a seductive grin on her face
but kept moving until she reached one of the fire pits.

I was most definitely going to keep
my distance from her tonight. I had enough issues as it was and didn't need
another situation complicating my life.

“Sup Zay?” Trey yelled as he walked
up to me.

“We getting turnt tonight bruh?” He
asked even though he clearly had a head start.

“Looks like you're already working on
it.” I said.