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“It’s… everything I want right now, babe.”
His tone was uncertain as he asked, “Then why wouldn’t I get my hopes up?”
Their movements stopped when they made it outside. “Because this isn’t the first time I’ve missed a period.” Lei ran her fingers through her hair as she sighed and briefly looked away from him. “I really wasn’t planning to have this conversation like this.”
“Then let’s go to the hotel.”
Lei nodded, following his lead as they walked away. A woman gasped at the sight of Londen, dropping her purse and phone as she muttered, “Oh, my God.”
Londen stared at her intently before chuckling and shaking his head. “Felicia.”
“Lo-Londen… what are you doing out?”
“Good behavior.”
Not bothering to respond, the woman frantically looked around. Lei’s eyes followed her, landing on a man and younger boy that looked alotlike Londen.
“Londen, I thought you were going to be gone for a, a longer time. I…”
“What’s wrong with you?” Londen asked.
Lei grabbed his hand and shook before pointing toward the boy. “Um… babe.” Lei looked up at him to gauge his reaction.
Lei saw the exact moment Londen’s heart stopped beating, causing his chest to deflate. His lips pressed together tightly before he ran his hand over his mouth. Raised eyebrows hovered over watery eyes that stared without blinking. It wasn’t until Lei softly called his name did Londen seem to return to the present moment.
“I’m only going to ask you this once, Felicia, and I need you to tell me the truth.”
“Yes,” she cried. “He’s yours. But please, don’t say anything about this in front of him. I promise I’ll explain everything in private. Just please… don’t scar my baby for life with this truth.”
Londen’s hand covered his mouth as he chuckled, but Lei could see the veins protruding in his forehead. His legs were planted wide, chest thrusted out.
“You’re asking me not to scar my son by telling him I’m his father, but you didn’t take into consideration the ramifications of hiding the fact that I even had a son. Fuck outta here with that bullshit, Felicia. You’re going to introduce him to me as soon as they get over here.”
“Londen, please…”
The stern look he gave her silenced Felicia.
Lei could feel the heat radiating off her body from nervousness. She was visibly shaking.
“Is everything okay, Felicia?” the man asked, making his way to her side. His arm wrapped possessively around her waist.
“Londen,” Lei called sweetly, and at the sound of his name, the man’s eyes almost bulged out of his head.
“Oh, you know me? So I’m the only one that’s out of the loop then?”
“Baby,” Lei called. “Not here.” Londen’s jaw was clenched as he looked down at her. Their eyes remained locked for seconds on end while Lei stroked his chest. “I got you, and I’m with you. Let’s do this privately.”
With flaring nostrils and watery eyes, Londen conceded. He nodded before wiping away a quickly fallen tear.
“Meet me at the Peabody lobby this evening at six,” he told Felicia, not even bothering to look her way. He did, however, look at his son for a few seconds before shaking his head as he walked away.
Lei sluggishly followed him, unsure what the hell to do.
fifty
5:30p.m.
After prayingfor him and affirming him, Lei gave Londen space, and he appreciated that. He needed time to process the fact that he had a son. It didn’t take him long to lace together a scenario of why Felicia kept the truth about her pregnancy from him. As hurt and upset as he was by that, it was her body and her choice to make. Now that he was out, Londen was going to do whatever he had to, to make a place in his son’s life. He wasn’t sure how easy that would be, but growing close to the person who was half of him would be worth it.
