My Best Friend Read online

  “Hi, can I help you?” I ask casually.

  He smirks, “I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by”

  In the neighborhood? Right, okay. “Okay, I don’t buy that for a moment but continue.”

  The corner of his mouth lifts, “Yes, my associate and I had a dinner meeting at a local restaurant and decided to drop by and say hi.”

  “How did you know where I lived?”

  “Your resumé, babe.”

  Shit, that’s right. He probably has my cell number too, ugh.

  We just stand there at the door, staring at each other.

  “Mom, who is it?” My son yells from inside. I shut my eyes, why couldn’t Adam be quiet for just a few more minutes? I wasn’t ready to have this conversation with either one of them. Once Alex looks at Adam he will know that he’s the father. I mean, Adam is a miniature version of him.

  Alex, looks at me in question. I’m sure he’s wondering who that is, but I don’t say anything. He then looks away when he sees that I won’t talk. “I don’t want to have any problems with your husband or boyfriend, but I can’t stop thinking about you.” He whispers.

  “I didn’t say I had a husband or boyfriend, you made that assumption. I just said that I had someone at home.

  He looks at me confused, he’s thinking about what I just said.

  “Maybe you can introduce me?” Not waiting for a response, he waltz passed me, what an arrogant asshole.

  “C’mon in.” I say to an empty doorway.

  I close the door and turn to look at him. He’s studying the apartment. It isn’t as fancy as his place probably, but I don’t really care. It’s all that I can afford right now and lately I can’t even afford this.

  My son is sitting on the couch with his remote control in his hands. He isn’t looking at the T.V. screen though. He’s trying to figure out who this stranger is. He gets up while he’s observing Adam and then looking at me. He’s probably waiting for an introduction or an explanation of why there is a strange man in the living room.

  As I’m frozen in place, unable to speak, Alex stops in front of Adam and sticks his hand out for him to shake. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m your mom’s old friend, Alexander Santos.”

  Adam looks at me puzzled but takes the offered hand and shakes it. Adam does like it when adults treat him as an equal. He hates nothing more than people treating him as a child, even though he’s only nine.

  “Hi, I’m Adam. Victoria’s son.” Adam smiles, thinking nothing of it. I don’t think that Adam knows what’s going on. I hope that he doesn’t catch on until I’m ready to explain it to him

  Alex studies Adam. Adam studies Alex. The three of us stand in the middle of the living room in silence.

  I decide to break the silence. “Honey, why don’t you go get ready for bed? I will be there to tuck you in soon.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Adam.” Alex says as Adam makes his way to his room.

  “Nice to meet you too, Alex.” Then I hear his bedroom door close.

  Before I can say anything, I’m grabbed and pushed against the wall. His fingers are digging into my arms and it hurts like hell.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” He roars. He looks enraged.

  I swallow hard, “What?”

  “That’s my son in there! You think I’m fucking stupid?” He is still yelling.

  “Lower your voice before he comes back out here. Adam, you’re hurting me, let go.”

  He finally releases his grip. “Talk.”

  I slowly make my way to the kitchen to make some coffee. He follows me. “I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

  “How about you start off like, I don’t know. ‘Hey, you have a son. His name is Adam.’?”

  I turn around and stare at him, “How could I tell you? I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after you left. I had no way of contacting you, what did you want me to do?”

  He doesn’t say anything. “Shit happened and we had to go.”

  “What kind of excuse is that? We were best friends! I know your mom died and you were grieving but I could have been there for you. You pushed me away so I gave you time to be alone. But that wasn’t good enough, you left town with your dad and didn’t even say anything. Your dad didn’t even tell my parents where the both of you were headed.”

  “My dad was fucked up when mom died. He started doing crazy shit so I had to help him. We couldn’t be in that house anymore, all the memories and pictures. Everywhere we went, we saw her. I woke up during the night to a loud crash. I went to see what it was. My dad was lying unconscious on the floor. I called the ambulance and my grandparents, there was too much on my mind.”

  I don’t say anything, I just hand him a cup of coffee. I sit at the kitchen table.

  He continues, “My grandparents came and packed up some of our shit and we left. To tell you the truth I wasn’t even thinking about anything but how I couldn’t lose my dad. Not just after I had lost my mom.”

  There are tears forming in my eyes. I didn’t know everything that had happened. I can’t believe that he had gone through all of that.

  “After everything settled at their house, I remembered that we haven’t even said anything to you guys. I swear it wasn’t intentional, my dad and I were just in a bad place. We were for a long time.”

  There was silence again. I sipped my coffee trying to process what he had just told me. He just stared at me.

  “When did you find out you were pregnant?”

  “Like I said, a few weeks after you left. Maybe a month. I had missed my period. I wasn’t sure that I was at first because we used protection. But when I went to get bloodwork done to confirm it, the nurse confirmed the pregnancy and said that condoms don’t always work.”

  He nods, “I never intended to hurt you.”

  “I felt scared and alone, I wanted to talk to my best friend but you were gone.”

  His face is sad, like he was trying not to tear up. “I am sorry Tori.”

  I just nod as I wipe the lone tear from my eye. “I know.”

  He sits down across from me at the table. “He seems like a smart kid.”

  I smile because it’s true. “He is, sometimes the teacher calls and tells me that Adam has been interrupting the class and corrects her a lot in front of everyone.”

  He laughs, “That’s my boy.” His face turns serious, “My son, I can’t believe I missed nine years of his life.” He leans back in his chair and starts rubbing his face in exhaustion.

  “He’s your mini me. It was hard seeing your face every single day.”

  “Yeah he does look like me. I knew it right when I saw him, minus the freckles. The freckles are all you.”

  I playfully reach across the table and slap his arm, “Don’t remind me, I always hated my freckles.”

  He looks around the kitchen, his expression is unreadable. Suddenly I’m embarrassed by our current living situation.

  “You and Adam should come and live with me.” He says.

  I furrow my brows, I’m not moving in with him. Yes, we were best friends once upon a time, but today we are two completely different people. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not? He will have lots of space, I have a huge backyard. You can have your own room and you can have some free time for yourself since you won’t have to clean and cook. I can get to know him, I think it’s a great idea.”

  I don’t know what to say. I don’t think it’s a good idea but I want Adam to get to know his dad. He needs a male role model besides my dad in his life.

  “Why don’t you stop by whenever you want instead? You can even take him a few days a week.” I try to compromise.

  He looks around in distaste. “Tori, please. This isn’t the safest neighborhood, I don’t want to have to worry about the both of you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “This neighborhood isn’t safe for the both of you.”

  “No it isn’t, but I am trying to very har
d to give him a good life. Once I find a job and save up enough, we can move apartments. I’ve been doing everything on my own excluding the help of my parents every now and then.

  His face turns into one of sympathy. “I know that, you are a great mother and I am truly thankful. But now I’m here and I would like to take care of you both.”

  “I don’t need to be taken care of.” I bite back. “I’ve done fine for myself.”

  He waves his hand around the kitchen. “Yes, you’ve done very well for yourself.”

  I’m livid. How dare he talk to me like that. He’s so infuriating. I get up and motion for him to leave. “You can leave now.”

  He looks up at me in surprise like he doesn’t believe what I just said. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard what I said, you can leave. You want to insult the way I live with my son after I worked my ass off to give my son everything I could and I raise him as a single parent, so you can leave.”

  He gets up from the chair and walks slowly towards me. I’m a mess and I’m terrified of what is going to happen next.

  He walks up until he’s right in front of me. “You want me gone?” He whispers against my lips.

  I find enough strength to nod my head slightly. I try to maintain eye contact.

  He smirks like he doesn’t believe me. “You know that I think about that night all the time?”

  I don’t say anything, I’m frozen in place.

  “I’ve fucked countless women in these last few years. But I can never get off unless I pretend that it’s you I’m inside.”

  Shit, my body tingles. I hate that I still react the same way to him as it did all those years ago.

  I finally manage to say, “Just go, please.”

  He smiles, he knows that he’s affecting me. He backs away and heads to the front door. “Pack a few bags and I will pick you both up tomorrow afternoon. I have a meeting in the morning but I’m free after that.”

  I walk after him, “I didn’t agree to anything.”

  He opens the front door and faces me, “I have a right to know my son. I want to get to know him and you are his mother. I’m going to take care of you both so get used to it.” He winks at me, “Bye, baby.” He leaves and closes the door behind him.

  Ugh! I want to scream, I then remember that Adam is in the next room. I can’t believe that this is happening, it’s so infuriating.

  Ten Years Earlier…

  Victoria

  I stare at the two vertical pink lines for the tenth time, this stupid stick must not be working or it’s probably expired. I look at the other four on my bathroom floor with the same results. They must be broken too. I can’t be having a baby, I leave for school soon. Not only that but I haven’t seen or talked to the baby’s father in a while.

  That night, at the graduation after party. After we had made love and Libby burst in, he yelled at her to get out. We had gotten dressed and he brought me home. He kissed me goodbye and said that he would call me in the morning. I hadn’t felt any weirdness or regret between the two of us. It had felt right and I had thought that we would start dating and take our relationship to a new level.

  The next day, we got terrible news that Alex’s mom had been in a car accident and passed away. She was driving home from her business meeting and a drunk driver struck her car and she died on impact.

  My parents had told me that they needed their space and for me to give him time and he would come around when he was ready. I respected that, I just wanted to help him grieve and be there for him but if this way was better for him then so be it. A few days after the funeral though, I was told that their house was up for sale and that they had left town. No one knew their whereabouts. I didn’t want to believe that he would just leave and not tell me anything, but he did.

  Now, I’m on my bathroom thinking about how I’m going to tell my parents. I was going to be starting college soon and I get pregnant? How am I supposed to go to school and raise my baby? My parents were going to kill me when I tell them.

  There’s a knock at the door, “Tori, are you ok?” My mom asks. I get up and unlock the door. I look at her but don’t say anything. She looks down on the floor behind me and sees the tests scattered. She instantly knows.

  All she asks is, “Is it Alexander’s?”

  I nod. She grabs me and hugs me tight. I let the tears fall, I have probably disappointed my parents and now I’m not sure what I’m going to do.

  She whispers, “We will figure it out, sweetheart. Don’t worry, it will be okay.”

  I’m glad that I’m not completely alone.

  *****

  After my parents and I had a very long conversation, I went to my room and researched teen pregnancy. Although my parents were supportive, I knew that they also had to be saddened that my life would be more complicated. I know that I’m not alone but I wanted to have a career and I wanted to be in a loving relationship before this happened. I can’t completely blame Alex, I know that if he knew about the baby he would probably be here, but I do blame him for not reaching out. I’m confident that with my parents help, I can raise this baby and give it a great life. Even if Alex isn’t a part of it.

  I’m searching though the internet mindlessly until I see Alex’s profile picture on social media, I click on it. There hasn’t been any activity since the day he left. Maybe he would get in touch once he’s ready. I had hope that things would get better. I stare at his pictures that he had posted before everything happened. There was one of us at the beach, he had me in a bear hug, I remember him asking a random beach goer to take the picture. There were a few selfies of him looking so carefree and happy. I miss our relationship and being able to talk things out with him. I can’t wrap my head around him disappearing like that. Something had to be going on.

  I place my hand on my stomach, there’s a little being in there. Alex and I had made something that was a piece of both of us. No matter how angry I was at him, I knew that this baby was made of our love of one another. No matter how hard I tried to be angry at him, I knew that I still loved him. I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, I was emotionally exhausted. I let the tears fall, I had no other choice than to raise this baby without a father.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Present Day…

  Victoria

  I’m at the kitchen table surrounded by overdue bills, debating on which ones needed to be paid immediately and which ones I could leave for one more month. They all were past due; the utilities were already two months behind and I was holding a ‘final notice’ letter for the cable bill. Rent was already one month past due and I would have to use the last of my savings to pay it. The landlord Cole, was flexible on the rent and very nice but I’m sure he doesn’t want to keep getting it late.

  I had gotten five or six different newspapers in search for a job and I also had applied online to different companies. I was getting phone calls but after the interviews, I haven’t heard back from anyone. At this point, I didn’t even need to get a job in a big company with benefits. I just needed anything to put food on the table.

  Adam was in school, so I had some time to call some of my old colleagues about any openings they might know of. I was about to give my friend Angelina a call when my cell rings. It displays an unknown number on the screen.

  Thinking that it might be someone calling back, I decide to answer it, “Hello?”

  “Hey Tori. It’s me.” Said the voice on the other end.

  I wasn’t expecting it to be him, “Hi, is everything ok?” I ask.

  “Yes, it is. I’m just calling because I wanted to apologize. I guess I was just in shock about Adam.”

  “I should apologize, I didn’t want you to find out this way. I had planned to tell you eventually since I knew where you were now, I just needed to think of a better way to do it.”

  We both are silent on the line.

  I don’t know why he called, “Did you need something?”

  “Yes, I wanted to talk about what I had offered. Th
e both of you living here with me.”

  “Alex, I told you. You can come visit whenever you want to, I won’t get in the way of you seeing your son.”

  “Tori, you’ve done an amazing job raising that boy but I’m here now and I owe you years of child support and I want to make it up to you.”

  “Alex, please. I don’t need your money, you can come visit him whenever you want. You can even take him out for a bit when you can. I don’t want to obligate you for anything. That’s not my intention.”

  “Victoria, don’t be absurd. You are the mother of my child. I want to give the both of you everything I can. I run a successful business and I want to spend my money on the people I love most.”

  I sit down at the kitchen table as I continue to speak to him. I was getting exhausted of fighting him on the issue. “Alex, don’t you have a girlfriend or something? How would she feel about this?”

  “I don’t have a girlfriend or wife for that matter, Tori. I have never thought about marrying someone who wasn’t you.”

  My heart melts at that revelation. We could try it and if it doesn’t work out, we could always leave.

  “You are the same pain in the ass you were all those years ago.” I bite back a smile.

  “You know you love it.” He teases.

  “Back then, it was cute, now not so much.”

  “I will send my driver to pick you both up tomorrow afternoon. Pack up your stuff. Leave the furniture and I can hire people to pack up the rest. I will settle with the landlord about breaking the lease.”

  “What are we going to do about his school?”

  “Tori, he will go to a private school. He will get the best education money can buy. He will want for nothing, Tori.”

  “How do I explain everything to him?”

  “Tell him the truth. If you prefer, I can be there too. He’s going to love it.”

  “Ok, If you want to come tonight for dinner. I’m making spaghetti, his favorite. Maybe he’ll take the news better.”