kalani depradine

My head dug deeper into my pillow at the sound of my phone continuously ringing. I didn't need to open my eyes to know it was the middle of the night. I don't care who is calling me, but they definitely don't get to wake me up like this. But the ringing wouldn't stop and I had no choice but to answer with squinty eyes.

"Hello?" I put my head back on my pillow while the phone was on speaker.

"He's got a record," Grayson immediately jumped into a conversation I couldn't even understand. He always does this. Starts a conversation off like we're picking it up from somewhere. My tired mind didn't have time to process what he even could be talking about.

"What? Who could you possibly be complaining about right now?" I lazily spoke. Grayson always has something or someone to complain about. I think he thinks the universe is against him.

"Toby. He has a record. Did you know that? You're going to let our child around someone who was charged with armed robbery?" Grayson went more into detail. If he was here, I would wrap my hands around his neck and strangle him. Not only is him doing research on my ex boyfriend weird, but it's a complete invasion of privacy. For a business man who has a business to run, he seems to have a lot of spare time to do absolutely nothing.

"First of all, this is my baby. Second of all, his charges got dropped because he didn't do it." I was tired but still had energy to defend Toby.

We were friends for three years prior to us dating. Our relationship was on and off for a year before we realized we're better off as friends

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but it takes two to make a baby. That baby is just as much mine as it is yours," he argued with me and I couldn't understand why. I signed the NDA. Grayson has no reason to be calling me. I originally contacted him out of the potential that he may want to be involved. He's made it very clear he doesn't want to.

It stings. I never thought I would find myself in the predicament of being a single mother. But I won't beg him to be in this baby's life. If he doesn't want a baby, it means he won't give it love. A baby deserves love, even if it can only be provided by one parent.

After I signed the NDA, I thought all contact between us would be cut. But I signed it a week ago and he hasn't failed to contact me every day like it's normal.

"Why are you even awake right now?" He sounded more alert than ever and it was honestly unfair.

"I'm at work." Grayson being a workaholic doesn't surprise me. Only he would marry and have a baby strictly for a job position.

"We need to talk, Gray," I finally opened my eyes and sat up. I don't know why things with us are so weird, but they need to be sorted out immediately and I'm okay with being the one to initiate things.

"You're right. We do. I ripped up the NDA," he informed me and it didn't seem like a big deal. It could've been an accident.

"Okay. Can your assistant fax me another copy I can sign?" I rubbed my eyes with my fingers to glance at the clock. It's two in the morning. I really can't believe he's working right now and randomly called me.

"I don't want the NDA, Kalani," he began and I pulled the sheets up my body. "We do need to talk, but I want to do it in person. I'm leaving for China. It'll be a week and I'll be too busy to keep in contact, but when I get back I want to talk."

My mind was spiralling on all the reasons he could want to talk in person. But it was also spiralling on him leaving. Months ago Grayson wasn't in my life and I signed the contract basically stating he will never be in my life. But signing it wasn't easy and I don't know why. All I know is my hand shook the entire time and signing it was the last thing I wanted to do because it meant he truly wanted me gone.

"Are you still there?" Grayson took my silence as me hanging up the phone or falling back asleep.

"Yes," I nodded like he could see me. "What are you doing in China?" I don't understand much about Grayson's work, but I needed a small distraction from my dazed state.

"It's just a business trip. I'm checking out land where we plan on building the Shanghai headquarters. Papers that need to be signed. Agreements that need to be made. I'm hoping it's only a week," he further elaborated. Hoping for a week? That didn't give me much to go off of. "I have a car that's going to be stationed outside your apartment. He's been instructed to drive you anywhere you please while I'm gone."

Grayson doesn't drive me everywhere all the time. We may text and call a lot, but actually seeing each other is a whole other story. I'll see him once maybe every five days and it's always at the most bizarre times. The few times we do see each other it always consists of him driving me home. It's sweet he was having a driver for me to go anywhere I please at any time.

"You didn't have to do that," I bit my lip. He's being awfully kind and the hopeless romantic side of me wanted to believe it's because he cares for me. But if anything, he only cares for this baby, and even that's a stretch.

"I know. I just don't like you walking at night. Anyways, I apologize for waking you up. Have a good night." I couldn't even reply because he hung up.

-

A few days passed and like Grayson said, we didn't talk much and I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but hated it. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed our playful banter. He used to call me for the most random things and I'm convinced it's because he has no friends. Now it's been almost four days and I'm wondering if it would be weird to just send him a text.

I was on my way to the spa when I ran into Bria at the lobby. She's the last person I expected to see, but it's one of the best spas in the entire city, so I really shouldn't have been surprised. When I entered the front door, I stared at her yelling at an employee at the front desk. I had entered the spa mid conversation and couldn't quite piece together why she was upset.

"I shouldn't have to book an appointment. Do you know who I am?" Bria rose her voice and the employee didn't bat an eyelash at her or her behaviour.

"If you would excuse me, I have to help this customer who probably does have an appointment. Hello ma'am," the employee smiled at me and Bria was forced to move to the side.

"Hi, I have an appointment for a facial and body massage at three fifteen?" I informed her and she was clicking away on the computer when Bria started hysterically laughing.

"This is absolutely fucking ridiculous. You took my spot?" Bria pointed her finger in my face. "What is wrong with you? Do you just enjoy taking things that don't fucking belong to you? Like my fucking fiancé!"

I stood in shock of the way she was yelling at me and for some reason I didn't have to strength to defend myself. Lately these pesky hormones have been getting to me.

"You and that fucking baby are the plague and I'm so happy Grayson has absolutely no interest in caring for either one of you. You are nothing but a stain on his family and I feel embarrassed he is going to be forced to share a child with someone like you," her voice was bitter and quiet and stabbed me right in the chest.

I shouldn't have been affected by her words, but I was. They were all thoughts I've had myself and I often find myself being mad I could be so irresponsible to not use protection. But I've already come to love this baby and it makes me so sad the other half of it will have this attachment to a family that could not care less for it.

I took in a steady breath, not allowing my tears to fall on my way out of the spa.