When bitter&sweet meet

When I saw her expression after her phone call, I knew it was bad news. I took her in my arms and asked her why she was so sad all of a sudden.

She told me it was her mother calling to tell her her father had been in a car accident. As she said, the memories of when I was ten returned to the surface as I remembered my father’s death.

Then she tried to get out of my hold because she wanted to leave immediately to see her father, and she had a long way to go.

I finally persuaded her to let me take her, so I wouldn't have to worry about her well-being. It wasn’t a good idea for her to drive at this time of night and in her condition.

As I watch her sleep, her head against the car window, I remove my hand from her knee and grab her purse to use her cell phone. Mine was currently running the GPS to help guide me.

“Tory sweetie, so glad you called…” a woman starts to talk on the other side of the phone.

“Mrs. Summer, my name is Levi Salazar, your daughter’s boyfriend.” There it is. I said it. I can’t deny what we are to each other any longer.

“Except your sister.” My conscience tells me in the back of my mind.

“We’re actually on the way to your house. The thing is, your daughter didn’t sleep well last night, and she’s resting at the moment. Is it alright if I bring her to your house to let her rest a while?” I keep saying.

“Ah, so you’re the famous football coach where my daughter works, and you say you’re travelling all this way with her? I’m at the hospital, but I can be home in an hour.” She says to me.

“Perfect. Thank you, Mrs. Summer. See you soon.”

“Please, call me Rose and see you soon.” She says as she hangs up.

So her mother knows about me. I shouldn’t be shocked. She’s her mother, of course, she knows.

As I look at Tory while she’s sleeping, I realize that I’m becoming the man I once was, but only for her to see.

When I park the car outside the address in my GPS, I see an older version of Tory come out of the house.

I open the door to get out and greet Tory’s mother. Once the introductions are done, I walk around the car and pick Tory up into my arms, still sleeping. Instantly Tory envelops her arms around my neck, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Follow me. I’ll show you to her room so you can put her on the bed.” She says as she starts walking and opens the door for me to enter.

Once in her room, her mother leaves me alone with her daughter. I walk towards the bed and delicately lay Tory on the bed so I don’t wake her.

I look at her beautiful face and brush away some hair that was on her face. I can’t help myself, and I kiss her forehead.

“Sleep well, babe,” I whisper over her skin.

“I love you, Levi.” She mumbles in her sleep.

What?

I look at her, shocked, and to my surprise, I know I feel the same way about her. The thought makes me smile.

“I love you too, babe, but next time, we will tell each other properly. That’s a promise.”

I kiss her once more and leave her room, but not before turning back and glancing at her once more.

Fuck, did I just say what I think I said?

As I walk through the hallway, I see pictures of Tory when she was a little on the walls. She hasn’t changed much over the years.

“She was six years old on that one,” Rose tells me when she sees me snooping.

“Come with me. I have more to show you.” I can hear the pride in her voice. Why not? It’s not like I have anything better to do.

“Where’re my manners? Would you like some coffee or tea?” She asks as we walk into the living room.

“Coffee would be great, thank you.”

“Is Tory an only child?” I ask as I look through more pictures.

“No, when she was two, I delivered a little boy. He had a heart condition and died a month later at the hospital. His name was Matthew, but we called him Matty. It was easier for Tory to call him that.”

I clear my throat. “I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t know, and besides, it was a long time ago. When someone asks me about my children, I can’t deny him. I can’t say that I have an only child. He existed.” She continues.

“Levi? Mom?.” I hear Tory speak as I look at a photo album her mother gave me.

After I explained to Tory how we got here, I saw her expression change a little. Does she remember what she said to me while she was sleeping? I wonder as I look at her.

She must’ve noticed that I didn’t believe her when Tory told me she was fine because she changed the subject by asking when we could see her father in the hospital.

I decided to let her go and see her father alone. It was a family thing. Besides, I don’t think her father will be happy if the first time we meet is like this when he’s vulnerable. It wouldn’t be a great first impression, especially if he wants to warn me not to hurt his only daughter. What father wouldn’t do that?

When I watch her walk away from me with her mother, I make a promise to myself that I will fight to keep her at my side. When we return, I’ll tell my sister the truth about us—no more hiding.

After a while, I see Tory walking towards me with a smile on her lips.

“Do you want to grab some coffee with me?” She asks.

I nod and take her hand as we start to walk away when I hear someone calling her name.

“Tory?”

“Davis.” She only replies as her hold on my hand tightens a little.

I look at her and then at him. So this is the fucker who hurt my woman.