9

By 7 months she was already trying to stand, she grew fast and every second spent went by too fast. One day my old best friend, Hope came by, she had no idea I was pregnant. She sat on the floor with Lily and I

"She's adorable Kayla, where's her dad?"

I shrugged my shoulder and frowned

"Who cares, I don't think he ever did."

She frowned

"I'm sorry, how old is she?"

I fixed Lily's dirty blonde hair out of her face

"She'll be 8 months in a few days."

She looked shock

"She's already standing?"

I picked her up so she could stand and tried to show her how to walk, she smiled and laughed. I pulled her into my arms and held her like a baby while rocking her. She laughed and smiled, I kissed her cheek

"Yup she's my big girl."

I laid her on her back on the carpet and blew on her stomach, she screamed and laughed. Hope smiled

"She's a really happy baby so who is her dad?"

I sighed and my heart broke hearing that question every time it's asked

"Hope, I really don't want to say his name."

She frowned

"He hurt you that badly?"

I nearly cried

"He claimed he was so in love with me then the day she was born, he didn't even show up..."

I started crying, she hugged me

"Guys are jerks Kay."

I continued to cry

"He used me Hope, pretended he was so in love then vanished like I meant nothing and I freaking knew it too."

She continued to hold me

"Guys are like that sweetie, so he's been gone 8 months? Not once visiting this beautiful girl."

Lily crawled and handed me a doll and smiled, I shook my head and wiped my eyes

"He gave me someone who loves me, I'm grateful for that."

She smiled

"Then forget him, he's missing out on so much... it's not Devon right?"

I shook my head

"No but he's been supportive and she loves him."

She was acting weird

"Why not give Devon a chance?"

I looked up

"I never thought about it, I want to be single and raise her without any guys hurting her like her dad did."

She exhaled

"Did you actually run off with Connor? That was a rumor going around."

I nodded my head

"He is her father."

She covered her mouth

"He was always so mean to you Kayla, why'd you sleep with him? Of all people! He's a douche."

My eyes teared up again

"We fell in love or so I thought, we were supposed to get married after she was born."

Lily tried to talk

"Da..da."

I looked at her

"No Lily mama."

She pointed at me then chewed on her finger. She's already started teething, Hope stood up

"I have to go but are you going to Trisha's party?"

I shook my head

"I wasn't invited apparently."

She smirked

"Think about it and we can go together little mama."

The doorbell chimed, I put Lily in her crib and walked Hope out, I opened the door; it was Devon. After Hope left he said

"Shouldn't you hate her too?"

I laughed

"She's my best friend why would I?"

He sighed

"No I'm your best friend and she's dating your baby daddy now."

I looked away trying to hide my emotions, Devon hugged me

"Hey I'm here for you."

As soon as he touched me I broke and tears fell one after another. Devon was the sweetest person ever and was still there for me after I chose Connor over him. He pulled away

"Kayla he's not worth it."

I asked

"Do you want to go to a party?"

He stared at me surprised

"What about Lily?"

I smirked

"Patricia will watch her."

He shook his head

"They will be there together Kayla."

I shrugged my shoulder

"So? Hope obviously wanted to throw that in my face, want to be my date? It's time to forget him and move on."

He grinned thinking about it

"Okay just to be clear are you asking me out?"

I hugged him and kissed him

"It does."

He kissed me

"Kayla don't just use me, I'll be your date if you are serious."

I exhaled

"I am Devon."

He asked

"Then let's join our gang's, it's the right thing Kayla."

I just stared at him

"I can't do that; I don't want any part of the gang life."

He shook his head

"You won't, I will handle all of it, you can do whatever. It's what your dad wanted."

I gave him a confused look

"Is that what this is about... power?"

He shook his head

"No I'm love with you Kayla and yes I want more than just a title. I want to give you everything that jerk gave and took away. It's not about power it's about being able to be your husband."

I shrugged my shoulder

"I have a daughter with him and he'd make war so fast."

Devon hugged me

"You know Lily is like a daughter to me, I love her the same way I love you, let him I will fight to defend both of you."

He pulled out a box and opened it

"Please be my wife?"

A tear fell from my face

"I love you Devon but I can't risk my daughter like that."

He pulled it out

"Just put it on please, take time to think about it."

He hugged me

"Get ready I'll be by at 8:30 to pick you up, we'll get dinner then go to this party if you still want to."

He kissed my cheek and left, I stood by the door thinking for a moment then Lily started crying. I ran upstairs and picked her up. Around 6 I began getting ready, I threw on a blonde wig so I wasn't recognized, I did my makeup and curled my hair. I threw on a smoky eye look and some peach colored lipstick, I put a tight fitted black dress on with black heels. I looked in the mirror and didn't even recognize myself. I smiled and put on some perfume.

At 8:30, Devon showed up, his jaw dropped and said

"You don't even look like yourself."

I smiled

"Good, don't feel like explaining myself to everyone."

He looked down and smiled

"You look beautiful Kay."

He looked up and said

"We should get going."

We left and had dinner; as we were entering the restaurant; security was throwing out a homeless lady begging for food. I stopped Devon

"We should help her."

He looked at me with confusion

"Who?"

I turned around and went back outside, she was sitting on the curb in tears. I kneeled next to her

"Hi ma'am?"

She looked up

"Do I need to move off your curb too?"

I shook my head and smiled

"No, you're fine."

She was thin and you could see her collar bone and cheek bones popping out. She asked

"What can I help you with dear?"

I smiled gently

"Nothing, would you like to get some food with us?"

She smiled and her eyes filled with tears, I helped her up, I told Devon to get her a blanket from the car because it was cold. I helped her inside and we sat down; the waiter walked over

"What can I get you three tonight?"

She looked at me confused, I smiled

"Get as much as you'd like."

We ordered and waited for our food. I asked her

"What's your name?"

She drank her water

"Audrey."

Devon took a sip of his drink

"Do you have a place to stay tonight?"

She shook her head and looked around anxiously. Everyone stared at her in disgust and whispered, we ignored them until someone walked up

"What's the homeless doing with a rich couple."

I stood up

"What are you doing not minding your own business? People like you disgust me; now get out of our faces."

The lady continued to walk and I sat back down; Devon asked her

"How would you like to be our second nanny and maid? Do you have experience with kids?"

She nodded her head

"I love kids and I do have experience with them."

I asked

"Would you like a job? You could live within our community; we have plenty of homes available."

She smiled

"You are a blessing child, I will take you on your offer and make up for this kind gesture."

Devon shook his head

"There is no need ma'am, we enjoy helping people."

We got our dinner and ate, we took Audrey home with us and had Patricia help get her cleaned up and clothed. We went to the party; before I walked in, I put on the big ring he gave me; we grabbed hands and walked in. Hope was with Connor, I paid no attention to them. Hope asked Connor

"Who's with Devon?"

Connor shrugged his shoulders

"Who knows, it's about time he moved on away from Kayla."

She threw her light brown hair back

"Have you seen her? Heard she was coming?"

He laughed

"She's too busy being a mommy."

Hope snapped

"Yeah to your child idiot."

He glanced over at Devon and I attempting to figure out who I was, he said

"I had no choice in the matter, I'm sure she's moved on from me."

I felt someone was staring and I looked up, Connor was looking, I glanced and looked away. Hope walked over

"Hey I've never... Kayla?"

I faked a smile

"Sure..."

She stared at my ring on my hand

"So you and Devon?"

I smirked and waved my hand at her

"Yup you can go back to your idiotic boyfriend now."

She sighed

"I had no idea Kay."

Devon came up and handed me a drink

"Here babe."

Trisha walked up

"Kayla? Is that you?"

She hugged me

"You've gotten more beautiful, where have you been girl?"

I lied

"Devon and I got married and had a daughter."

Devon said

"Her name is Lilianna."

She smiled

"You guys are adorable, congratulations!"

She hugged me and walked away, Devon said

"Hey I'll be right back, are you going to be okay?"

I nodded my head, he kissed me and smiled

"I love you."

I smiled

"I love you too."

Hope cleared her throat

"I had no idea Kayla, he never told me; I just knew rumors, well until you told me."

I faked another smile

"Like I just said I'm married, I could careless."

Connor walked over

"Hope I'm going to head home."

He looked at me

"Kayla?"

I gave him a sarcastic reply

"No I'm Kailey her long lost twin sister."

He gave me a dirty look

"I'm not stupid."

I smirked

"Clearly you didn't hear my sarcasm."

Hope shouted

"Will you two stop?"

I scoffed

"I have better things like raise his daughter, see you around Hope."

I walked away to find Devon. I walked over to the table to watch the guys play beer pong. One of the boys, Marcus hollered at me

"Kayla! Want to play strip pong?"

I sat against the table

"Whatever let's do this."

I tossed the ball and made it in

"Shirt off Marcus."

Devon walked over to Hope

"Where's Kayla?"

Connor smirked and chuckled

"Give it up Devon, we both know she's using you to get at me."

Connor pointed at me playing beer pong, drunk with a group of boys. He glanced at Connor

"I trust her."

He laughed

"She may have a perfect body but do you honestly want anybody seeing it? If you don't I may just join that to experience it again."

Devon rolled his eyes and left

"Then deal with her since you're so desperate to do so."

Connor whispered as he walked over to the beer pong table

"Too easy."

He threw in $10

"Throw me in, I want part of this."

He kept making it in and ordering me to take off something. I was in my bra and underwear by the time he backed out. He grabbed his jacket and tossed it on me

"Nice seeing you half naked again."

I threw a drunken smile and bit my lip

"I love you, screw Devon."

He smirked and pushed me against the wall staring into my green eyes whispering

"Good because he doesn't deserve you. I never stopped loving you, I messed up the day I left."

He kissed me in front of everyone, I was really intoxicated and he took advantage of it. He picked me up into his strong arms and hugged me

"Let's go home and get you sober so we can talk."

He put me down and we walked with me half naked with his black leather jacket on into his truck. Devon left not caring what could happen to me, Connor took me back to my house and tried to sober me up. I became sober and angry

"It's like you to take advantage of me while I'm drunk."

He sighed and ran his fingers through his thick hair

"We didn't do anything, I just brought you home."

I looked in the mirror and my mascara was smear down to my cheeks, I was embarrassed. I went in the bathroom and cleaned up

"Where's Devon?"

Connor got up and came in

"He bailed on you when you were playing beer pong."

I exhaled

"Sounds like him, he could care less what can happen since my dad died but thanks."

He smiled then got serious again

"I didn't just bail on you girls Kayla, my father threatened to hurt you girls and I couldn't chance it."

I turned off the faucet

"So what? We have been fine. I just hope you don't think I will say it's okay this time."

He bit his lip

"No I don't, is she here?"

I crossed my arms

"She is but how do I know you won't bail on her as well?"

He sat on the futon

"Because I had no choice before, it hurt to ignore you girls."

I smirked

"Sure... I suppose your father is now okay with you being a part of her life?"

He shook his head

"No, but he's pushing for you- Never mind."

I snapped

"Pushing me to do what Connor!"

He stood up

"Kayla- he wants us to get married and you to join gangs."

I scoffed with harsh words wanting to come up but I continued to keep them in

"Connor I don't run my dad's gang, Devon does now."

He looked at me

"Lily's not his daughter."

I could feel my blood boiling now and the words of rage coming up quick

"Really?! Where have you been Connor? He's been there for her since she was born!"

He headed toward the door

"I'm still her dad and you both just started a war."

He walked out and left, I fell back on the bed and exhaled

"My God he's such a headache."

Patricia came in

"Hey sweetie, where's Devon?"

I sat up

"Who knows, is Andria around?"

She sat down on the bed, gave me a side hug, gently rubbing my back

"I saw Connor leave, how are you doing?"

I felt tears fill my eyes

"As much as I love him, I can't put Lilianna through that."

She smiled

"Do what's best for you sweetie."

I exhaled

"He's going to be violent now Patricia and I absolutely don't know what to do."

I began crying because I was terrified for Lily's safety. She hugged me

"Honey Devon won't allow them to touch her."

I got up and opened my dresser, I pulled out a 9mm and stuck it in my jacket pocket

"We'll see."

Devon walked in

"Hey."

I turned to face him

"What are you doing here?"

He yawned

"I was told by the guards; a Shadow was here."

I crossed my arms

"I can manage myself."

Patricia got up

"I'll give you two privacy."

After she left, Devon walked up and hugged me

"I worry about you Kayla."

He tried to kiss me but I pushed his face away

"Really? Where were you at the party? Why didn't YOU drive me home?"

He sighed

"It was wrong, I should've brought you home, I'm sorry."

I smirked

"At least one of you can be mature and apologize."

He smiled

"What did he want?"

I smiled

"Who cares, I only care about you."

I kissed his cheek

"You are amazing Devon."

Deep down I felt differently, but he's better for us than Connor and his gang.