The One That Got Away by Danielle Martin (chrysanthemum read aloud TXT) 📖

her head in acceptance. "When i come to you and tell you im ready, that means i'm READY." She gave him a stern look, letting him know she intended on dealing with this situation sooner than later.
He nodded his head. "I will be too."....
Makayla took a deep breath, knowing she had to figure out what the hell she was going to do with her life or risk losing either Rodney or Nathan forever. She got herself into this situation, so it was up to her and only her to get out of it. "Consider it done." She stated while staring him up and down one last time. He look so good she didnt want to leave. Ever. Makayla knew in order to get herself right, she had her own demons she had to deal with. Taking one last glance, she turned her back heading in the direction that she came.  This isnt over. I will be back. For sure... Chapter 18

Chapter 18.
"She shouldnt trip. Just stay in the car and dont get out."
Rodney reached into the glove compartment and fished out a breathmint, popping it in his mouth to mask the smell of alcohol on his breath. It was 4:30 in the afternoon, he had been out day drinking and hopping from bar to bar with Bailey since 10 oclock that morning. Today was his first time in St Augustine and his first time taking a road trip with Bailey. That girl had alot of spunk and pep in her step, she defenitely kept him on his feet all day. Even though her city was only 45 minutes from where he lived, after all these years Rodney never thought to visit. They had only been back in Jacksonville less than 20 minutes and he already wanted to get away all over again. Being with Bailey reminded him so much about his life when he was younger, and he couldnt help but feel a relief escaping reality with her even if it was just for one day.
"I wont get out. " She placed her hand on her steering wheel, slipping on her sunglasses as if they were a disguise.
He smiled at her, admiring how good she looked in her Michael Kors Sunglasses. He knew bringing her to Carols house wasnt that great of an idea considering his baby mother had a track record of acting up on a few of his lady friends. But Bailey was different. He figured as long as she wasnt Makayla, Carol shouldnt have too much of an issue. They had both decided on this weekend for him to take the boys for a few nights. Ever since he moved out, he and Catol had actually been on good terms lately and he didnt want to mess that up. He reached over, stroking Baileys thigh as he told her he would be right back. She smiled at him, clicking the lock button on her 2011 Mercedes Eclass so he could get out.
Opening the door, Rodney slid out of the passenger seat shutting the door behind him. He took a deep breath, hoping Carol wouldnt be able to notice that he had been drinking. Alcohol wasnt much of his thing, but he didnt want Bailey to think he couldnt hang anymore.

 

He walked up the stairs to her apartment, opening the screen door so he could knock. It had been a while since he got to take the boys for a weekend. In between his living situation and relationship issues, he regretted not having the space to spend time with his kids, but he was determined to get things back to how they used to be. For the last couple of nights, he had been staying with Bailey at her parents vacation house in Fernadina Beach. Bailey lived in St Augustine permanently and only came to Jacksonville to stay ocassionally for work related reasons. She was generous enough to open up her doors and allow him to sleep in the guest bedroom for the past 3 nights. He had nowhere to go. Deep down inside, being in the beach house with Bailey felt like a vacation everyday. The feeling was so refreshing, he couldnt explain it.

Raising his fist, Rodney firmly knocked on the door while looking over his shoulder. Bailey had her Mercedes parked in the middle of the driveway in plain eye sight. He wished he would have told her to pull around the corner and park somewhere so Carol wouldnt trip out if she seen her, but the other side of him said nothing in fear of offending her. He didnt want Bailey to think he was hiding her which was defenitely not the case.

10 seconds later the door swung open. Carol stood at the door, her hair pinned up in a messy bun with a pink robe tied securely around her waist. Her stomach was visually getting bigger and the baby weight was starting to show in her face. Immediatly upon greeting, she didnt look very happy or excited to see him. She sucked her teeth, jumping right into it without hesitating. "Whose the broad?" She asked while folding her arms across her chest glaring.

He dropped his head, hesitating before answering. He was hoping Carol would be unbothered by Bailey but unfortunately he was wrong. Rodney sighed. "Thats a very good friend of mines. Her name is Bailey."

She huffed, obvioulsy not amused by far. "And you thought it was approriate to bring Baileyyyyyy to my house?" She dramatically dragged her name, her eyes cutting him with anger. He immediatly began to regret his decision to pick the kids up in Baileys car. He knew his baby mother all too well and he was crazy to think she wasnt going to flip out.

Carol leaned forward, taking a long sniff. She drew back while pinching her nose. "Have you been drinking Rodney?"

He shook his head, his cover blown. Rodney knew if he smelled like alcohol, it wasnt as strong as Carol made it seem. Obviously she was pregnant and had the sense of a K9. He threw his hands up in surrender attempting to take control of the situation. "Look Carol, you know its not like that with me. I just want to the boys off your hands for a little while. I'll bring them back with new clothes and money. Please just let me get them." He started to plead with her because he knew the chances of her letting him take the kids were starting to decrease by the minute.

She shot him a bewildered look. Stepping forward she pointed a finger at him. "You think I dont know you Rodney?" She poked him in his chest, causing him to step back. "You show up here drunk with some random chick named Baileyyyyyyy and you think you're going to just take my kids for the weekend and be okay with it?? What's wrong with you?? Your story is getting sadder by the minute!"

He was shocked. He really wasnt expecting her to react like this. "My story is getting sadder by the minute???" He repeated her. Completley confused by what that meant.

"You heard me!" She got a little louder. "You break up with this trick Makayla and you act like the world is over. Now you back to your usual self, jumping from woman to woman just to keep yourself busy. You aint even make it 3 years with that heiffer now its some chick named Bailey. You bring these bitches in and out of my kids life and im fucking sick of it! So you listen to me and you listen to me clear, before you bring some BITCH to my house, you WILL respect my house and you WILL discuss with me who you are bringing around my children WELL before it happens! And another thing, you need to get yourself together. You show yourself to be a very insecure man who has to be up under a woman to feel good about himself. I always hated you for that. I hope my boys grow up to be men and love their women. Stick with their childrens mother through thick and thin and have a real family when they grow up. I pray they are nothing like you."

She stared him deep in his soul. Rodney was shocked. His mouth hung open as he tried to find something to say. Before he could find the words, the door slammed swiftly directly into his face inched away from his nose. He stood there staring at the door for a second, confused on how to react to everything Carol just said. He felt like an idiot for not saying anything back. Slowly he began to back away still staring at the door as if she was going to reopen it and shout at him again. He couldnt believe it. He may have messed up with her and he had no idea how he was going to fix it.

 

Chapter 19

chapter 19
"So what are you going to do? Time is cracking down, you need to make up your mind girl." Nya tested her while staring Makayla examining her facial expression as if she were some kind of therapist. Makayla pressed her chest up against the bar while wrapping her lips around the straw sticking out of her martini glass. She was on drink number 4 and had no intentions on slowing down any time soon. When she got the invite from Nya to come sit at the bar and keep her company, Makayla rushed right over because she knew that keeping Nya company at work typically came with free drinks all night. She sighed, taking a deep breath while she swallowed the last swig of her drink. It had been almost 2 weeeks since the last time she seen Nathan. 2 weeks and 5 days since she seen Rodney. Makaykla promised the next time she crossed paths with either one of them she would have everything together, but she didnt. Makayla ran her hands through her hair which spilled over her back. Stress was creating a very huge impact on her life and she felt deep down inside that she was breaking. Emotionally and sexually, she was fustrated. "I dont know what to do Nya." Makayla tipped her head, the room lightly spinning. She was starting to feel her drink and the alcohol was defenitely starting to take affect. "I'm not happy. I want what i want and I want it easy. I never had to work for