Mixed feelings by S. N. Nina Arthur (beach read .txt) 📖

Author’s Suggestion,

Song ahead, please play the song in the background and read the chapter so that you can feel the atmosphere in the scene.

Thank you.

***

Venessa’s POV.

Sitting in a restaurant, I was waiting for my bestie, Rory Blaze, I wanted to meet him and his daughter.

We have been friends for the past 3 years. I met him at my Mom’s party. We became friends, he was 17 back then and I was 15. Now he’s 20 and I’m 18. When he was 18, he impregnated a girl, and Her name was Charley Louis. She wasn't a good girl. She had cheated on him a number of times. He always forgives her. He was a man who believes in second chances, but she doesn't deserve it. He took full responsibility for the situation and promised to take care of the child, but she turned out as a complete bitch and tried to abort the baby without his knowledge, but Rory didn’t let that happen. He paid her with a good sum of money, she many times tried to abort the child, Rory was smart, he put a caretaker and maid around her, to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. After she had given birth to the child, he took care of that baby alone. He raised her as a single Father with nobody’s help. Charley didn't even hold her baby once. She walked away with the money he gave.

So, Yeah, he has a daughter of 2 years old. She is a very cute little girl. He named her Ariel Blaze. I called and asked him to meet me. He said as usual “ I’m busy, Can’t Meet you“ God, I hate those words. I begged him to meet me. I miss him and his daughter so much.

After pleading and begging him he finally said ok and I decided on the place and time. You may feel I'm not a good friend and a selfish one to disturb him when he's very busy with a lot of work but this is me. I love his company. I just want to spend time with him and his cute little daughter. It has been so long that I didn't meet him, I know he was busy with so much on his plate. I was worried about him and his daughter. I went to his condo many times. The Babysitter used to tell me he went to the office or had some important meetings. I used to wait for hours and eventually leave.

So here I am in a restaurant, sitting at my table waiting for him. I told him to meet me at eight. It’s 8:40 now, Still no sign of him. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I dialed his number; I was about to call him then saw him coming inside with his daughter in his arms, she saw me, jumped from his arms and ran towards me “ v... “

“Hey munchkin, how are you doing?“ lifting her up.

“Me fine, you?“ She said, smiling at me.

“I’m good,“ kissing her cheek.

“I’m sorry for making you wait for us v,” he said, hugging me.

“It’s okay,“ I smiled, kissing him on his left cheek.

We ordered our meal, After some time the waiter brought us our meal. We started digging in.

"How's work going on?" I asked,

"It's going fine, dad's secretary Mr. Adam was helping and guiding me in many things. I'm just nervous about the new project I'm working on right now."

"Don't stress about it Ro, I know you'll do good" I squeezed his hand.

"Thank you, Venn"

"Sunng" Ariel pulled the hem of my top, pointing at the group who was singing on the stage. When I visit his house, I sing songs and rhymes for Ariel, she also dances when I sing, it's so cute to watch her dance. I read somewhere that singing songs would help kids to speak early and make them active.

I looked up to see the band on stage, playing a slow song. I was watching the lead singer; she has a very good voice. I saw her somewhere I can’t remember but I feel like I know her. Her gaze fell on me, and she smiled.

Rory saw my confused face, and asked, "Do you know her?".

"No...But I feel like I saw her somewhere, I can't remember where."

He turned to her, watching her.

"V, go sing," Ariel said pointing at the stage, I smiled at her. Bending over, I said.

"I'm not their band member, I cannot go there and sing Ariel, it's rude."

"Please…" she requested with her big baby brown eyes.

"Ariel baby, she is not their band member. How can she go there and sing dear? She doesn't know them, I promise I'll make her sing a song after our dinner okay" Rory took her hand and kissed it.

"Daddy promise?" She grinned.

Nodding to her, "Daddy Promise" he grinned.

I smiled at them; Rory is the best father I have ever seen before. Anybody who sees their relationship will say that a thousand times because he's really a very good father, he never made her cry. He gave her his time and love, Even when he's busy with lots of work he would run to her when she's sad. I craved that kind of love, I missed it terribly.

After finishing the song, The lead singer waved at me signaled me to come onto the stage.

It confused me. Normally bands never call a stranger to the stage to sing when they are performing, I know it because I have gone to many concerts and I don't remember any of the singers calling someone over to the stage and allowing them to sing. Maybe they do, but I never saw or heard about it.

“Everyone.... Meet my friend Vanessa Foster. She is a very good singer too, let’s hear her “ she announced.

Friend? I don't even know her, why is she lying. Who is she? Do I know her? If I do then why can't I remember her?

Everyone was looking at me, and I was feeling nervous. I don’t know her and she just announced my name, asking me to sing. I turned to look at Rory, he was encouraging me to go. Ariel was grinning and gesturing me to go, I stood up, I was trying hard not to show my nervousness on my face, my legs were weak. It was hard for me to move them, and I feel like I was lifting a huge rock. I slowly began to walk to the stage. My hands were sweating and shaking. I climbed up on the stage and took a deep breath and smiled at everyone hiding my nervousness, with my shaking hands I took the mike from her, she smiled at me which confused me more. Why on Earth is she asking me to sing? How did she know that I sing? How did she know my name? So many questions were running in my mind, but I have no answers to them.