Chapter Forty Six Sorry's Not Enough

I had the whole outside to myself. Well at least for a little while that is. Mom was still in Florida and she wouldn't be back until in the morning and Dad was working until late at night.

Even Koda and Bear were gone. Apparently while I was away, Dad took it upon himself to sign Koda up for obedient school. As if she actually needed it. She was a good girl. Bear was with Jayce for day.

So, I was by myself.

I called Cassidy if she wanted to come over and she blew me off because she was with Nolan. I let it slide because I did leave her for five days so I didn't have any room to be mad.

I flicked through the channel, bored. I was all for a relaxing day but I wasn't used to a quiet house. At least if no one was here, I had Koda. She kept me busy for quite some time.

Fortunately for me, I only had a couple of hours before I had to go get her from dog school.

So in the meantime, I kept myself preoccupied by watching TV and looking through social media. A smile spread across my face when I watched a video of Jayce playing with Bear.

I slid up and send him a text.

My baby's so adorable.

He responded back a few seconds later.

I know. I can't seem to help it.

I rolled my eyes as I grinned. Instead of replying back, I decided to call him.

"Just so you know, I wasn't referring to you. I meant Bear."

"He got it from me." He said.

"Riight."

"He did. That's how he got a girlfriend."

A rose an eyebrow. "Sorry. He got a what?"

"A girlfriend." He said slowly as if I couldn't understand him. "You know like a girl you take on dates and-"

"I know what a girlfriend is!" I interrupted. "When did he get this so called girlfriend?"

"Like a week ago."

"And you're just now telling me?"

"I don't see what the big deal is? Bear's happy with her." He said.

"I don't know this dog! For all I know, she could have some sort of disease and give it to Bear."

"You're overreacting. She's a nice dog."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. Before we left for California, I met up with them."

"How'd Bear and this dog meet?"

"While my mom took Skylar to the park and apparently Bear befriended Bailey."

"Bailey?" I repeated. "I'll like to meet Bailey."

"No, you're not."

"Why not?"

"Because you're just gonna ruin Bear's relationship with your overprotectiveness."

"No, I'm not." I argued.

"Yes, you will."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Jayce."

"If it makes you feel any better, Bailey is just like Bear. Loving, caring, happy, outgoing. Exactly like him."

"I mean I guess." I muttered. "As long as she didn't hurt him."

Jayce chuckled. "I don't think you have to worry about that. She's already protective of him."

I smiled. "I think I might actually like her then."

"I knew that would make you feel better."

"Totally." I stood up as I slide my feet into my shoes. "You better be here when I get back." I told as I opened the front door.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to pick Koda up since my dad enrolled her into dog school."

I unlocked the car door and stepped inside. I started the car and put the gear in reverse. My phone connected the car's bluetooth so I placed my phone into the cup holder.

"I told you, Koda was a monster." Jayce was saying.

"No, she's not!"

"Cole." He said my name as if I shouldn't tried to disagree with him.

"What? She's not. She just like a little attention every now and then."

"Why does that sound like someone I know?" He asked with a smile in his voice.

Even though he couldn't see me, I narrowed my eyes.

"You better not be talking about me."

"Of course not. I meant Cassidy."

"Okay you see Koda and Cassidy are nothing alike. Koda's an angel while Cass is the monster."

"Should I tell Cassidy you called her a monster?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please. She already knows that. She'll agree with me."

"You might have a point." He said. There was movement on his side before he spoke again. "Cole, I have to go."

"Why? What happened? Is Bear okay?"

"What about me?" He asked. "Bear's fine. I'll see you soon."

He hung up before I had the chance to say anything. That should've been my second hint but I brushed it off and continued to drive.

I arrived at the dog school a few minutes later and turned the car off. Opening the door, I hopped out. I walked toward the front entrance and saw a young girl at the front desk.

"Hi." I said, making my appearance know.

She glance up from her phone and smiled. "Hi! Who are you picking up?"

"Koda. She's a German Shepard."

She nodded. "I'll bring her right out."

She left the desk and ventured to the back. A couple of minutes later she came back with Koda and I smiled, brightly.

"Hey, pretty girl!"

Koda's tail started wagging when she saw me. I kneeled and began to rubbed her face.

"I missed you so much." I cooed. "Did you miss Mama?"

She licked my face in response and I took that as a yes.

The girl laughed as I stood up and took the pink lease from her hand.

"Koda's a very sweet girl."

"She is." I agreed. "Thank you for watching her.." I glanced down at her nametag. "Allie."

"It's not problem. Koda makes my day ten times better."

I grinned. "She has that affect on people."

"Y'all have a good day. I'll see you tomorrow, Koda."

I opened the door and led Koda out. I headed for the car and opened the back door. Koda jumped in and I shut the door. I walked out to the driver's seat and climbed into the car.

When I got back to the house, Jayce's trunk was parked by the curb. I pulled into the driveway and let Koda out. She ran to the front door and I opened it. She ran inside and headed for the living room.

I followed her and Jayce was sitting on the couch while Bear was play fighting with Koda.

Jayce stood up. "Before you freak out.."He started but it was too late I already saw it.

Bear had a white bandage wrapped around his front leg and I immediatly looked at Jayce while I glared at him.

"What happened?"

"He got into a little fight."

"You lied to me. You told me he was fine."

"He is."

"Then why is his leg wrapped up?"

"He was bleeding. Not badly but I didn't want you to worry when you saw it. He's perfectly fine. I made sure of it."

I went over to Bear and he didn't seem to be any kind of pain. He was acting as if he never got hurt in the first place. I sighed as I got up from the ground.

"Are you still mad?" Jayce asked.

"No but if you lie to me again, I will-"

"There's not need to finish your sentence. I get it." He said before sitting down again.

I sat beside him and he pulled me against his chest as he his pressed a kiss to my forehead.

It was silent until Jayce spoke.

"So..we have the whole house ourselves."

"No. Not happening."

"Why not? Your parents aren't here."

"Yeah but that doesn't mean Levi won't walk in any second."

"I highly doubt it."

"You're so needy."

"Hey, I can't help it." He said. "Especially since you're so breathtakingly beautiful."

I rolled my eyes. "Here you go again."

"I told you, I can't get enough of you."

I knew what he meant but I still wasn't caving it. I wasn't even suppose to cave in during the trip and I failed miserably. I had to stand my ground or he'll end up getting me under his stupid spell he had all the other girls in.

My phone started ringing and I grabbed it from beside me. I glanced at the number but I didn't recognize it.

"Do you know this number?" I asked Jayce, turning my phone.

He looked at it and shook his head. "No. Do you want me to answer it?"

"No, it's fine. I'm just not gonna answer it."

A few minutes later, my phone rang again. It was the same number as before. Jayce took my phone and answered it as he stood up. His back was facing me.

"Hello? Why do you keep calling this number?"

He went silent as the other person spoke.

"Why do you wanna know? Who is this?"

Jayce's body went tensed before he turned to face me. I frowned.

"Who is it?"

"Your father."

***

"

You're sure you wanna do this?" Jayce asked as we sat in his truck.

I woke up this morning thinking that today would be a normal day. I would had never guessed that he would've called me. Yet, here I was, sitting in a trunk, about to come face to face with the person who abandoned me.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."

I opened the door and stepped out. Jayce followed me and we walked inside the cafe. My eyes scanned the little shop before they stopped on a man wearing a suit, gripping his cup of coffee in his hands. It had to be him.

"Is that him?" Jayce questioned, looking at the same man I was.

"Yeah." I assumed before walking over to him.

He looked up when he heard the chair scrap across the wooden floor. Andre looked so much like him. He smiled when he saw me. I sat down and Jayce took the chair next to me.

"Colby." He said. "I-"

"It's just Cole." I interrupted him.

He nodded. "Cole." He repeated. "I'm so glad you decided to meet me."

"Yeah about that." I replied. "What made you decided to reach out to me after all these years?"

"I had always planned to contact you but your mother didn't want anything to do with me."

"Can you blame her? I mean you did walk out on her." I pointed out.

"I know I did and I regret it."

Jayce scoffed. "Do you really? Because to me, it doesn't seem like it. If you actually regretted it, you would've fought harder for Cole no matter what Blair had to say. Not only did you walk out on Cole, you gave her up. That doesn't sound like regret."

Deion frowned as he looked at Jayce.

"I'm sorry. Who are you?"

"You would know if you hadn't left your daughter." Jayce replied, coldly.

"I'm trying my hardest to make amends with her and you're not helping. This is a conversation for us. Not you." Deion said.

"I'm not leaving until she tells me to." Jayce said.

Deion glanced at me. "Cole, can I please speak to you in private?"

He wouldn't get anywhere with Jayce on his case but I couldn't blame Jayce for acting this way. But Deion was right, this was a conversation for just us two. I would tell Jayce about it later but first I had to hear Deion out.

I looked at Jayce and he got the hint.

"I'll be in trunk." He said as he stood up but not before kissing my cheek.

"I'll be out soon." I told him to which he nodded.

Deion waited until Jayce walked out the shop to speak.

"Is he always his disrespectful?"

"He isn't up for discussion. I came here for you, not him."

"Right." He agreed. "So, I should begin."

"That would be great."

"I was twenty-four when I met Blair and I knew about her two sons but I didn't care at the time. We were just having fun. She wanted to escape from her break up that she recently had. Of course I wasn't thinking straight and neither was she. We went out and got drunk. I'll spare you the details but a month later she got in touch with me and told me she was pregnant. I was young and that wasn't an excuse to what I did but I wasn't ready."

"You left her, left me, because you weren't ready?"

"I know I was wrong but I didn't think I could handle the responsibility that came with having a baby."

"How would you know if you never gave it a chance?" I asked.

"I wouldn't." He admitted. "Your boyfriend was right, I should've fought harder for you. I'm so sorry. I hope you can forgive me and we can move past this. I want to be in your life, Cole."

I thought about his new life, his new family and that mad me anger. I wasn't enough for him to stay and neither was my mother. He forgot about us and started a new life. One where he was suddenly ready to take responsibility.

I glared at him. "Nineteen years later, you now wanna be in my life. That's not happening. I wasn't good enough for you back then, and you don't deserve my forgiveness. You're lucky I decided to even speak you. You thought sorry was gonna cut it. Well guess what? Sorry's not enough."

"Cole." He said as I stood up.

I ignored him and walked out the shop. He followed me, calling my name but I wasn't going to stop. I reached the trunk and stepped inside.

Jayce noticed that Deion was standing outside by the trunk, trying to gain my attention but I stared straight ahead of me.

"Drive." I told Jayce.

He didn't say anything but started the trunk and drove away. He didn't ask any questions as we headed back to my house. If mom knew I spoke to Deion, she would be beyond pissed so I was keeping this to myself and Jayce would too.

All I could think of was, he should've tried harder.