I WAKE UP WITH A DRY throat. I can hear whispering outside my - wait... Where am I?... Oh my room, in my parents house...

"I don't know why... But they were challenging each other... Next thing I know, they're fighting out in the back... None of them will speak up and tell us what happened." Octavia tells the abridged version of all that happened yesterday to someone.

"Is she okay though?" that's Amrita.

"Yeah, she's still asleep." Octavia says.

"I'll wait in her room then... Will you help me watch Chi?" Amrita asks.

"Sure!... Come here, little munchkin." Octavia says in a funny voice.

Malachi squeals...

The door creaks open and Amrita walks in... I sit up on the bed and let a small smile form on my lips, and she smiles back.

"I'm upset with you, and you have a lot of explaining to do." Amrita warns.

She tries to hide her smile.

"I know." I murmur...

I get off the bed and I hug my best friend, and she lightly strokes my hair.

"Where's my godson?"

"With Octavia."

I nod.

"I've missed that little devil... I can't wait to see him - physically." I snort with laughter and Amrita joins me.

When the laughter dies down.

"What's going on June?" she has a concerned look on her face.

I tell her everything and from the way her eyes widen with each sentence I make, I know she's shell shocked.

"Oh my..." she gasps.

"Yeah... I don't know what to do... I'm not even sure what Eric might be thinking right now... The drama in my life is unending." I say with a sigh!

She hugs me and tries to assure me that everything will be fine.

"You know, one thing I noticed though. When Kyle caught me in his arms, I didn't feel the same tingles I used to feel, when our bodies made contact. I looked into his eyes and still I couldn't feel it."

"That means you're over him June... You're finally over him." she says as she tries to hold back her tears.

"I know!... I - I - I...." I try to form words to explain how I feel, but nothing is coming.

"Shh... You don't need to say anything else!... I'm so, happy for you! - Now, you go get your man and keep your home!" she says with a smile.

And I let out a loud laugh and a few tears roll down my face, and we hug each other... She wipes the tears off my face and I do the same for her... Then we hug again.

After breakfast with my parents, I order an Uber and head home. My siblings offered to drive me home, but I declined, telling them I was okay, and they didn't need to worry.

When I get to our apartment, I take several deep breaths before walking in. I can hear a soft melody playing somewhere in the great room. I shut the door gently.

I get closer and realize its Eric playing the piano. It's a sad tune. It sounds familiar but I can't place where I've heard it before.

He's shirtless, but still wearing his slacks. His hair unruly, probably from him running his fingers through them.

He still hasn't realized I'm here. His skilled fingers moving deftly on the keys as he continues to play the sad tune with his eyes shut tightly... I thought he didn't know how to play?... He certainly doesn't play like he's just learning. This man sure is full of secrets and I keep uncovering them in layers like an onion.

The melody stops and his eyes open after a few seconds and I brace myself for anything he might have to say to me.

He turns and almost jumps, its obvious I startled him. If this wasn't a tense atmosphere, we would have laughed at that. But, he just stares at me and I stare back, trying to decode what his eyes are saying or pick one emotion that could help me know what mood he's in.

A few moments pass, of us just staring at each other. He stands and shuts the fallboard, before moving to the kitchen, I notice he's barefoot - I don't know why I find that hot!

I don't know what to do with myself, so I walk into the kitchen and find him drinking some orange juice - his favourite juice. I watch as he gulps the liquid, and the up and down movement of his Adams apple - this feels so erotic, damn!

I unconsciously bite my lip as I take in the sight before me. I didn't even realize he had moved from his position close to the fridge and is now standing directly in front of me. I blink repeatedly, trying to recover from my erotic thoughts... Shit!

"Hi." he says.

I clear my throat.

"Hey." I say in a small voice.

"Have you had something to eat?"

My eyes wander down his impeccably built body, and they settle on the huge bulge, that is causing a strain on his pants... I want to run my hands over it and take it in my mo...

"June!" he shakes me back to the present.

Damn hormones!

I try to form coherent words and gather my thoughts, before I blurt out what I'm really thinking.

"Yeah?" I tilt my head to the side.

He chuckles dryly.

"I'm sorry Eric."

He drops his hands off my shoulders and his jaw sets, and he doesn't say anything else, just stares at me.

"I was only telling Kyle about the baby... I tripped, and he simply caught me, that was all - I swear!" I tell him the summarized version of what happened.

"When I saw you in his arms June - it was like my worst fear, just..."

He groans and runs a hand in his hair, a pained expression on his face.

"I've got what you call separation anxiety. That's why I didn't get attached to people, and caused me great depression, because I couldn't attach myself to anyone enough to trust them with how I feel inside... Then you came along and I felt every wall crumble!... There was this natural pull to you and I vowed to never let you go... I've lost everyone I've ever loved and cared for in my life. When you cheated, I wanted to run for the hills and hide there, but you're my world June, and I've got so attached to you, I don't see myself letting you go... Some might think I'm stupid or crazy, to accept my wife with open arms even after she cheated on me... But I just can't, let you go... I'm ready to raise that baby, because it comes from you... Because I can't lose you!... Above all I love you!... I fucking Love you June!" he sniffles.

Tears roll down his face and I can't help myself either.

"I have made my own mistakes... I was scared to tell you about my son and his mother, because I was scared you'll leave me! I was willing to keep them a secret, because I can't lose you June... I'll go batshit crazy, without you!... So, I'm begging you - please, don't leave me." he sobs.

He goes down on his knees and leans his head on my bump, his hands wrapped around my waist.

"I'm not perfect and neither are you... Let's be imperfect together... Please, don't leave me baby... I'll do anything, give anything to never know what it's like to lose you June!" he sobs even harder!

I blink down at him as my tears fall. I'm unable to form any words. So, I join him on my knees, my fingers fist his hair, as I tilt his head up and kiss him.

I kiss him with all my heart and soul! I kiss this amazing, beautiful, intelligent, broken, imperfect man, who loves me as I love him!

He wraps his arms around me, his mouth never leaving mine.

He shifts back, so there's some space between us. Then he sweeps loose strands behind my ear and stared deep into my eyes!

"Because of you, I laugh, I smile, and I dare to dream more than I ever have. I promise to hold your hand every night and to never let us lose our spark. You are, and always will be, the love of my life, my soulmate, my person. I promise to love, respect, support all your dreams and protect you. All that is mine becomes yours, Let us build a home of laughter, love, support, and charity. Let us create a warm and welcoming space for the good times and the bad. Let us be a home for each other, forever and ever..." he says warmly with a smile.

He repeats our vows from memory, not missing a line and I can feel the tears pooling and soon my eyes are filled with unshed tears

" I love you Mrs Morgan. Till death do us part."

He kisses me again and wipes the tears off my face.

"I promise to respect you, love and cherish you. Support all your dreams and be your cheerleader for your wins and comforter for your losses. Never leaving your side, be it in sickness or health, riches or poverty, bad times or good times, I'll always be here. Your best friend and forever life support. I vow to kiss you every day, as we do today, with love and devotion. That each kiss we share from now will be a remembrance of our wedding vows, our joy, and everything we share. For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home. I love you baby." I recite our vows.

He has a wide grin on his face, as he stands to his feet and helps me up.

"I'm never letting you go... Ever!" he says sincerely as his eyes hold mine.

"Thank you." I whisper.

"I love this baby, before meeting her... Don't ever doubt that." he says truthfully.

I nod, and try to push back the tears.

"No more secrets, no more lies... Moving on, we start afresh, on a clean slate." he beams.

"Clean slate." I repeat.

He nods and leans down again, as he captures my lips in his.

Guys do you know that underneath this chapter, there is a star button, and do you know when you click it, it turns orange 😲? Cool right?, you should totally try the magic 😉! 😚😚😚