Karina

"Kevin, I just don't understand it. I gave him everything. I did everything he wanted. I gave up my my old life to be with JUST him. And this is how he thanks me?"

"Do you still love him?" Kevin asked quietly. He knew the answer he was hoping for.

"No... yes... Oh, hell, I don't know. I loved him so much yesterday, but now that I know how he really is and what he did, I... I just can't answer that," she said, sighing deeply. "I just wish I didn't know..."

Kevin nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. He hadn't told her, but he had recently found out that his wife had been seeing someone else... another woman... and it was breaking his heart.

"Well," he said softly, "You need to talk to him. You need to let him know how you feel and where he stands. You can't just leave him hanging."

"I know," she said, slowly getting up from the couch. She went to her room and pulled her hair up into a pony tail and put on some shorts. She could hear Lyric in her nursery, talking baby talk and making breathy little baby noises. She went to her room and picked her up out of the crib, then took her into the living room to see Kevin. As soon as the baby saw him, she squealed with delight and flapped her little arms up and down. Kevin reached out to her, and she immediatly went to him. He nuzzled her soft little head under his cheek as she grabbed his hair and gave it a yank. He laughed and looked into her beautiful face. He noticed that her eyes had changed from the deep blue of early infancy to a soft, gorgeous shade of jade green. He smiled at Mikayla when he realized she had his eyes. Mikayla knew exactly why he was so happy.

"Kev, I'm going now. Can you watch her for me?"

"Oh, I think Miss Lyric and I can find something fun to do while you're gone. Baby, do you wanna go play in the sand?" he said, kissing her soft cheek.

Mikayla laughed as she walked out the door and headed to AJ's place. When she reached the back of his house, she saw Karina sitting on the porch alone, her feet propped up on the rail.

"Hey babe," Mikayla said, "Whatcha doin out here alone?"

"Ahhh just thinking," Karina answered. "Oh, wait. You're here to talk to AJ, aren't you? Oh shit. Is there going to be yelling and screaming? I mean, should I leave?"

"Nah, no screaming and yelling," Mikayla answered, smiling sadly. "I just have some things to tell him. I wanted to do it while he was sober. He IS sober, right?"

"As far as I know. He's in his room," Karina answered, grabbing her friend's hand and pressing it to her cheek. "Good luck, Kayla. I know this is hard for you."

Mikayla walked inside and back to AJ's room. The house was eerily quiet. AJ's door was shut, and she wasn't sure if she should knock or just walk in. What if he wasn't alone? No, Karina would have told her if he wasn't alone. She knocked softly. No answer. She knocked louder. Still no answer. She slowly opened the door and saw that he was sound asleep on the bed, clad in only a white terry towel. She sat down on the bed beside him and watched him sleep. She looked at his long eyelashes and his sweet mouth. He looked so beautiful, and she had an urge to just reach out and touch his warm skin. She felt a lump forming in her throat as she watched the soft rise and fall of his breathing, and she reached out to stroke his hair. He slowly opened his eyes and sat up, stretching. He looked at her, but was silent for the longest time. Finally, he broke the silence.

"Baby, I am so sorry I hurt you. I really fucked up this time, didn't I?"

"Yep. You did," she answered.

"I don't know why I did it. I guess I was just lonely," he said lamely.

"AJ, you were gone for three days," she said, beginning to get angry. "Lonely is not an excuse."

"I know. That was stupid," he said quietly.

"AJ, just tell me something. Why Karina? Out of every other girl in the entire would, why her?"

He looked at her, surprised. He had no idea she knew about Karina. He felt even more ashamed now. He couldn't answer her question.

"Do you think you could ever forgive me?" he asked, looking into her eyes. "Or would that be too much to ask?"

"I don't think I can, AJ. I really don't," she answered, a hurt look on her face.

"So... this is it, huh?" he asked softly, tears forming in his eyes. He took her hands in his own, and looked down at them.

"Yes, I think it is," she answered, looking down at their hands and resting her forehead against his. His tears fell onto the back of her hands, and she kissed his head. She gently removed her hands from his and took off the amazing princess cut diamond ring that he had given her a few months earlier. She placed it in his hand and closed it. He squeezed the ring until he felt it digging into his palm.

"I've called the house and had your things moved back to your place," she said quietly. "You can stay here as long as you want, but when you get back, please don't come by my house, ok?"

"Kayla," he said, looking up at her, tears on his face, "Just... please don't keep Lyric from me, ok? She's my life, and I don't think I could stand losing both of you."

"AJ, I wouldn't do that. I know you love her, and she loves you. You can see her whenever you want," Mikayla said, placing her hand on his cheek. He kissed her lips softly. She closed her eyes and let him. This was much more painful than she imagined it would be. She pulled away and moved toward the door. She couldn't stand it anymore.

"Before you go, just answer a question for me, ok?" he said quietly. "Did you ever love me as much as you love Kevin?"

Mikayla was shocked. She had never, ever told anyone about her feelings for Kevin. Except... Karina. Mikayla couldn't answer him. She kissed two fingers placed them on his lips, then walked out the door and closed it behind her.

AJ let out a painful scream from somewhere deep inside his body, as he threw Mikayla's ring across the room with all the strength he had.