Page 9 of My Heart Belongs to You

“Don’t remind me,” she grumbled. “Did you call Vanessa?”

My eyebrows furrowed and a smile played on my lips. “Why’d you ask?”

“You sound… stressed. And I know it’s because you’re missing Avery.”

“And you,” I added.

Her light, airy laugh made me smile with ease. I couldn’t get enough of hearing it. She didn’t realize how infectious it was to me.

“Yeah, yeah. Did you call her?”

The shift from her being laidback to serious had me pushing out a breath. I couldn’t avoid this topic with Robyn like I had with Summer. My relationship with Summer was more familial. We were quick to turn into each other’s protector. With her being only a few months from giving birth, I didn't want to give her any reason to get riled up. Plus, she had never been fond of my ex-girlfriend Vanessa and our breakup added more fuel to the fire.

Robyn, on the other hand, was a little less emotionally attached to the situation. I was already with Vanessa when we met. There was drama she had missed, but Summer had front row seats. Even after I caught Robyn up with everything, she remained unbiased when giving me advice. She had a way of making me open up to her, no matter how much I didn’t want to do it. Our natural comfortability had been the foundation of our friendship. In just two years, she’d become one of the most important people in my life.

“I didn’t,” I answered with a sigh.

“Why not?”

“Because what was I supposed to say?”

“Hi, Vanessa. How are you? Can I speak to Avery and wish her a happy birthday? Easy.”

I chuckled.

If only it were that easy.

“I doubt she’d even answer the phone to be honest. Last time I called…” I trailed off, wincing as the sharp pain from earlier returned across my forehead. “Let’s just say it went left and ended with her hanging up on me.”

“You’ve been in that baby’s life since she was one. You were more of a dad than her actual dad,” she continued. “Vanessa knows how much Avery means to you. Ending that bond because she wants to be chased isn’t cool. It breaks my heart that you and Avery’s relationship was collateral damage.”

I chuckled dryly. “Yeah, so it’s easier to not call and deal with them not being here, than to try and have to fight with Vanessa every time we talk.”

I shouldn’t have to fight to keep in contact with a child I loved like my own. For three years, I took care of Avery, I never missed a doctor’s appointment, birthday, or daycare pickup.

Blood couldn't have made us any closer.

“I hate hearing you sound like this,” Robyn murmured. “You changed your life for them, every move you made was for your family. It’s okay to admit you’re hurting.”

Before meeting Vanessa and Avery, I hadn’t considered raising a child or having a family. They dropped into my life at a time when I had forgotten why having a work-life balance was important. It took some adjusting, but before I knew it, I was a family man. I was able to create memories with Avery like my dad did with me. Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes for breakfast and Sundays at the park were our weekend rituals. My heart thumped against my chest as I remembered the fond memories of spending Saturday mornings watching “Motown Magic.”

“It’s all good, Goldie,” I said after a moment.

Pressing my fob against the pad outside my building, I entered the quiet lobby. I nodded at Deira, the front desk attendant, then proceeded toward the elevator. She waved and smiled before returning her attention to her phone. I smirked when I realized she was listening to the jazz playlist I sent her a few weeks back.

Robyn groaned. “Are you home yet?”

“Yup. Waiting on the elevator now.” I pressed the button then leaned against the wall adjacent to it. “I sent her a gift last week. Vanessa hasn’t reached out about it yet.”

“It was delivered already?” Robyn yawned. “I thought you said it could take up to six weeks?”

The custom ballet slippers I bought for Avery were delivered on Monday and I'd been waiting all week for Vanessa to confirm their arrival. Before she and Avery moved, we talked about getting Avery into ballet or gymnastics. She loved to dance and had taken a liking to ballet after I showed her videos of Black ballerinas performing. A wry smile curved my lips as I remembered the glimmer of joy in her brown, doe eyes.

“They were delivered earlier than expected. I guess the extra fifty dollars for expedited shipping was worth it,” I supplied as the elevator dinged.

“And she hasn’t even texted you?” Robyn kissed her teeth. “That woman is something else.” She went quiet for a beat. “I’m sorry you have to go through this, my darling. I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”

A smirk formed on my lips at her remark.