Hooked On You

Fifty Three

Demi

"You okay, Baby?" I nodded as I glanced up from my hands and over at Odell with a light smile.

"Yeah, I'm just here for answers" his lips lightly twitched at the corners as I leant to peck his lips. "Thank you for coming with me though. I really appreciate it" he shook his head as he stroked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I wouldn't feel right not coming with you."

"I love you" he nodded as he leant to kiss me.

"Love you too, Beautiful" even though he's called me beautiful plenty of times before it didn't stop me from blushing. He lightly laughed as he pressed his lips to my cheek. A light cough pulled us apart. My stomach suddenly filled with butterflies, it's difficult to decide whether it's the baby or nerves.

"Demi?" he didn't seem certain but when I nodded and flashed him a light smile, he relaxed. His lips twitched at the corners, the movement made his wrinkles more prominent. He slid into the booth opposite me as I nibbled lightly on my lip. "It's amazing to see you. You look so much like your mom" tears burnt at the backs of my eyes. I glanced to Odell who flashed me a light smile and then leant to kiss my cheek. "And you're obviously Odell" he turned to Patrick who held his hand out for Odell to shake. "I-I've seen many of your fights. You're definitely a champion."

"Thank you" the smile on my face widened as I watched Odell. My hand lightly caressed my belly.

"I-I want to just say that..." he stopped as I glanced back to him. My eyes locked with his honey orbs. "I'm really sorry for not fighting harder for you. I'm sorry for everything that I put you and your sisters through. None of it was your fault, especially not Madison's" I nodded as I tried to think of everything I wanted to ask him but my brain had gone completely blank.

"13 years. 13 years and you didn't even try to reach out. You just forgot about us and began a new life" his eyebrows pulled together as he slowly shook his head.

"I-I did try to reach out, Demi" I quickly wiped the tear from my cheek as I waited for him to continue. "D-Dallas didn't tell you" I shook my head, glancing quickly to Odell who looked just as surprised as I felt. "It took me a while to get clean and sober after you were taken away. You-You would have been around 17 when I tried to reach out. I contacted Dallas but-but she wanted nothing to do with me. I can't say that I really blame her" I swallowed over the lump in my throat as I kept my eyes on him. I could see the honesty in his gaze. "She said that you wanted nothing to do with me either, and-and Madison didn't even know me."

"I-I didn't-I didn't know, she never told me" Odell ran his hand gently along my thigh.

"She was just doing what she thought was best."

"But I..." Odell gave my thigh a squeeze. I took his hand in mine and tangled our fingers together. "But she never gave me the chance to decide for myself. It would have been nice to have my dad around. I-I hated you for many years but that didn't mean I didn't miss you" a light tear rolled down Patrick's cheek. "I wish she would have at least given me the opportunity to decide for myself. I wasn't a little kid, she didn't need to protect me."

"She's your sister, Demi, she took you and Madison in when she was only 18. She gave you everything, she helped raise you. She did a better job at it then I did" a light silence settled around us until the waitress came over to take our orders and then I spoke.

"You-You remarried?"

"I did" I glanced down at my hands. "That doesn't mean I ever forgot your mom. She will forever have a place in my heart. Whenever we come up to LA, I visit where she's buried. I usually just sit and talk to her about life, about the mistakes I made" I glanced up to meet his gaze, my eyes lined with tears. "I-I will understand if you don't want anything to do with me after..." he cut himself off as I shook my head.

"No, I-I want you in my life."

"Really?" his eyes filled with hope.

"Yeah. I-I'm gonna be a mom and-and I kind of want my baby to have their grandpa" a look of surprise took over his face. I lightly laughed, my smile enormous as I glanced to Odell.

"You're pregnant?"

"19 weeks and a day. It-It wasn't planned but..."

"We're very happy" I giggled as I turned to meet Odell's gaze.

"Very happy" I mumbled as he leant to peck my lips.

"I-I want to be there" the smile on my face grew.

"I don't know how accepting Dallas will be" he shook his head as he smiled over at me.

"Let's take it one step at a time" I relaxed back into Odell as the waitress came over with our drinks, unable to completely express how amazing I felt as he moved his hand to my belly.

-

"How do you feel then, Baby?" I turned to Odell as I dropped my purse down onto the floor and I slid out of my sneakers.

"I feel incredible. It's like this invisible weight has been lifted off my shoulders" Odell widely smiled as he stepped up to me and cupped my face in his hands causing me to giggle. He leant to peck my lips as I clutched at the side of his shirt. "I love you."

"I love you too" he pressed his forehead to mine.

"I do think I need to speak with Dallas though."

"She was doing what she thought was best, Baby" he lightly stroked his fingers through my hair. "Just talk to her, okay? No arguing" he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Thank you for coming with me. I think he likes you" he lightly laughed as I cuddled into his chest.

"That's good, isn't it?" I nodded with a giggle, my heart skipping a beat as he ran his hand along my belly. A warmth wrapping around me that made me feel at home.

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