And I Love Her

Chapter 6 - Carolina

"I've never seen him this tired," Neymar whispers as he stands in the doorway of my room.

I turn to face a sleeping Davi in bed next to me and I place my bookmark between the pages I stopped reading at.

"Take the stroller away and walking half the city does that to you," I smile over at Neymar.

I pat the space next to me in bed for him to come lay down and he does so quietly.

"What are we going to do tomorrow?" Neymar turns to look at me.

"Let's ask Caro what she did today," I start. "Then we can figure it out."

Neymar and I stay looking at each other for less than half a minute until we hear a key turn in the front door.

I sit up in bed and make my way over to greet Carolina.

"I think I'm going house hunting tomorrow," Carolina spins around then throws herself on the couch.

I stay leaning on the doorway chuckling at her and then I feel Neymar behind me.

"What'd you three get up to today?" She asks.

We spend the rest of the night talking about our trip to the Central Park Zoo, the walk around the South East corner, FAO Schwarz, the Apple store and our walk down Fifth and Sixth Avenue.

Neymar just kept showing her all the photos throughout the chat and Davi woke up at the end of it.

They headed over to the Plaza soon after and we decided to head over to the Empire State Building tomorrow after I get out from work.

"Rough night?" Jen asks after the meeting the next day.

I get up from my chair and turn around to see if she was actually talking to me, I was a bit out of it.

"Yeah," I finally speak. "I didn't get much sleep."

"And why is that?" She smirks. "Kat has a new boy toy?"

"Old one more like it," I almost chuckle at the thought.

"What?" She asks me then grabs me by my arm as we head out the door.

Jen manages to drag me to her desk and begins bombarding me with questions.

"You slept with an ex? How was it? Was it make up sex? Are you back together? Was it a booty call? Tell me everything?"

"What? No," I scowl as I place my notepad on her desk. "My ex is in town with his kid and the kid's mom-"

"This Neymar guy is in town?"

"He's a well respected player internationally," I cross my arms.

"I'm American, sorry," Jen sits back. "But so are you- just keep talking."

"Neymar is in town and we went out yesterday- with his kid- Carolina, his ex, went out with some friends so we had a good time," I can feel my cheeks get rosy.

Yes, I wanted Neymar back, but I think it was just the feeling of being around him that I missed.

"I couldn't sleep cause I was thinking about him-us- a lot," I confess.

"Damn," Jen frowned. "I thought it'd be juicier. Well, we know what you have to do. You're seeing him again today, right?"

"Yep," I almost smile.

"Profess your love and you two will get together," Jen bites her tongue from laughing.

"As if it were that easy," I kick her. "We're going out with Carolina today."

"Do you think Neymar still likes you?" Jen leans forward.

"It's hard to tell," I say. "I hope so."

"Well, listen, if it happens, it happens. Isn't there another guy, the Colombian one..."

"James," I help her out. "He's not really in the picture."

"Well, get to it sweetie," Jen hurries me off her desk as our supervisor is nearby. "How's that article going?"

"Good," I lie.

Jen raises her eyebrow at me.

"Terrible," I speak again. "I have no one to interview."

"Yes you do," she sings then spins around in her chair.

I walk away without understanding what she meant by that. Then it hit me.

"Carolina!" I run up to the group eating ice cream cones outside my office building.

"Whoa," Carolina jumps a bit. "What's up?"

"Do you think, before you go, that I could interview you for the magazine? I-I have my first piece coming up and I was set to interview an inspiring woman a-and I was having trouble thinking of one, then you came along."

"Aw, Kat," Carolina smiled. "I'd be honored."

"Really?" I light up. "Thank you, so, so much," I hug her. "I'll translate it and everything. It'll be great, I promise."

"You're in good hands," Neymar spoke to Carolina.

After another exhausting day showing the family around, Carolina comes back to my place with Davi after Neymar went out with some friends.

"What's the most terrifying idea of leaving your son with his father, Neymar Jr., for a month or two?" I ask Carolina as we're curled up on the couch.

Davi is asleep in my room once again, and I spent the majority of the day writing out questions to ask Carolina for the interview. Now we're sat here drinking some wine before I take the two of them back to their hotel.

"The traveling," Caro speaks. "The worry of Davi traveling with Neymar and me not being there. Also, the fact that Davi might be practicing football with his dad and he might get injured."

"Okay," I nod as I finish jotting down what she said. "Last question."

"You are an awe inspiring woman for the baggage your son's father has brought upon the three of you as a family and the two of you as a former couple and now parents, but what do you think Neymar and you have learned from Davi?"

"Oh, that's a tough one," Carolina smiles after taking a sip of her wine. "I think Davi has taught the both of us how to be more loving and caring towards one another and other people, as well as the importance of tolerance and judgment as we're faced with challenges due to Neymar's career, but all in all Davi brings us both joy and has taught us once again how to appreciate that certain joy."

I begin to smile at her as she tries to brush me off before she starts blushing.

"I love you guys," I finish up writing. "I really do."

"What has Davi taught you?" Carolina mocks me.

"The names of every character in any Disney movie," I chuckle. "Davi has also taught me everything you just said, despite the minor role I play in his life."

"Kat, you don't play a minor role at all," Caro leans in. "You're literally the reason we're here."

"I thought Neymar was just saying that-"

"They both really missed you, Neymar too."

I smile slightly then put my pen and notebook down on the coffee table.

"Did you miss Neymar?" Carolina asks as I take my glass of wine in hand.

"A lot," I nod.

"Do you still love him?"

"A lot," I nod again.

She just frowns.

Now the thought of him getting over me flows through my mind because of her frown.

"I don't know how he feels about you," she confesses. "But you should talk to him."

"I'd really rather not," I shake my head. "It's just best if I get over this."

"If you think so?" Caro looks at me. "You never know."