Chapter 102

***Kenya.***

Alec and I crossed the street, in silence, heading to a restaurant nearby. It was 8pm, I didn't drive tonight. Ryan and my driver had seen me cross the street.

Inside, Alec ordered wine. I didn't drink mine. He asked to talk and that's what I was doing.

After his second gulp I think he relaxed.

"My father has always been an asshole." Alec started, dragging my eyes from a family.

The wife was wiping the girl's mouth with a napkin and the husband only smiled, adoringly. I suddenly yearned for a baby with Levi. *Where was he? How could he go this long and no communication?*

"He has always controlled the lives of my sister and I. That is the reason she stayed this long without marrying. Living his life; the company. But once word got out about his double life, his second family, there was chaos. We pulled free. Amber decided to marry and I transferred back to the states. Baltimore. I only came here for my sister's wedding."

Sadness was in his voice and I sympathized with him. I could only imagine what it was like not to have a doting father. Mine died early.

"Am sorry about that." I managed. I didn't know how this mattered, but I decided he needed to talk.

I really didn't know Alec's family. I just knew that they had wealth.

"How is Baltimore?" I asked, to distract him. He raised his grief stricken eyes.Those eyes didn't hold their usual charm any longer. Only sadness.

Managing a tentative smile, he croaked a response. Then I allowed him a few moments to gather his element.

"I'm sorry about that night." His sudden switch of subject, briefly winded me. I didn't think I was ready to go down this topic. Unfortunately, I saw no reasonable escape.

"For years I've wanted to seek you out, apologize. Somehow I just couldn't. You weren't on social media. And I didn't know anyone that had your contact then in high school, apart from Cleo Bran, who died in that accident with her family," he quietly said. His words struck a nerve and I no longer felt amicable.

The death of Cleo and her family had been devastating to me. I had cried for weeks and fell ill. The doctors had recommended an activity I enjoyed. But nothing worked. Mum and Amanda tried different activities to bring me from the horror, but nothing worked. All I saw was the sorrow, the shock they had felt when the accident occurred. How I was never going to see them again.

I think Alec noticed my sudden disposition and felt contrite. I noticed his remorse, but I didn't care. I just wanted the night to end.

Dancing had brought me out of my despair then. Amanda and mum had immediately enrolled me in the Manhattan school of Arts; literally took me there, before I recovered.

When I looked around and saw dancers, life came back into me.

Perhaps I needed to dance.

Rising to my feet, I started walking away. It was rude, dismissing someone like that. But I suddenly felt all the despair again. And I remembered my dream of Levi and I just couldn't bear it.

Someone was calling my name in the distance and I ignored the person.

"Kenya." I felt a hand halt me. The touch foreign to me. I turned to look in Alec's eyes. And the regret I saw told me enough. My face was in anguish. The evidence suddenly trailed down.

"Am so sorry, Kenya. I shouldn't have brought up their death, knowing how close you were." He admitted.

He suddenly pulled me to him, his hug alien but comforting. I cried inside his shirt. Cried for the pain I had felt then, when Cleo died. Cried for the pain I felt now from not hearing a word about another person I loved. I was suffering. I inhaled a shaky breath and pulled away from his strong arms. Putting a safe distance.

"Let's call it a night, Alec." I suggested, already walking to the car. The driver and Ryan changed its spot to a few steps from the restaurant. I heard Alec's hurried steps behind me.

"Wait Kenya. Here's my number." He hastily called. He came around and handed me his card. I absently took it, continuing to the car.

When I got in, I finally breathed in the scent I desired. Levi's. The entire car smelled of him, and I wanted to cry. But I held myself. I spared Alec a look as we drove, watching him stare after us.

Once upon a time, I wished for those eyes to look me in this way. I wished for the touches he spared me tonight. Now I only desired one person. And my heart ached to see him again.

When we arrived the penthouse, I went straight to the gym. He had set up a dance section for me.

Changing into something comfortable, I played the RnB music I had danced to for Levi in the cave. And I started dancing.

I twisted, I twirled. I leaped. My soul reaching God. Crying to Him to bring back Levi. To ensure he was alright.

Dancing was a way I communicated to the Almighty. An extension of my lips. Communicating words my heart was too hesitant to let out. It was me, reaching out to Heaven's door and imploring God. And now I needed to implore Him to banish this threat.

He had handed me Levi as a gift and treasure in the most unusual way and I had toyed with the gift. Now I needed my Levi back. I felt tears in my face as I danced and I knew that I was crying. And if I didn't cry now, I'd wake up broken in the morning.

Moments later, I fell to the ground exhausted. I didn't even lift my eyes to the clock, I just lay there and slept.

"Baby, am home."