Chapter eleven- Eshe
What the fuck.
My soul damn nearascendedfrom my body when the light beside the sofa clicked on right after I stepped inside. My heart rateplummetedback to normal when I realized it was only Donte.
His visitwasnot wanted—but expected. I knew he’d show up after seeing me with West.
Lawd help me , I whispered internally. I wished he would go away. That thought echoed in my head, but my pussypurred. Like always. She’s always happy to see this wicked-ass man. Her and my brain neverseemedto agree when it came to him.
Kicking off my shoes, I wondered if he’d let me ignore his presence long enough to shower and eat. Iwasstarving—I’d missed lunch because my bosshad been ridingmy ass all day.
I doubted it. When Dontehadsomething on his chest, heexpectedyou to listen until hegotit off. No waiting allowed.
Rolling my head on my neck, Ipreparedfor battle and fought the urge to cross myself against the evil thathad decidedto invade my home.
Iwasn’teven Catholic. I needed to stop playing with white Jesus. But really—I needed all the help I could get.
Hestarted in onme as soon as I crossed the threshold into the living room.
“Ibeentexting, calling, leaving your ass messages for over a month. Ihaven’tgottenso much asa ‘nigga, kiss my ass’ in return. First time I see you in thirty-three days, and you’re in the next man’s face, all up on his dick.” He sounded deceptively calm.
Dontedidn’tyell when hewasmad. He used this venomously low tone thatlulledyou into a false sense of security. Yousatthere thinking, It’s not that bad , but it reallywas. And somehow, by the end, you alwaysbelievedyou were the one at fault. No matter what.
But I knew better now.
Ithadn’ttaken me long to realize dudegota tick in his jaw—the faster ittwitched, the madder hewas.
Itwas twitchingfast as hell right now.
I shrugged, unmoved. Iwasmad too. We could be mad together.
Isaton the chaise lounge across from him.
His big bodytookup damn near all the space on my red Cleo tuft-back sofa.
He looked really fucking good—plain white tee, black basketball shorts, Jordans.
His dick printwasloud and proud in the thin material, fresh line-up, and he smelledlike trouble.
Shit.
I ignored my body’s heat. Ididn’twant this man. Even if Iwantedto fuck him—and that’s whatgotme in this situation with him.
Iignoredthe comment about my date. “How was your honeymoon?” I asked, going for his jugular. “I saw the pictures. Y’all looked cute—the three of you.” Iincludedtheir baby on purpose. To remind him—and myself—why he shouldn’t be here.
Sinicahad sentme photos and a sonogram picture right after they left. Ihad almost hada mental breakdown.
“Did she find my panties?” Ichuckled.
Heshookhis head. “I love you, but youpettyfor that. And selfish as fuck.”
Tuh! I laughed right in his face.
“I’m selfish? You’re here about to pop a blood vessel over me not calling you back and going on a date, when you just married a whole other woman. And you’re not even three days fresh off a month-long honeymoon, actingpossessive. You got a lot of fucking nerve.”
“I’m not supposed to be possessive?” heasked, ignoring the rest.
“No.”
Hescoffed. “The fuck I ain’t. You’re mine, mylife. You think I’m gonna let anything come between us? No. I told you—nothing but death will part us. You agreed to that.”
“Well, good then. We’re done. Ifucking diedthe moment I walked down that aisle and stood across from you instead of beside you.” Islammedmy hand on the arm of the chair. My heartwas beatingso fast.
“Here you fucking go.” He threw up his hands and seethed between gritted teeth.
“You know I had to—she’s pregnant.”
“And? Ever heard of co-parenting? Millions of people do it.”
Heglaredat me like thatwasthe dumbest shit he’d ever heard. “You know that’s not how Iwannaraise my child.”
“And I commend that. It’s awesome that you don’t want to be a deadbeat. But—”
“But nothing.” Hecutme off. “This is how it’s gonna be, for now. All I ask for is time, Eshe. Why can’t you give me that? Just a little time to figure this out.”