8. Brielle
Three Weeks Later
Monday had come and gone three times before I came up for air.
I hadn’t even seen my apartment since I left for the date three weeks ago.
In that timeframe, James had converted one of his rooms into a studio for me.
He ordered equipment for me to record and edit all of my videos.
If I wasn’t working, I would be in his bed, catching up on some much-needed sleep.
I didn’t know what kind of mattress set he had, but the sleep I got in James’s bed was better than any sleep I’d had in my whole life. Within a few moments, I was out like a light every time I lay my head on the satin pillowcases.
Because of his schedule at the clubs he worked at, we spent most days tangled in the sheets.
When he went to run errands or clock in, I would get some work done or rest. I’d conducted several meetings on the couch with my feet kicked up.
If it weren’t for my team at the office, customers would have sent me messages about the delays in their shipments.
I was grateful for them to keep the show going despite me not coming into the office.
I appreciated them and would give them both bonuses at the end of the quarter.
As I stirred awake from the sun’s rays beaming into the bedroom, I sat up and searched for my phone. When I located the device with the glittery case, I picked it up. Of course, James was the first message I saw.
MY MAN :
Good morning, beautiful. I didn’t want to wake you up before I left.
I know you’re probably sore from all the dick I dropped in you earlier this morning.
There are smoothie bowls in the refrigerator if you’re hungry.
I should be home in time for dinner. If not, I’ll have something delivered for you.
My lips tugged into a grin as flashbacks of this morning filled my mind.
We’d gone to bed naked and pressed together.
I’d woken up to his dick twitching between the crack of my ass.
I happily wiggled my ass until he and his full erection were awake and ready to play.
He turned me every way but loose and knocked me right back out.
ME:
Good morning, my man What all do you have to do today?
MY MAN :
I don’t know for sure. Knowing my sister and my niece it involves me spending hella money.
ME:
Lmao. Love that for them. I’ll probably use this alone time to clean up and get some work done.
MY MAN :
Sounds good. I’ll let you know when I’m headed back home to you. I love you, baby.
My thumbs hovered over the keyboard as I read and reread his message. He’d dropped the L word on me several times in the last three weeks. Every time, my heart would flutter. The first time he’d said it was so casual in conversation, I almost didn’t register it.
We sat in the backyard on a picnic blanket, sipping drinks, and watching the sunset. The different hues of purples, pinks, oranges, and blues were breathtaking as he held me in his arms and kissed me in the crook of my neck.
“Nothing beats the beauty of mother nature,” I commented as I closed my eyes and marveled in the warmth his body gave me. I was secure in his embrace.
“I can name a few things more beautiful,” he replied.
“Yeah? Like what?”
“You.”
I smiled. “I knew you were going to say that. I love when you compliment me.”
“And I love you. Every day with you has been nothing short of perfect.”
“Yeah, this has been some of the best moments—wait. What did you say?”
“You heard what I said.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Brielle.”
I turned around to straddle his lap and cupped his face in my hands. I looked into his eyes. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
My lips pressed against his.
I didn’t say it back for another four days. He was leaving for work one afternoon and on his way out the door, I said, “Be safe. I love you,” and closed the door. He’d texted me several smirking emojis to let me know he’d heard me loud and clear.
ME:
I love you too
As I climbed out of bed, I stretched my arms above my head and grinned at the mumu I’d pulled on after James put me through the mattress before he left to meet with his sister and niece.
He was off for three days and had to do some family stuff with them.
He asked if I was ready to accompany him and meet his people, but I declined.
I had never felt a connection so strong, so fast, as the connection I had with James. Even if he wasn’t home, knowing he was coming back to me made my heart pound in my chest with excitement. His effect on me was unique and different.
The day was still young, so I showered and pulled on the lavender mumu with matching slippers.
I grabbed my laptop and cell phone and made my way into the kitchen.
I pulled up my emails before I opened the refrigerator and saw the smoothie bowl James had left for me.
I grabbed it, a spoon, and made some toast. As I ate, I sang along to some music and responded to a few inquiries.
I set times where I would go to different locations for the next few clients.
I was in my zone until a knock on the door caught my attention.
“I wonder who that could be.”
I paused my music and made my way over to the door.
In the three weeks I’d set up shop in James’s home, the only time there was a knock on the door was when he’d ordered something to be delivered to the door for me.
He usually sent me lunch, and because we’d had a late morning, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d ordered lunch on his way out.
I looked through the peephole but couldn’t make out the person on the other end. I unlocked the door, and the sight before me took me aback—a woman and her damn near fresh out the coochie baby awaited me.
“Um, hey? Can I help you?” I asked kindly.
“Is James here?” she asked. I took in her full appearance.
She was beautiful, despite the disheveled look she had going on.
She wore a stylish track suit with a pair of designer slides.
The baby bag on her shoulder was expensive as well.
The baby wore a cute pink onesie and a tiny bow in her head full of hair.
She was a beautiful brown baby and looked just like her mother.
“No, he’s not. You can come back when he returns.”
“Can’t I come in and wait for him?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I’m not comfortable letting a stranger into his home when he’s not around.”
The woman’s bottom lip trembled. She looked visibly upset. I stepped out into the hallway and crossed my arms over my chest. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Celeste.”
“Hey, Celeste. I’m Brielle. What’s going on? Is there something I can help you with?”
She shook as she held her baby in her arms. The small child squirmed and whined but didn’t cry as her mother did.
I stood awkwardly off to the side as I watched her gather herself. She swiped the tears away and let out a few gut-wrenching sobs.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to break down like that. It’s just been really rough lately.” She whimpered.
“It’s okay. Do you want me to hold your baby? Give you a few moments to catch your breath.”
She held the baby out for me to take. With gentle movements, I cradled the baby in my arms and rocked back and forth. I eyed the baby and watched as she sucked on the pacifier almost bigger than her face.
“Take some breaths, mama. You’ll be okay.”
“Thank you for being so gentle with me. It feels like I haven’t had any time to just exist. My baby is always crying. I have no one to help.”
“Is that what you’re here for? You know James?” I asked as I tore my eyes away from the beautiful baby girl to look at her.
She chuckled. “I know James very well. He’s the father of my baby.”
My ears rang as her words repeated in my head.
James is the father of her baby.
“Huh?”
“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” she asked with a humorless chuckle.
“No . . . he didn’t. How long ago did you have her?”
“She was technically a preemie. She was born at thirty-four weeks. She spent over a month in the NICU. We’ve been home for about three weeks. I’ve been blowing his phone up, begging for him to help me. It’s been so stressful.”
My heart shattered.
If it weren’t for the small bundle of joy in my arms, I would have fallen to my knees.
James was dealing with baby mama drama and didn’t tell me. He claimed he was falling in love with me, making me feel like I was in a fairytale romance, and the whole time . . . he was out here ignoring the mother of his child and premature baby girl.
“I’m sorry. Can you give me a moment?” I asked as I held her baby out for her to take.
She grabbed the baby and kissed her forehead. “I didn’t know what else to do than to pull up on him. I need help. I need a break. She needs her father.”
Just as I was about to reply, I felt James’s presence. He’d emerged from his car and grabbed a few bags from the passenger seat. He looked at me with a smile, but the smile fell as soon as he saw the other woman.
That was all the confirmation I needed. There was no way her story was made up by the reaction James had when he saw her. It was like he’d seen a ghost.
“Excuse me.”
I went back inside and blinked away tears. He said all that bullshit about liars, and yet he was the biggest one. How could he lie to me like that? How could I ever trust him? I’d spent all this time falling in love but had no clue who James really was.
I was so fucking stupid.
I went into the bedroom and retrieved my duffel bag from the closet floor.
I opened it and angrily tossed my things into the bag.
I left everything he bought me during my stay here though.
I refused to take anything he’d given me back to my house as a reminder of the whirlwind romance we had for the last several weeks.
My vision became blurry as the tears fell freely. My heart ached. I became physically ill. The nausea was bad. I had to stop and bury my face in my hands. I took several calming breaths, but the bile continued to inch up my throat.
I needed to leave. It was the fact that James hadn’t bothered to come talk to me that hurt the most. He didn’t stop me from packing, he didn’t plead his case, or anything.
“Fuck! How could I be so stupid?” I cried as I angrily wiped at my eyes. The duffel bag weighed a thousand pounds, but really barely held twenty pounds, as I slung it over my shoulder and made my way to the front door.
As I reached for the knob, James pushed it open. He took one look at me and the dam burst again.
Fuck.