Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
YUMI
Earlier That Day, After Court…
I walked to my car with my family, and Liam followed me.
I was really trying to be patient with them, but their nagging and talks of irrelevant things annoyed me.
The fact that Zeke and my father were acting this way really pissed me off.
My mom hadn’t said much, but I knew she agreed with them about me being so close to Emery.
To make matters worse, they were saying all of this in front of Liam. They didn’t air out my dirty laundry entirely, but they made sure to tell me I was making a mistake by defending the Aldanas.
Once I made it to my car, I tossed my bag in the back and then turned to them.
“Listen, I need you all to back off. For the last time, this is my career! You all may not like who I’m defending, but it doesn’t matter! I’m grown, and I don’t need you all to treat me like I’m some child and can’t take care of myself!”
“Calm down, Mimi. You just don’t get it,” Zeke said.
“Get what? That you all speculate that they are a crime family? Where’s the proof, Zeke?”
“Come on, Yumi. Everyone knows the Aldanas are a ruthless crime family!”
“Again, nigga. Where is your proof?”
“Yumi Alaya!” my mom yelled in shock.
“You have clearly lost all your good sense, speaking to us that way,” my dad said.
“See, it’s happening already. She sees that fool and starts acting like some hood chick from the projects!”
“Fuck you, Zeke!”
Liam stepped in front of me because I was two seconds from slapping the fuck out of Zeke’s ass.
“Hey. Let’s calm down, please. Let’s all calm down and regroup.
I know you guys may not like this, but she’s right about this being her career.
She doesn’t want to jeopardize it by not taking on this case. ”
“You don’t understand, Liam. But I don’t care no more. When some shit goes down, don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Zeke switched his funky ass away as I stood frowning at my parents.
“I’m not dropping this case. If I win, I’ll become a senior partner. I’m not jeopardizing that to appease you all. I’ve been appeasing you all since I was a kid. I’m tired of it. I’m a grown woman and can make my own decisions and choices.”
“Do what you want, Yumi, but I’m telling you now, if Emery Aldana thinks he’s going to come back and call the shots, then he has another thing coming. Let’s go, Marie.” He took my mother’s hand and pulled her away. I let out a breath, trying to calm myself down.
“So, you have history with these people?” Liam asked. I shut my eyes momentarily and nodded. “Why didn’t I know that?”
“Because I didn’t feel there was a need to. I didn’t know I would be defending them after all of these years.”
“Hmph.” Liam looked off, then back at me. “Are you going to explain this to me?”
“Not today. I just want to forget about today completely.”
“Fine. You want to come back to my place?”
“I need to stop at home first, then the office. I’ll be by after.”
“Okay. I love you.” He pulled me in by my waist and kissed my lips.
“I love you, too.”
He opened the door for me, and I got inside. I waved goodbye to him, then pulled out of the parking lot. Today felt long, and it wasn’t even lunchtime. All I knew was that I couldn’t keep enduring the bullshit with my family about this case. They didn’t understand, and I was sure they never would.
I pulled into Liam’s driveway at five o’clock and saw that he was home.
At first, I wasn’t going to come over, because he hadn’t even attempted to contact me since yesterday evening, but I gave in and decided I’d have a conversation with him.
We needed to fix whatever was going on in our relationship because I genuinely did love Liam.
I felt bad for cheating on him. I needed to tell him because I didn’t want any secrets between us. Whether he forgave me or not, I prayed we could get through this together and continue with our lives.
Easier said than done, Yumi.
I couldn’t go to my parents or cousins about how I was feeling because I was pissed at all of them. The way they attacked me at dinner yesterday and again today, I was over all their asses right now.
I grabbed my purse, overnight bag, and suitcase and headed up to his door. I pulled my key from my purse and opened the door, letting myself inside.
“Liam?” I called out, kicking my heels off at the door. I set my bags on the floor and my purse on the table by the door, then headed toward the stairs. He emerged from his bedroom and greeted me at the top of the stairwell.
“Hey, babe. What are you doing here?”
I frowned. “What do you mean? You asked me to come over,” I told him. “We really need to talk.” I took him by the hand, about to lead him back to his room, but he halted me.
“I forgot that fast, but Ash just called, so I was just on my way out. I have to follow up on this case.”
My eyebrow lifted. “In your drawers?”
“I was . . . getting dressed.”
“Liam, . . . for just one freaking day, I need you to give me some of your time!” He pulled me back down the stairs, taking me into the dining room.
“Yumi, I love you. I really do. I need you to understand that I’m trying to give you everything your heart desires.”
“I desire you. I want a life with you. If I’m going to be competing with your job, then maybe we aren’t meant to be.” My eyes misted as he kissed me.
“Don’t do that, baby. Come on. You know I don’t want to lose you. Right now, isn’t the time because I have to g—”
“Liam?”
My head whipped behind me, and I saw a woman standing on the stairwell in her bathrobe. I backed away from Liam as his eyes closed, seemingly busted.
“What is this, Liam?” I asked, looking between him and the white chick standing on the stairs, looking confused as well.
“Baby, I can explain.”
“Did you just call her baby?” Becky with the good hair asked.
“And he did. What I’m trying to figure out is who you are and why you’re in my man’s home in your underclothes.”
“Your man? Liam is my fiancé.” She held up her hand, showing off her ring. I felt like someone had punched me in my chest, knocking the wind out of me.
“Kelly, stop!”
“No, no. Let her speak,” I said, putting my hand up to his mouth to silence him. “How long has this been going on, Kelly? Oh, and I’m Yumi by the way.”
She came down the stairs and walked over to us. “Hello, Yumi. I don’t know what’s going on, but Liam and I have been together for seven years. We got engaged last year and just started planning our wedding a few months ago.”
“Which explains why he’s been distant.” I shook my head. “All these years, and this is what you’re doing, Liam?”
“I can explain, Yumi. It’s not what you think.”
“Not what I think? This woman is standing here telling me that she’s engaged to you and has been with you since you’ve fucking been with me! What the fuck am I supposed to think? Are you telling me she’s lying?”
“Yes and no. Kelly and I broke up three years ago. She moved to Boston but then came back, and she—we decided to try again. I admit that I was going to end things with you, but I couldn’t. Yumi, we can make this work.”
“Make this work? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I still want you . . . And I want her too. We were talking about a poly relationship, and she agreed that she wouldn’t mind. I couldn’t tell her about you because, well, you pulled up. Something you normally never do.”
My face twisted so tightly, I gave myself a damn headache. “You are out of your fucking mind! Go the fuck to hell, Liam. Kelsey or whatever your name is, you can have his ass! I’m done.” I turned to walk away before he grabbed my arm, and I slapped him.
“Don’t you fucking touch me! You have a lot of audacity to play this fucking game with me after all these years. I knew something was off with you for a long time. Now I see why. Stay the fuck away from me, Liam.”
“Baby, please, don’t leave. I love you. I promise we can make it work if you have an open mind.”
“Motherfucka, I’m not anybody’s side bitch! You got me fucked up.” I grabbed my things, not even bothering to put on my shoes as I hurried out the door. Tears clouded my vision as I walked briskly to my car.
“Yumi, don’t leave like this.” He grabbed my arm, and I yanked away from him.
“You must be smoking that good shit to think that I would ever be in a polygamous relationship. After six years together, this is what has you spending days, even weeks, away from me. While I’m thinking it’s work that’s keeping you away, it’s a whole other bitch in the mix!
You got me fucked up, Liam! Not only have you been playing me, but you proposed to her?
Like, what kind of sick ass world are you living in? ”
“It-It’s complicated.”
“Well, keep it that way. Goodbye, Liam.” I opened the door to my car and tossed all my shit in.
“I know about you and that nigga at the courthouse. I’m not stupid and can read between the lines.
It’s why your family doesn’t want you to defend those criminals in the first place.
I’m willing to overlook it if you agree to stay with me.
I can’t be without you, Yumi. You give me something I know Kelly will never be able to. ”
“What? Black pussy?”
“Come on, Yumi.”
“Nah, nigga, keep that shit real. You know what we black women bring to the table. Seasoned food. Get the fuck out of my face.” I got inside my car and started the engine.
I had a good mind to run his ass over, but I just backed out of the driveway and sped away.
Five minutes into my drive, a text came through as Siri read it aloud.
It was Liam telling me that he wasn’t giving up on us and some other bullshit that I didn’t hear because I cut the radio off.
I couldn’t believe what was happening in my life.