Chapter 19
Yani
Somewhere along the line I became a liar as well as a deceiver.
Playing with people’s feelings and going behind someone’s back wasn’t in my character.
I got caught up and let my memories control what happened between me and Trust and ended up in a relationship that I swore I wasn’t going back to. I gave in to him entirely too quick.
However, he was keeping up with his word. So far, I received the man that I grew up with and grown to love. Trust was doing everything he used to do, and I didn’t have to question his statements.
He gave me his location and always checked in with me. He even popped up at my job with lunch and I was loving every minute of it. Like today, he was approaching my office with a bouquet of flowers and lunch in tow.
“Hi gorgeous.”
“Hey baby. You look nice.”
“Not as nice as you. You got some time for me today?”
“I always have time. This smell good. Where did you go?”
“To Hen’s. Where else would I go?”
The mention of Paxton’s mother caused a wave of guilt to wash over me. I was already caught in a situation where I let how I felt about him slip. He wasn’t supposed to know that my feelings had grown from genuinely liking him to truly loving him.
I realized my own emotions and feelings when I wanted to include him in all my plans.
When I felt like I was going through a phase of withdrawal from being without him for so long I knew then.
I needed him in my life and now that I accepted Trust’s proposal, I didn’t know how to handle what we had going on.
I didn’t want to hurt him. He was such a good man and the way he treated me from jump was better than what I received from Trust throughout the years. However, I still had an attachment to Trust that made me go back with ease. I knew better.
“Thank you. Set it up for me. I been so damn hungry lately. My freakin’ appetite has picked up tremendously.”
“I noticed. Come on and enjoy this. I got to get back to work myself.”
I joined him in my sitting area and indulged in some of the best soul food I have ever tasted. Mrs. Henrietta knew she could whip up some food. Normally, I would have leftovers but the way I was demolishing that plate, I didn’t think there would be.
As we were conversing in meaningless conversation, Sabrina knocked on the door. I granted her access and in she walked with gifts in tow. I nervously looked in Trust’s direction to see how he was reacting to what she had in hand.
“Your gifts are here on schedule. Where do you want me to sit them?” she asked.
“On my desk is fine.”
She walked them over and my gaze was still on Trust. I could see his entire mood shift from how many times Brina entered my office with gift after gift. It wasn’t until she made her last trip that he found his voice.
“What the fuck is all that, Yani?”
“Uhm, ever since I signed with a company, they send me over gifts every other week for appreciation. It’s just a thank you for being a part of the team thing.”
He nodded but stood and made his way to inspect them in the process. In this moment, I was thankful for Paxton no longer sending cards with his purchases. I knew who they were from, so he didn’t have to make it known.
“They send you jewelry as a gift as well?”
He held up a box with anger etched across it.
He was furious and I could tell by the way his jaws tightened.
This was new to me. Paxton never blessed me with something so special and valuable.
I guess me telling him I loved him kicked up his affection by several notches.
I sported a screwed-up look to let him know I was genuinely confused.
When I reached him, he tossed the long velvet box onto my desk and walked off. I couldn’t even open it before he started tripping out. However, when I did, I realized why.
Paxton gifted me with a beautiful diamond necklace that glistened no matter how you held it. This necklace was now the most expensive thing I owned. Guilt was eating me alive.
“That’s not from no damn company, Yani. Ain’t no way they giving you shit like that as no fuckin’ thank you. Who you been fuckin’ with, Yani?”
I would never reveal to him anything about Paxton. He was off limits, and he didn’t need to know who was winning me over. Paxton had become my soft spot and held a place in my heart now.
“Trust if this isn’t from the company then I have no clue as to who this could be from from. Stop tripping and let’s finish eating.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’ll see you when you get home. Hopefully, you’ll have an answer for me by then.”
“Trust don’t do that. I can’t control what they send.”
“I’m not a fool, Yani. I’ll see you later like I said.”
He walked out not bothering to clean up his mess. He was upset but I on the other hand was jumping with joy ready to cry a river from Paxton draping me in diamonds.
I loved Trust, I really did, but Paxton… that man was everything I wanted. He was proving why he was the better choice more and more. I wasn’t even upset that Trust left. He was just now getting back on my good side.
“Knock, knock, Yani.”
“What’s up, Brina?”
“We’re on lunch so I’m asking as a friend and not an employee. What the hell are you doing?”
I whipped my head around in her direction feeling offended as hell. “Excuse me?”
“Paxton is the better choice and you’re steady entertaining a man that creates another family while having one with you. Why are you doing him like that? He’s good to you.”
She motioned to everything she brought in, and I couldn’t help but take in what she said. She was absolutely correct about everything. Paxton was a good man and spoiled me without me asking. I didn’t have to second guess his words the way I did Trust.
Trust was earning back my trust while Paxton had all of it already. I didn’t know who I wanted to be with more because I was exploring options and loving the game I was indulged in.
“Sabrina, you need to stay in your place.”
“I won’t because apparently Dawn and nem ain’t doing their jobs. Why are you back with him for real, Yani?”
“Because of everything we been through. I guess I’m back to see if he’s really changed.”
“It’s clear that you’re still dealing with Paxton so how are you going to juggle both of them?”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m only sexual with Paxton. Trust won’t be getting my cookies until I can trust him and even then, I might not give them up.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Yani. I’m not speaking on it anymore though.”
She excused herself and I was left to think on what we had just discussed.
I was comfortable when I shouldn’t have been.
Paxton and I didn’t have a title but that didn’t excuse how I maneuvered when it came to him.
I asked him to not see other women and here I was in a relationship with my ex. I couldn’t even live by my own request.
For the next few hours, I engaged in a distraction that was needed.
Work didn’t allow me to focus on either of the men that I was splitting my time with.
I was so torn between the two that I truly just wanted to call it quits with both and just be to myself.
That way I could avoid hurting them both.
Five o’clock seemed to get here within the blink of an eye. I was packing up and walking out with Sabrina by my side. She said nothing but I was happy with just her presence. She spoke her peace and left it at that.
“I’ll see you Monday, Yani.”
“Same. Enjoy your weekend.”
I hopped in my ride and didn’t stop until I got home. I decide to leave the necklace Paxton got me at the office. It was too beautiful for anything to happen to it and Trust was the kind of man to destroy anything he didn’t purchase. He wanted to be the only one buying me anything.
I walked through my home and was greeted by my son and his sister Truce.
I couldn’t deny that she was a gorgeous little girl.
She looked so much like Brendon it was crazy.
I was shocked when he started to bring her over so much.
In my head, Xara had finally got the picture and allowed Trust to be with me without all that extra drama.
She called and didn’t make a fuss which I was curious about because even when she knew what I was to him before, there was hell from her. This time around, there was a completely different woman on the other side.
“Hi babies.” I picked Truce up and kissed all over her face. She had become my baby within minutes.
“Dad’s fixing dinner. Can you order something?” Brendon inquired.
I laughed because Trust was not the cooking type, but he was trying and that was all that mattered to me.
I nodded and handed over my phone telling him to pick what he wanted for us to munch on.
While he did so, I carried myself upstairs to wash off the work day.
I still didn’t know what I was going to tell Trust about the jewelry but hopefully whatever I said would satisfy him.
My shower was handled, and I was in a more relaxed state when I returned downstairs to join everyone else. Brendon had ordered food and I saw that he settled on Chinese. I could work with that. It smelled so good and even though I snacked all day at work, I never seemed to be full.
I walked up to Trust and tried to give him a kiss on the lips when he turned his head. He was still upset.
“What is it, Trust?”
“You know what, Yani. Stop playing with me.”
“You are overreacting as usual.”
“You ready to tell me who showering your ass with fuckin’ diamonds?”
“If I had an answer, I would’ve told you by now. I’m just as clueless as you are. Why you even sweating it? I’m wearing your ring, aren’t I?”
“What the fuck that supposed to mean? I also did you wrong so who’s to say you don’t have another nigga around.”
He had no idea how truthful his words were. However, I wasn’t going to admit to shit.
“Calm down because that’s not even the case. You’re here and so am I. Are we going to be together or not?”
“Play with me if you want to, Yani.”