Chapter 20 Ayanna #2
He didn’t say another word only ended the call before his sister could make any other request.
His hand squeezed mine. “Sorry ’bout that.”
I shrugged, keeping it casual. “Everything good?”
“Yeah, for now,” he kissed the inside of my wrist, and I nodded, deciding not to press. Whatever it was could wait. At least for now.
After browsing a few more items, and making arrangements for delivery of the items I ordered, I decided we’d been at the hardware store long enough. I still wanted to go to my boutique before lunch.
With barely enough room left in the cart to accommodate another single item, we walked slowly to the front of the building.
Teo pushed the cart with one hand, while my fingers laced through his free hand.
I was mid-laugh at some smartass remark he’d made about how I was the only person he knew who’d rather shop for lighting and paint herself instead of hiring a team.
“Which, by the way, I already hired someone to help. She’ll be there Monday. ” he added.
I didn’t even have time to respond because the sight of the man I blocked almost a month ago was nearing us. My stomach dipped at the sight of him. I was not fully prepared to cross paths with Corey. I hadn’t spoken to him in weeks, for good reasons.
He was my past.
And my present and future was standing right here next to me.
But it still didn’t change the fact that the way Corey and I ended was less than ideal.
There was no proper closure. I never gave him the details of my arranged marriage, or the details surrounding my family’s loyalty to the Donatellis.
I for sure never disclosed how Teo and I both always had deeper feelings than I ever disclosed.
And when Teo told me to end it, I did. No questions asked, or regrets. At least not at the time, I hadn’t.
However, the moment Corey’s eyes met mine, something uncomfortable settled in my chest. My eyelids collapsed, and I tried, but failed miserably to ease my fingers from the grip of Teo.
Simultaneously, both men looked at me like I’d grown a second head. Each for different reasons.
Teo’s was at the audacity. I was his.
Corey’s was at the sight of me so close to a man who was only supposed to be my brother’s friend... holding my hand. And when he spotted the flawlessly cut diamond on my ring finger, I thought I saw a flash of anger.
Corey stood a few feet away, a bag in one hand, receipt in the other, but he wasn’t moving. His glare was on us. Or more specifically, me. Then they dropped to our hands once more.
His scoff was loud, ringing in my ears and making my heart throb with a pang of guilt. In this moment, I kind of felt like I owed him an explanation. Even if I hadn’t felt that way before. The hurt I could sense made me want to help him understand why things had ended the way they did.
Teo, on the other hand, remained composed. He never viewed Corey as a threat and I’m sure it won’t start now. But Teo was protective, even more so now. His whole focus was on me.
Calm, cool... and a bit of quiet possessiveness.
“I should go talk to him,” I said quietly, just enough for Teo to hear.
His brow ticked up. Still silent.
“I at least owe him an explanation,” I admitted. “Not a full-blown conversation. But...” I looked over at the man I once called my boyfriend. “Look at him.”
Corey stood stock still, in shock. His nose flared, and the tightness in his eyes couldn’t be missed.
Teo still, never looked at Corey. Only me.
“And why exactly would I let you do that?” His head tilted just slightly, and his voice was soft. Not too loud, but firm enough to express his disapproval.
“Because you know how I feel,” I said, stepping into his space, my hand resting on his chest. It was intimate, and it wasn’t to placate him, or even to imply he was jealous.
Because, honestly, I knew that this wasn’t what this was.
But still I wanted to say it. Just in case.
“You know who I belong to and you know I’d never disrespect you. It’s only a quick conversation, baby.”
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t speak so I went on to explain.
“I told him there was nothing between us. And then a month later, I’m on your arms. Married. No explanation. No closure. That’s all I’m trying to give him. Closure.”
He stared at me so long and hard and I almost dropped my eyes.
Almost.
Instead, I kissed him... on the lips. Right there in the middle of the damn checkout line. Soft but firm. “Let me close the door. For good.”
Another second passed.
Then he nodded once.
“Three minutes, Amore,” he said finally, his voice rough. “After that I can’t make any promises.”
I didn’t look back at Teo. I didn’t need to.
His eyes were already burning a hole between my shoulder blades as I covered the short distance to Corey.
My palms were a tad bit sweaty. I had no idea why I felt so uneasy about this, but something just screamed that this exchange was going to be more complicated than I anticipated.
Corey’s jaw flexed the closer I got. He didn’t say anything at first. Just stood there, like the sight of me was just enough to piss him off. He had always been mild mannered, but any time his ego was involved, I always got a different side of him.
“You look good,” he said flatly. His eyes flicked to my ring again. “Marriage suits you.”
I nodded slowly, then exhaled through my nose, not sure how to respond. “I didn’t plan for it to happen like this.”
“But it did.” He folded his arms. “Just like that.”
“I don’t owe you anything, Corey. But I’m over here because I don’t like how it ended.”
He let out a breath that might’ve been a laugh; if there’d been anything funny about this situation.
“You blocked me, Yanna. Then vanished. Now you’re back with that nigga who is just a ‘family friend,’ ring on your finger.
” His fingers curled into exaggerated air quotes around “family” and “friend,” bitterness dripping from his words.
I felt the sting of his accusation, but I refused to let it derail me.
“You don’t understand—”
“Don’t I?” he cut me off, his voice low. “I understand more than you think. I knew who that nigga was.” His head jerked forward toward my husband. “Knew what your family was about. I just thought you were different.”
“I am.” I swallowed. “But this... it’s complicated.”
He stared at me for a long time. “Yeah, well, permanent sounds more like it. It’s funny. One minute y’all are childhood friends, the next minute you’re hugged up with the man you told me I didn’t have to worry about. It’s all good though. I’m not mad.”
I didn’t flinch, but I wanted to. The calmness in his tone made my stomach twist.
His eyes dropped to my wrist, lingering on the rose gold bracelet. “You could’ve just told me the truth the first time I saw you together. When he gave you that fucking bracelet that seemed to mean so much to you. Could’ve saved me the trouble of thinking any of this was real.”
I was already shaking my head. “It was real. Just... not forever.”
He nodded, but the tension in his jaw never eased. “Guess not.” There was a long pause. “You’re just like the rest of them.”
The accusation stung more than I expected. He was right, in a way. I’d told myself I’d never be like my family. Never accept this life. Yet I accepted a marriage arrangement, let someone else control my choices. Broke up with Corey because Teo said so. Maybe I was exactly like them.
“I knew I should have listened to my family. They never liked you anyway.”
He took a step closer, and before he could even get into my personal space Teo had him hemmed up. One hand clutched the collar of Corey’s shirt, the fabric bunched tight beneath his fist, as he dragged him in close with no effort at all. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t chaotic. But it was menacing.
I knew in that moment; Corey was a dead man walking.
“Let’s not cause a scene,” Teo said, calm as ever.
Then, like it was nothing, he pushed him off, patted Corey’s shirt down, and smoothed out the wrinkles with that same steady hand. It was so damn polite, but I knew better.
Corey didn’t move right away. His pride wouldn’t let him back down too quick, but Teo’s stare didn’t budge.
Not once. When Corey finally stepped back, it was slow.
His eyes darted toward me, searching for something.
Maybe an apology. I had nothing more to offer.
I’d already tried to be nice and give an explanation, and I was met with resentment.
With a deadly ass smirk on his face, Teo leaned in so only Corey could hear. “I’ll be seeing’ you.” Then he followed it up with a nod.
And there it was.... the threat.
Corey didn’t respond. He just walked out, his silence louder than anything he could’ve said.
Once he was fully out of sight, Teo looked at me, and asked, “You good?”
I nodded once, but it was more muscle memory than truth.
My nerves were still catching up, while my heart thumped wildly in my chest. I didn’t know what I felt.
Part of me felt guilty for knowing I always had feelings for Teo.
And Corey was collateral damage in something that was always bigger than any of us.
Another part of me was relief. That chapter of my life was finally closed?
I took a deep breath and steadied myself, and found a way to get back to Teo’s and I’s peaceful day. There was no way I would let this day turn to shit. I was determined to focus on the present and enjoy every moment with Teo.