CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE The Woman in His Phone
Maya did not confront Jalen again about Camille that night.
She finished the event, smiled for photographs, thanked sponsors, and did everything she was paid to do. Jalen stayed near the bar for another hour, then left before Maya without saying goodbye.
By midnight, anger had hardened into clarity. She drove to his loft.Jalen opened the door wearing sweatpants and a gray Tshirt.
"You couldn't call first?""No."He stepped aside.Maya walked in and placed her purse on the counter. "I need you to answer me without making this about
Andre, without telling me I'm insecure, and without walking out.
"Jalen crossed his arms. "Go ahead.""What is Camille to you now?
""Nothing.""Then why did you say you've been texting?
""Because we have.""Show me."His face closed.Maya laughed bitterly.
"There it is.""I'm not handing over my phone every time you get jealous.
""I am not every time. I am asking once because a woman walked up to you tonight like there was a paragraph missing from the story.
"Jalen rubbed his jaw."We talked after you and I started seeing each other.
""About what?""Life. Work.""Us?"He looked away.Maya's stomach dropped.
"You talked to her about us.""She asked if I was serious about you.
""Why would she care?"Jalen did not answer.Maya's heart began pounding.
"Were you sleeping with her when you saw me at the mall?
""No.""Were you dating her?""Not officially.
"Maya stared at him."What does that mean?
""It means we had history. We talked sometimes.
We hooked up a couple times last year. That's it.
""And after we got together?""No.""You swear?
""Yes."Maya searched his face.She wanted to believe him.Her phone buzzed in her purse.
Neither moved.Then Jalen's phone lit on the kitchen counter.
Camille.Maya saw the name before he grabbed it.The room changed.
"Open it," Maya said."No.""Jalen.""No.""If there's nothing there, open it.
""This is exactly what I said I wouldn't do.
"Maya felt tears burn behind her eyes. "Why is protecting that phone more important than making me feel safe?
""Because I have boundaries.""You didn't have boundaries when you were calling me while I lived with Andre.
"His jaw tightened."Don't bring him into this.
""You brought him into this the second you judged me for secrecy while you're standing here doing the same thing.
""I am not cheating on you.""Then prove it.
""I don't have to prove anything."The old words returned in a rush.You crazy.You always checking up on me.I don't have to explain myself.Maya was eighteen again, except she wasn't. That mattered.She picked up her purse.
"Where are you going?""Home.""So you're just going to storm out?
"Maya stopped at the door."Yes. Because I finally learned I can leave a room without begging you to tell me the truth first."Jalen's face hardened.
"Fine."Maya opened the door."And for the record," she said, "the fact that you can watch me leave rather than open one message tells me everything I needed to know.
"She drove home shaking.At 2:06 a.m., Jalen texted.Jalen: You embarrassed both of us tonight.
Sleep on it.Maya almost threw the phone across the room.Then she remembered another night, long ago, when Andre had sat on the edge of their bed while Maya cried over a work failure.
He had listened for an hour and never once made her pain about his inconvenience.The comparison was unfair.It was also unavoidable.