CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Talking Crazy
Jalen arrived at Maya's townhouse the next afternoon without warning.She almost did not open the door.When she finally did, he was holding coffee and wearing an expression that said he expected to be forgiven.
"Can we talk like adults?" he asked.Maya stared at him.
"You mean can I stop being upset so you can stop feeling uncomfortable?
""See, that's what I'm talking about.""What?
""You come at me hostile, then act shocked when I get defensive.
"Maya stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind her.
"You would not show me a message from a woman you used to sleep with.
""Because I'm not doing phone inspections.
""Then tell me what she said.""She said it was good seeing me.
""That's it?""And she asked if you were mad.
"Maya folded her arms. "How did she know I was mad?
"Jalen hesitated."Exactly.""She could tell.
""Or you texted after I walked away.""Maya, damn.
"His voice sharpened.Maya went still."Don't talk to me like that.
""I'm not talking crazy to you. You're pushing me.
" "You are not going to blame your tone on me.
" "Here we go with the therapy language.
"The contempt in his face hurt more than the words.
Maya took one step backward."Who are you?
"Jalen laughed in disbelief. "What is that supposed to mean?
""Two months ago you sat across from me and said you had changed.
You said you learned to communicate. Now every time I ask a hard question, you either leave, shut down, or talk to me like I'm bothering you.
""Because every hard question is really about what I did at eighteen.
""No. It's about what you're doing now.""What am I doing now?
""Being secretive. Getting disrespectful.
Making me feel like I have to earn basic reassurance.
"Jalen shook his head. "You came into this relationship with trust issues.
That's not my fault."Maya stared at him.A year ago, she might have accepted that sentence.
She might have spent the rest of the conversation proving she was not insecure.Now she heard the trick inside it.
"Some of my trust issues came from you," she said calmly.
"But I am still responsible for healing them.
What I am not responsible for is pretending your behavior doesn't matter because you can blame my reaction on my past."Jalen looked away.For a moment, Maya thought he might apologize.
Instead he held out the coffee."You want this or not?
"Maya almost laughed."No.""Fine."He set both cups on the porch railing.
"You know what your problem is?""Tell me.
""You think Andre was perfect because he never challenged you.
"Maya's face hardened. "You don't know him.
""I know enough. He made everything easy, so now any disagreement feels toxic to you.
""Do not use Andre to excuse yourself.""You left him.
""I know what I did.""Then stop holding him over my head every time we argue.
"Maya's eyes narrowed."I haven't mentioned him once in this conversation until you did.
"Jalen's mouth opened, then closed.The silence said enough.Maya reached for the door.
"Go home.""Seriously?""Yes.""You always run.
"Maya looked at him over her shoulder."No.
The younger me stayed way too long. That's what you remember.
"She went inside and locked the door.Jalen stood on the porch for almost a minute before leaving.The coffee remained on the railing until it went cold.