“And yet, you look just as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as we do.”
“Wassup, Lex?” he acknowledged me.
I cleared my throat, unsure of where to put my eyes. “H-hey. Congratulations on the house. It’s beautiful.”
“Empty as hell, but beautiful,” Liv quipped as she set her keys down on the kitchen counter and began to walk around the large, empty space.
Oak rolled his brown orbs toward the tray ceiling in the vacant living room. “Give a nigga a break. I only moved in less than twenty-four hours ago.”
“And let’s not forget that little stint of jail time you did,” Liv joked.
He sucked his teeth. “Did you tell Lex what landed me there, bighead?”
“Sure did. I’ll let you two compare notes while I give myself a tour of this big ass house.”
Seconds later, Liv disappeared up the stairs, leaving Oak and me alone.
Oak turned his full attention to me, and I felt like I’d shrunk three sizes.
“Thank you . . .” I finally managed to tell him.
“For?”
“For defending me, . . . for beating Pat’s ass. I only wish I had been there to see it.”
He chuckled. “Anytime.”
“I really hope you didn’t get into any legal trouble behind all of that.”
Oak swung his head in a no. “I’ve got a friend who's an attorney, so I’ll be aight if anything comes to it. You straight, though?”
“I am now, finally,” I said, holding up my bare ring finger. “I called off the wedding, the relationship, everything . . . Istillcan’t believe this nigga was about to have a whole baby on me.”
His thick brows raised in surprise. “He told you?”
“Not willingly, no. But I got the answers I needed when I showed up to pick him up from the hospital and saw his very pregnant baby mama there.”
“Damn.”
I scoffed. “It’s so fucked up that it’s funny because I thought the hardest part about marrying Pat would be trying not to cry through my vows. I’d been so wrapped up in planning my dream wedding and dealing with my emotions, and now that everything is off, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”
“So, what do you know?”
I paused before allowing my gaze to slowly drift up to his. “I know that I never stopped caring about you, . . .even if I had a fucked-up way of showing it.”
Before he could respond, Liv made her presence known as she came down the stairs and shouted, “I’m hungry! Is anybody else hungry?” Her voice echoed. “Damn, the acoustics are crazy in here with no furniture to bounce off of, huh?” she noted, followed by a giggle.
“You know I ain’t got no food in here yet.”
“I know. I think I saw a McDonald’s a few blocks away from here. I can run out and grab us some breakfast. They opened at five.”
“Bet.” Oak nodded. “Take my card, and I’ll text you my order.”
“Okay. You want anything, Lex?”
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Get me whatever you’re getting,” I replied, trying to keep things simple.
“Coming right up. I’ll be back,” she announced after Oak handed her his bank card.
