“What the fuck you doing here, Zonnique?” I asked, dragging my hand down my face, with ice in my veins. “Ringing my shit this early like you ain’t scared to die.”
She turned to face me fully, a slow smile spreading across her perfectly made-up face. Even at that hour, she looked put together with her hair styled, makeup flawless, and dressed like she had somewhere important to be. Meanwhile, I looked and felt like death.
“Well, good morning to you too,fiancé,” she greeted, all sugary and smug, setting her purse down on the table.
“Don’t call me thatshitever again!” I snapped. “Matter of fact don’t call menothinguntil I figure out why the hell you poppin’ up at my crib like we cool or yo’ name magically showed up on this deed. And since we’re setting the record straight, there’s two things you don’t do. And since we clearing shit up, there are two things you don’t do. One—don’t wake me up before six. Two—don’t lean on my damn doorbell like you own stock in this muthafucka.” I pointed toward the front door. “So, before I escort you and that suspicious-ass purse back to the sidewalk, start explaining real slow why you’re here. Better yet, explain how the hell you got past security.”
Zonnique tilted her head, still wearing that same smug smile. Her gaze traveled over my disheveled appearance, lingering on my bare chest before dropping to the sweatpants hanging low on my hips.
She looked a little too pleased with what she saw.
I wasn’t.
“Eyes up here,” I warned. “You already trespassing. Don’t add sexual harassment to the list.”
“Wow,” she said, her tone light and mocking. “I forgot how charming you are in the mornings.”
My hands flexed at my sides, every muscle in my body wound tight. I wanted to throw her out myself—drag her to the door and toss her ass onto the sidewalk—but I held back.
Barely.
A venomous grin spread across my face. “And I forgot how easily some people confuse access with importance. Let’s fix that shit today.” I stepped closer, my expression hardening. “Zonnique, people have disappeared behind mistakes smaller than this one. Don’t ever get comfortable enough around me to forget who the fuck I am.”
She crossed her arms, looking genuinely offended. “Oh, so now I’m not welcome here?”
“Not unless you came to scrub baseboards, wash dishes, vacuum rugs, or disappear,” I answered bluntly. “And right now, I’m leaningrealheavy toward the disappearing part.”
She rolled her eyes, completely unfazed.
That was one of Zonnique’s specialties—acting like my temper didn’t scare her, even when common sense should’ve told her otherwise.
“Relax, Mr. Attitude.” She waved me off. “Since you seem to be suffering from a little amnesia, you’re the one who told security I was welcome here.”
I chuckled, but there wasn’t a trace of humor behind it. “Welcomeis a bit of a stretch. And that was six months ago before I realized you don’t know what the helltemporarymeans. And you coming to my crib was never part of the arrangement. We meet at your spot or a hotel… never here. Yeah, I told security you could come throughonce…one particular night when you were a two-in-the-morning decision made by a man with too much liquor in his system and not enough self. So don’t flatter yourself, Zonnique. That VIP pass you had was for one night, not a lifetime subscription.”
The air shifted. Even the butler backed up like he didn’t wanna catch a stray vibe.
Zonnique tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder like she was unbothered. “Anyway,I didn’t come here to argue.”
“Then leave,” I bit out, coldly. “’Cause arguing takes energy and I’d rather save mine for shit that matters. You don’t.”
“Well, being that I don’t take too kindly to being disrespected, I wouldgladlyexcuse myself.Unfortunately,we have business to handle today.”
“What kind of business?”
“The appointment… with the fertility doctor.”
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
I’d forgotten.
I looked up slowly, rubbing my temples. “That shit today?”
“Yes!” she sassed. “And we need to leave soon if we’re gonna make it on time. You know it’s an hour away and you still have to get ready. We can’t miss this appointment. You’re running out of time.”
“The only thing running out is my patience, Zonnique. Be careful how much more of it you use.”
“Oh, relaaaaax,” she purred, brushing past me and leaving a cloud of that loud-ass perfume behind. “You’re acting like I’m the enemy.”
