Then why are you sitting here jealous over a man who introduced himself to you like y’all never shared history?
My chest tightened painfully, an ache that felt like betrayal.
Because he’s pretending.
Or because you need him to be pretending.
“And didn’t I specifically tell you to keep it cute and quiet unless he addressed you first?” Zonnique interrupted, her voice seething with displeasure. “What was all that extra-friendly shitdownstairs? Talkin’ ‘bout ‘it’s so good to meet you’ like you just bumped into a favorite athlete at a meet-and-greet. You were practically glowing when he looked at you!”
Zonnique sucked her teeth, a sound that echoed her irritation as she tightened her fingers around the steering wheel.
“He’s fine, yeah… but don’t lose focus over a handsome face and a deep voice. That man is the father of your future check, not Prince Charming riding in on a black horse to heal your inner child.”
I struggled to maintain a neutral expression, but inside, a storm brewed.
First of all, that’s Jace.
Second… bitch is you cool? I’ll hit this median so hard they’ll have to identify us through dental records and purse receipts.
And you keep saying “Merge” like I’m supposed to forget I knew that man before the money, the suits, and whatever little villain era he got going on now.
I swear, one more slick comment and I’ma forget that I’m supposed to be acting sane around y’all.
“Iswear,these hoes just keep testing me,” I muttered under my breath, glancing out the window to avoid her scrutinizing gaze.
“What was that?” Zonnique asked.
I could feel her eyes boring into me from the side.
“Oh… nothing!” I blurted out quickly, backpedaling. “I was just thinking about my ex for a second. He used to act funny after arguments too.”
Zonnique continued to stare at me with a mix of suspicion and compassion for a few moments longer before shifting her focus back to the road.
The ride stayed quiet for a while after that.
I kept replaying everything from that meeting in my head, especially the tension between Merge and Zonnique. The angerin his voice hadn’t sounded like a man upset over a simple surprise visit; it sounded more personal.
Finally, I looked over at her. “Can I ask you something?”
Zonnique kept her eyes on the road. “Depends on the question. But you seem like the type who’s gonna ask anyway, so shoot.”
“Well… y’all aren’t engaged,” I pointed out innocently. “He made thatveryclear.”
Yup… I was throwing hella shade.
Zonnique sucked her teeth, then peered over at me. “Not too much.”
I forced a smile. “Right.”
Although technically, the truth shouldn’t count as disrespect.
“I also understand him being upset about us showing up unexpectedly. I mean, I’d probably be pissed too if somebody brought a complete stranger to my house without giving me a heads-up first. But it felt deeper than that. It was almost like he had no idea about me… or the pregnancy. If I’m keeping it real, he didn’t even seem like a man who wanted a childat all.”
For a second, I thought Zonnique was going to brush me off.
Instead, she hit me with, “That’s because he had no idea I was setting all this up behind his back,” she confessed.
I blinked in confusion. “Setting all what up?”
