Page 77 of Senior

He chuckled. “We can’t have that.”

Leaning in, he pecked my lips several times before the kiss turned into something a little more intimate. We were so wrapped up in each other, that we didn’t hear the front door open or the approaching footsteps.

“Pardon us for interrupting.”

We parted lips to see Maddie and her husband, Bronx, standing there. Now, we had been around each other since she learned of the affair Senior and I had years ago. We never talked about it. She basically ignored me, and I didn’t pay her any mind because I had no beef with this woman. Never did.

I sighed. “Maddie. Bronx. Nice to see you.”

“Well, it’s nice to be seen, not viewed,” Bronx said with a light chuckle. He extended his hand. “Good to see you, Senior. Stephanie. We just came to pick up TJ. I have a work trip this week and we want him to tag along.”

“I’m sure he’ll enjoy that,” Senior said. “He’s always excited to go with y’all.”

Maddie and I stared at each other in silence. Senior’s arms still lingered around me, making this a little awkward. In her eyes, I was sure I was the woman he told her not to worry about and look at us now.

She cleared her throat. “So… this is a thing again?”

Senior nodded. “It is.”

“Hmmm. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. History tends to repeat itself.”

“Do we have a problem, Maddie?” I asked, removing the blanket. “You wanna get something off your chest?”

Senior’s grip on me tightened. “Steph.”

Maddie smirked at me before turning to her husband.

“My love,” she said, touching Bronx’s arm. “Could you two give us a minute to talk?”

He gave her a stern look. “Baby.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “It’s long overdue.”

Senior pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please don’t be in here tearing up shit.”

“Shut up, Stanley!” Maddie and I both snapped.

He raised his hands in surrender as he and Bronx left the room. Maddie went into the cabinet and grabbed a wine glass before going to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of wine. Ms. Rebecca always had a bottle in there chilling. She poured herself a glass and took a seat at the island.

After taking a sip, her gaze settled on me.

“While I’m over Senior, and have clearly moved on, this conversation is long overdue.”

I clasped my hands together. “So, what do you need to say?”

She chuckled. “The hostility I’m sensing in that tone isn’t matching the fact that you were the one fucking a nigga that was my man at the time.”

“I absolutely was.”

“And you’re proud of that?”

“No, I’m not. Can I take it back? No. It’s been years and I’m not about to go back and forth with you over that man. You went back to him after that, so what are we really talking about? Clearly, neither of us could leave him alone back then. You held on to this animosity and it’s very telling.”

“It’s not telling of shit. Not that you owed me anything, but damn. I guess since my name isn’t Tavia or Allison, I didn’t get that respect, huh? You know, since y’all are family and all. You wouldn’t back door them.”

I scoffed. “Please don’t come in here acting like you were an outcast, Maddie. You never made an effort to have the relationship we have with each other with any of us. Especially not me.”

“Why would I smile in the same woman’s face that wanted my man?”