Page 45 of The One He Desires

“It’s funny that you’re acting like you didn’t up and move on me. How was I supposed to find you? I was only able to find you after I got out by stalking your parents’ house and following you to work.”

“What the hell?” Journee’s lip curls in displeasure as her nose twists as if someone is cooking chitlins.

“Stalked her? Mr. Noble, is this your argument?” Magistrate Mosley questions on the heels of Journee’s reaction.

Brian’s eyes stretch as an ‘oh shit’ expression forms like he forgot that he and Journee aren’t alone in the room.

Yeah, dumb fuck, you said that bullshit out loud.

The magistrate chastises Brian for implicating himself in criminal activity, but pisses me off when he lets Brian give reasons why I should have let Jamarion take him out of this life.

“Look. My mom thought it would look good if I acted like I was interested in the girl. I really only wanted to get back with Journee to prove that the vulnerability she found out about me didn’t prevent me from making her toes curl.”

“The girl? Mothafucka, you got my baby fucked up,” Journee snaps.

“Probably. Look, I changed my mind. I don’t want any of this. Is there something I can sign so I can be on my way?” Brian’s focus is on the magistrate as a low, humorless chuckle escapes my mouth.

My patience thins with every second it takes the magistrate to go over the process of Brian officially walking away from Sweet Face. God must be on my side because within ten minutes, the conference room clears. Tears slide down Journee’s cheeks, and I push back my chair, turn an unmoving Journee toward me, pull her to her feet, and wrap her in my arms. This moment might have been crazy and emotional for her, but as her shoulders shake in my embrace, I smile because it’s over. Brian is no longer a nuisance in Sweet Face or Journee’s lives, and we can move on. From here, I got both of them and will make it my life’s mission to erase every stain Brian caused.

“Where going, Cere?” Sweet Face questions.

The kid’s music bouncing around the interior fills me with joy as I look into the rearview mirror and give her an answer.

“It’s a surprise. But you’re going to love it.”

“We hope,” Journee whispers.

The three of us are headed to Columbus to visit the zoo since Kaigood doesn’t have one. According to Journee, Sweet Face has never been, and she doesn’t think she’ll like or love it as I’m hoping. But even if this trip is a complete bust, I’m looking forward to the time with my family and the memories we’ll create. While DNA doesn’t make us related, love will always bond us. Milan will never know what it’s like to have a man walk out on her, because I will always be the blueprint of the first man who loves her unconditionally.

“Ooh.” Milan squeals when we pull into the large parking lot of the Columbus Zoo.

A steady flow of vehicles awaits entry into the designated parking area. Adrenaline and happiness fill my body when it's my turn to pay the ten-dollar parking fee amid the influx of various cars, vans, SUVs, and the like. I determine it’s best to park in the back.

“This might be a great idea now, but it’s going to suck when it’s time to leave,” Journee says.

“Not really. I got my Sweet Face, so you better be in shape.” I wink and pull into a spot.

It takes little effort to exit the vehicle and make our way to the front, where we purchase tickets to enter.

“Would you like a picture?” a smiling zoo attendant asks once we clear security and enter.

“Sure, we do,” I say, smiling.

Once the picture is done and we’ve been given details for where we can purchase the photo, our journey begins. Sweet Face grabs my hand instead of Journee’s, and a cheesy, peaceful grin slides into place. This little girl doesn’t know how much she’s added to my life simply by imprinting on me the first day that I saw her. We go to our right and walk a ways before Sweet Face stops and looks at me with a wrinkled nose and offense in her eyes.

“Ooh. Stink, Cere.” When she waves her little hand, I laugh hysterically as Journee joins in.

The red barn a few paces away is the culprit, but Sweet Face doesn’t know that. All she knows is that the smell isn’t appealing.

“It’s the animals, Sweet Face. Let’s go see which one of them it is,” I say.

“Okay. They need a bath. Don’t they, Mommy?” She turns to look at Journee, whose lips quirk with amusement as she nods her head in agreement.

“Mm-hmm.” Journee co-signs.

It takes a minute to enter the barn, and my laughter returns when Sweet Face’s offense returns as she looks around the room. Her face contorts, and her nose twists more and more with every second that passes, and I already know where this is going before she speaks.

“Ooh, no. We got to go.” She waves her free hand as she walks toward the exit without waiting for a rebuttal from her mother or me.