Page 16 of Love At Close Range

The second I said it, Mona looked at me. I knew exactly where her mind was going, and I wasn’t going there with her.

“Don’t,” I warned her.

“I didn’t say anything,” Mona defended as she raised both hands.

“You didn’t have to,” I countered as I picked up my glass. “I know exactly what your ass was thinking.”

Taryn looked between the two of us before realization crossed her face.

“Lennox?” Taryn asked as she leaned slightly forward.

“See, now why the fuck would you say his name?” I snapped as my good mood disappeared instantly.

“Because clearly that’s who the hell y’all talking about,” Taryn replied as she shrugged.

“We weren’t talking about that nigga,” I corrected as I took a long sip of my mimosa.

Just hearing his name irritated me. Lennox had nothing to do with Dorian, and I wanted to keep it that way. I had spent years building a life that had absolutely nothing to do with that man. I wasn’t about to start comparing everybody I dated to somebody who had already shown me exactly how little I meant to him when it mattered most.

“I wasn’t trying to make this about Lennox,” Mona explained. “All I was thinking was that you know what it feels like to really love somebody,” she continued.

“And I also know what it feels like when that same person breaks your fucking heart,” I shot back as I looked directly at her.

I hated that my emotions could still shift that quickly where Lennox was concerned. Eight years later, I could still remember staring at my phone after telling him I was pregnant and reading words I never imagined he would say to me.

Fuck you and that baby.

Mona reached across the table and placed her hand over mine. “I know, Ree,” Mona said softly as she squeezed my hand. “I’m not saying what he did was okay at all.”

“I know,” I responded as I squeezed her hand back before letting her go. “I just don’t want to talk about his ass.”

“And we don’t have to,” Mona assured me as she picked up her fork again.

“Fuck him,” Taryn added as she lifted her mimosa.

I laughed because leave it to Taryn to make something that simple.

“That’s the spirit,” I joked as I shook my head.

“And while we’re at it, fuck Dorian too until further notice,” Taryn declared as she held her glass toward mine.

“Now you doing too much,” I laughed as I tapped my glass against hers.

“I’m just covering all bases,” Taryn explained before taking a sip of her drink.

My phone vibrated against the table before I could respond. When I glanced down and saw Dorian’s name across the screen, I almost laughed. Speak of the fucking devil.

“Was that Dorian?” Taryn asked as she narrowed her eyes at me.

“Why you all in my business?” I questioned.

“Because I’m nosy,” Taryn answered unapologetically as she reached for another piece of chicken.

“At least you’re not in denial about it,” Mona laughed as she shook her head.

I eventually flipped my phone over and opened his message.

Dorian: What you doing later?