Page 56 of Love At Close Range

“I’on want to talk about this shit no more,” I stated getting pissed all over again.

Kema grabbed her purse and stood from the bed. “I’m going to let you have it, because I know you’re irritated and I’m not trying to be the next person to beat your ass.”

“Whatever Kema. You can see yourself out,” I spat.

Kema said nothing as she left, leaving me in my thoughts. I sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up my phone, but there wasn’t anything on the screen I cared enough to look at. I tossed it beside me and leaned back. I had spent all morning trying not to think about yesterday, but once Kema left, there wasn’t anybody around to distract me from it.

The fight didn’t bother me much, because it was eventually going to happen. What bothered me the most was Lennox having Reiana and her son with him. He was already acting like they were some fucking happy family.

I remember the night Reiana texted and told him like it was yesterday. He had called and asked if I wanted company and I hurried and agreed to let him come over. As soon as I hung up with him I went to freshen up before he got there. By the time he showed up at my door, he looked like he’d lost his best friend and that pissed me off. The fuck was he doing here with me if he was so damn heartbroken about her.

“You want something to drink?” I asked as I closed the door behind him.

“I’m good,” Lennox said as he sat down on my couch and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.

I stood there for a second before walking over and sitting on the other end. “Then why are you here looking like somebody died?”

Lennox looked at me for a few seconds, before he leaned over and kissed me, and I kissed him back because I’ve wanted this for as long as I could remember.

That was the first time we had sex, and it was better than I could imagine. Reiana told me stories, but I used to think she was exaggerating.

Afterward, Lennox fell asleep next to me while I stayed awake. I remember lying there looking at him and letting myself believe the night meant more than it probably did. He was in my bed… not hers, and at that point I was stupid enough to think that counted for something.

I heard his phone buzz on the nightstand so I leaned over and looked at the screen, and the second I saw Reiana’s name, every good thought I had disappeared.

I picked up the phone and opened it since he didn’t have a password on it. When I saw her message my stomach dropped.

My Girl: I know we said we were done, but I need to tell you something. I’m pregnant. It’s yours.

I read it twice before I looked over at Lennox. He was still asleep, and all I could think about was what would happen if I woke him up. He would call her and then my whole plan would backfire. Whatever had happened between them wouldn’t matter enough to keep him away if she was carrying his baby. He would go to her, and even if they didn’t get back together, she would still have a reason to stay connected to him.

Another message came through while I had the phone in my hand.

My Girl: I’on know what you want to do. I just thought you should know.

I stared at the screen and typed the first thing that came to me.

Me: Fuck you and that baby.

I sent it, deleted the thread, and put his phone back where it had been. I didn’t care about the consequences of what I just did, all I cared about was making sure Reiana didn’t have a reason to pull him right back to her. Lennox and I kept sleeping together for a while after that, but it never turned into anything. He never treated me like his woman because I wasn’t. I knew that, even when I wanted more.

When I got pregnant with Lennyn, I thought maybe things would change, but they didn’t. He loved his daughter and showed up for her. He did everything he was supposed to do without me having to beg or argue with him about it, but whatever we had between us never became anything beyond what it already was. Now the past was back, and I hated everything about it. The doorbell rang before bringing my back to the present, and I got up from the bed and headed downstairs. When I looked through the window beside the front door, Lennox was standing outside with Lennyn.

I opened the door, and Lennyn came in first with her overnight bag hanging from one shoulder.

“Hey, Mama,” she said as she hugged me around the waist.

“Hey, baby,” I replied as I hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. “You have fun?” I asked even though I didn’t care.

“Yeah,” Lennyn answered as she pulled away. “Daddy took me to breakfast.”

“Oh, he did?” I glanced at Lennox.

Lennyn nodded. “Rhyse and his mama came too,” she announced not knowing that bit of information had me ready to strangle Lennox’s big ass.

Lennox noticed the look on my face and turned back to Lennyn.

“Go put your stuff upstairs so I can talk to your mama, aight?”