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His voice returned to normal, and his smile disappeared. “You’ve always been a joke, Zoe. I just never realized it until the other day.”
“What other day? What in the hell are you talking about?” I was becoming irritated, and my head was still killing me.
“Guess what, Zoe?” He crossed his arms and relaxed on the doorframe like a man about to get some revenge on an archenemy.
“What?” I got the feeling it was going to be something I really didn’t want to know but I asked anyway.
“I had a luncheon meeting the other day about a new project I’ve been commissioned for.”
“And? You lost me.”
“And the project is painting a mural for the new civic center currently under construction.”
He grinned and sucked on his teeth, and I wanted to die. “Please, no!”
“Oh, yeah. Now you’re catching on. I always knew you were smart. The same civic center your husband, Jason, is the chief architect for.”
“Quinton, if you said something to him, I swear I’ll kill you!”
“Relax, I didn’t say anything to Mr. Jason Reynard of Smith, Watson and Reynard over on Spring Street. You want to see his business card so you know I’m not frontin’ about meeting him?”
“No, fuck you!”
“You already did that, Missy. Several times, as I recall.”
I was in shock and couldn’t utter a word. I just stood there with my mou
th hanging open, wishing all of it would go away.
“Zoe, that man worships the ground you walk on. All this time, you had me believing he was some punk ass who doesn’t pay you any attention and doesn’t act like you’re alive. You’re such a lying bitch!”
The B word brought me out of my trance. “I never said that. I never said Jason was like that. All I ever said about him was that he didn’t want the same things sexually as I do. Jason loves me!”
“Yes, you’re right. He does love you. Imagine how stupid and shitty I felt sitting there at lunch, listening to him tell everyone about his beautiful, perfect wife. How much he loves you, how the two of you first met and fell in love, how proud he is of you for starting your own business and standing by his side for always, how he built you a house so you could always see the stars, how—”
“He said all that?” I was overwhelmed because I never pictured Jason talking to business associates, or anyone else for that matter, about me like that.
“Yes, he did say all that!” Quinton was about to slam the door in my face, but I pressed my hand up against it to hold it open.
“Just promise me one thing. Give me your word you’ll never tell him what happened between us. Please!” I was at his mercy, and I damn well knew it.
“Don’t worry your little lying ass over it, Zoe. I would never tell that man about us for two reasons. First of all, I feel sorry for the poor bastard, and secondly because, as ridiculous as it is, I still love your scandalous ass. You need help, you really do, and not the kind of help you thought you could find in me. You need professional help.”
I started crying. He was right. “Quinton, I tried to get professional help,” I admitted. “She couldn’t help me either.”
“Well, I suggest you try harder.” My cries went from sobs to straight-up wails. I could tell he wanted to hold me, but his common sense prevented him from doing so. I had hurt him enough. “Zoe, I’m not trying to be mean to you. That’s the last thing I want to do, but if you’re not strong enough to put a stop to this for once and for all, then I have to be man enough to do it.”
“I understand!” Quinton was reading me like a book. Even though I came over there with the intention of breaking it off with him, more than likely we would’ve ended up in bed if he had let me in. Just like the many times before I declared I was never coming back but succumbed to my addiction in the long run. “I’m sorry, Quinton! I’m so sorry this had to happen!”
“I know you are, Boo.” He reached out his thumb to wipe away some of the tears that were streaming down my cheek, and I savored the moment, for I knew it was the last and final intimate gesture between us.
It was then I heard another noise coming from the stairwell, but this time, I wasn’t alone. Quinton yelled out, “Who’s there?”
Tyson came barreling through the exit door with fire in his eyes. “You’re fucking someone else too? You cheap tramp!”
“Zoe, who in the hell is this idiot?” Quinton demanded to know.
“Tyson, how did you find me?” I was freakin’ the hell out. Being confronted by both of them at the same time was the last thing on my agenda.
