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Honey’s head shook. “Not exactly. I have an idea of what’s going on. It’s… this week is really hard for her, especially today. This is the first time she’s ever gone ghost like this, though. Usually she just works all day, and I do mean all day, if she’s sad or upset. Last year she fell asleep in her car because she worked twenty-four hours straight. So for her to shut down like this…” Her eyes watered and she blinked rapidly as her nose flared. “Call me as soon as you get there, okay?”
I agreed before heading out. Now, she had me even more concerned. Janae and I weren’t speaking but I knew that would change soon enough because of the trip and the wedding. We weren’t necessarily friends but there were no ill feelings between us. A relationship didn’t work for us, but we’d ended things on good terms.
Honey was marrying into the family, so as long as they remained friends, we would be in each other’s lives. It was important to both of us that we always keep peace between us to not make things awkward for Kahlil and Honey, and I think that was why we held on to each other longer than we should have, knowing we weren’t making progress. Progress or not, if something was going on with Janae, I would be there for her—always.
CHAPTER4
Janae
I heard the knocking on my door, but I didn’t feel like getting up to get it. I couldn’t even open my mouth to speak. All I did was close my eyes and pray whoever it was went away. More than likely, it was my parents, my brother, or Honey. They’d probably called my job after I didn’t respond to their text messages and calls and decided to come and see about me. I hated making them worry, but I honestly didn’t have the mental bandwidth to worry about their feelingsandmine.
The front door opened, and my alarm system announced it. It was Honey. She was the only person that had a key to my place. She was light on her feet when she came to my room, but I heard her when she leaned against the doorframe.
“I’m fine,” I said, then sniffled, hoping that would be enough to make her leave.
“Obviously you’re not.”
I’d never forget that voice, even though it felt like forever since I’d heard it. That deep, smooth voice that I’d been dreaming of hearing whispering in my ears again.
“Tyreek?” I almost whispered as my eyes watered all over again.
For some reason, I was happy it was him. For some reason, I wanted him to stay.
He walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. I didn’t want him to look at me. I couldn’t imagine how I looked. My eyes were swollen, I could tell. There was no telling how many dried tears were on my cheeks. My hair was probably all over my head, and I hadn’t showered for at least two days. I felt the episode coming on, but I was able to push my way through it until last night.
Last night, I just couldn’t take it anymore.
I didn’t know what time it was, but I could tell by the sun rising and setting through my window that it had been several hours. I hadn’t eaten or had anything to drink. None of that mattered to me. All I wanted to do was sleep, but all I’d been doing was crying.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked softly.
My head shook as I closed my eyes. Tears fell, but he caught them with the pads of his fingers, and that only made me cry harder.
“What can I do, Nae?”
Sniffling, I considered his request. I didn’t think there was anything he could do to take this pain away from me. Could he give me my baby back? Could he remove the hurt that came from their father leaving me when he found out I was pregnant? Could he erase the relief Michael had when I told him about the miscarriage? He smiled, literally smiled. I snapped, literally snapped. I tried to beat theshitout of him at that moment. It was crazy how one act could show you a side of a person you didn’t know existed.
Before the baby, Michael was perfect. He was romantic and caring, gentle and loving. We were talking about marriage, even going as far as ring sizing and shopping. I expected him to be happy about us having a baby on the way, but that wasn’t the case. I would have been okay with him leaving if that was his desire. If I’d learned anything from my parents about relationships, it was to never hold on to a man that didn’t want to be held. To not force love. To love and live freely. But there was something about him being happy about our baby being gone that… destroyed me. I’d never been one for violence, but at that moment, I wanted to kill him, and had it not been for my parents being there when he came over, I probably would have.
After literally pummeling him with the hardcover bible that was next to me on the nightstand, I crawled into a ball and cried for hours until my throat burned and felt like it was about to close.
“Nothing,” I grumbled, pulling the covers up until they hit my chin.
“Will my presence make you feel better or worse?”
It didn’t take me long to think about it before I was replying with, “Better. But… I don’t want to talk, Tyreek.”
“Okay, we don’t have to talk.”
Nodding, I wiped my face as he stood. He did something on his phone before stepping out of his shoes and clothes. I’d seen his wide frame and muscular build enough to not be fazed by it, but it had been so long since I’d seen him in nothing but boxers that the sight was one I truly missed. Tyreek made his way behind me in bed, wrapping his arms around me.
“How long can you stay?” I asked as he entangled his fingers with mine.
“Until you tell me to leave.”
I didn’t plan to do that, but I couldn’t say that either. It was my fault that we weren’t together to begin with. He’d probably think I was crazy if I expressed how much I wanted him near me. I wasn’t exactly sure why his presence was filling me with so much peace, maybe because he’d always been a pure, loving soul. Whatever the case, I was so happy he was here.
His body molded around mine perfectly. My head rested just under his chin. Releasing a content sigh, I closed my eyes as they watered all over again.
