Page 28 of Savannah Sweethearts

Crawling back army-style had crossed my mind, and I told her as much. She made the generous offer to pick me up. I agreed.

After we hung up, I managed to stand on my noodle legs and get myself to the bathroom for a quick shower to both cool me down and make me smell better. Even though I was growing out my beard, I splashed my aftershave on my neck. I knew how much she loved the scent.

I was dressed and once again sprawled out on the couch when a knock came at the door. “If that’s Ashley, come in. If it’s not Ashley, nobody’s home.”

The door opened, and I looked up to see my petite brunette enter. She leaned over the couch and kissed my cheek. “Oh, you smell so good.” She kissed it again.

Bolstered by her affection, I reached up and grabbed her, pulling her over the couch and onto my lap. She squealed and laughed; the sound was like music to my ears. Kissing her more thoroughly, I groaned with hunger for her.

“I thought you were too weak to move, and yet here you are grabbing me and kissing me.” She ran her fingers lightly over my face, giving me goosebumps.

I leaned in and nibbled on her neck, making her shriek again. “Ha! That was all a ploy to get you here.”

We were interrupted from anything further when my phone gave off a special ring. Sabra’s ring. Yes, she had her own ring—mainly because she only called when it had to do with the girls, and I wanted to make sure I took those calls. I cursed under my breath and grabbed for the phone. Ashley sat up but stayed close.

“Sabra, where have you been?”

“Some greeting, Tyrell. I’m trying to provide for my babies.” She already sounded exasperated, but then I guess I did, too. I put her on speakerphone.

“You left without telling me, without telling the girls goodbye. Where are you?” I ran my hand over my head, my blood heating back up.

It sounded like she was in her car. “I’m on my way home from Atlanta. I landed an audition for this reality show called Circle Up, and I made it. I’m going to be on it. I have a week to pack up some stuff and get back.”

“What about the girls?” I pushed off from the couch, causing Ashley to fall over a little; but in that moment, I was more concerned with the vitriol Sabra was feeding me.

“You’re a great dad, Tyrell. You can handle them. And I’ll still see them. The taping is only three months. And we have a family day halfway through when they can come visit.”

I closed my eyes and paced the room. “You know you’re just making my court case stronger. Not that I mind, but I thought you’d at least fight for your children.”

Ashley pulled her phone out and began typing. While I waited for Sabra’s reply, Ashley showed me a website for Circle Up. It was a reality dating show. I would not subject the girls to that kind of environment.

Finally, Sabra spoke. “I’m doing my best. I get paid good money to be on this show, and if it goes well, they think I could do a spin-off one as well. This could be my big break, which means I can provide more for Samirya and Sapphire. Speaking of, I want to talk to them.”

Through gritted teeth, I replied, “They’re at your mother’s house.”

“Oh. I’ll call there, then. But I do need to sit down and talk with you before I come back to Atlanta.” I heard her turn signal come on, and she yelled at another car.

“Yes, we sure do.” We hung up, and I again fell to the couch. Ashley only wrapped her arms around me silently as my mind reeled.

I didn’t know what to do, but I guess I had time to figure it out. Three months at least.

“Tyrell?”

Looking up at Ashley’s big, doe eyes, I raised an eyebrow.

“I love you.”

Relief flooded over me. She was in this with me. “I love you, too, Dream Girl.”

Ashley

Life was hard. I knew that. And as I laid in my bed, my pillow hugged close, I wondered if life with Tyrell was too much. The girls were easy to love, and Mrs. Harris—Gigi—was a dream. But the drama with Sabra gave me pause. Did I want to deal with her for the foreseeable future?

The minute I had heard Tyrell’s voice, I knew he was my future. I knew I couldn’t walk away again. Regardless of him having kids. He was my soulmate, my best friend, and my rock. We could weather any storm together. And if he could weather my parents, I could weather Sabra Thomas.

My thoughts then turned to the girls. Didn’t they deserve a woman in their corner? Both their grandmothers were, of course, but they had raised their children and couldn’t easily keep up with Sami and Saffi. Their mother certainly loved them—I could see that—but she had a convoluted way of showing it at times. They were completely worth the hassle.

I fell asleep weighing the pros and cons of everything and woke up knowing that regardless of how many things were on the cons side, the weight of the pros would win. I had told Tyrell I was in this with him, and I meant it.

---