Page 6 of Mark My Words

And over the years, he wondered if he ever treated her in such a way that would make her think she could be a distraction.

It was the reason he was in town, wishing, needing, hoping for answers that continued to dodge him every day. Breath ushered from his lips.

“Why, Destiny?” he whispered.

It was the single thing that haunted him.

The why.

His thoughts shifted momentarily to Stormi. If he were honest, he never loved her the way that he loved Destiny. With his whole heart. With his entire soul. It was not from lack of trying to fall in love with her. Because he did love things about her. Her drive, her appearance, her need to be a neat freak.

Still, even after proposing to her and trying to take their relationship to the next level, deep down, Malik knew it was not her that his spirit craved. He tried to ignore it. Told himself she was a great woman.

Then…she cheated.

Caught with her legs in the air hanging off of his bed in the dorm room he shared with his best friend.

It was that moment Malik knew he never loved Stormi the way a man should love a wife. There was no constriction of his gut. No level of madness, insanity that should’ve sent him over the edge flying across the room to kill them both.

Instead, Malik sighed, pushing out a breath that alleviated what he’d put off for far too long.

“Malik!”Stormi had shouted.

The two of them rushed to pull apart, grasping for clothes, while Stormi shielded herself with the covers.

“Please, don’t make me kill your vibe. Do your thing.”

He twisted, then slipped the engagement ring off his finger.

“Malik, man, listen, I tried to get her to back off, but she wouldn’t, and we’ve been drinking, you know me, and you go back like four flats on a Cadillac.”

“Save your excuses. You two can have each other.”

He flipped the ring in Stormi’s direction. “Besides, you belong together from what I can tell.”

“Baby, listen to me. Your friend is a liar.”

“You both are liars, but that’s nothing I’ll concern myself with from this moment on.”

“Malik! Malik!”

He leftthe dorm that day and never returned. While waiting for an apartment off-campus to become available, Malik stayed in a hotel down the street. That was six months ago.

Since then, Destiny had been the only thing on his mind. But he didn’t have the heart to reach out to her because if there was someone else, he would, indeed, break then.

“Yet here you are,” he whispered to himself.

It was time—past time—to find out the truth and rid himself of sleepless nights without her. At least Malik could get the closure he needed if that was what this visit turned into.

What are you expecting?

Answering his own thoughts, Malik sighed. “Hope.”

Chapter Three

“Man, look at you looking all suave and shit!”

Malik’s lips spread into a crescent smile as he winked over at Cleveland Smith, an old friend from high school.

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