Page 20 of Their End Game

“Yeah, maybe not. The difference is, it’s never happened to me, and I would protect her with my last breath before I allowed anyone to cross or hurt her.”

“You won’t stop me from being a father.” Radiance may not have been trying to, but in so many words, when she dismissed me, that was what she was implying.

“Never said I was going to.”

Silence took over. “What about us?” After sex and we pillow talked, we talked about us rekindling what we’d had, but now I was almost positive it would never be. Radiance was acting as though I was the one to betray her.

Scoffing, she shifted her weight. “It’s no us and won’t be an us again.”

I had already known that to be true, but hearing it hurt more than I cared to admit. I nodded in understanding. “I respect that.” My voice was low. “You and I may never be, but when it comes to Ja’Lani, you can’t stop that. I will make damn sure that I am in her life, and she knows who I am. You won’t go any further with her not knowing.” I meant my words. I would ensure I was in Ja’Lani’s life, even if it was the last thing I did.

Radiance didn’t have a comeback. She even avoided looking at me. I’d gotten my point across, so I wasn’t about to stand here, continuing to say the same things. I’d let my actions speak for themselves. “I’m gone, Radiance, but know this isn’t the last of me.” I walked to the door. “This doesn’t have to be hard, but if that’s how you want to play it, it will be,” were my last words before walking away. I loved Radiance and didn’t want any animosity between us, but I’d follow her lead, and if that was how she moved, then that was how it would go.

18

Radiance:

Wedding Day

“You look so beautiful.” I smiled widely, staring at Santia as she sat in the chair just after getting her makeup completed. Today was finally the day my sister from another mother, best friend, and true person would say I do. Every amazing thing happening and that would happen, Santia deserved it all. I was proud to be by her side.

She matched my smile. “Thank you.”

I went to turn but was stopped when Santia grasped my wrist. “Something wrong?” I asked after facing her, and she hadn’t spoken.

“Have you talked to him?”

Facing her fully, I smiled. “Today is your day. What I do or haven’t done is not the concern today. It’s all about you, love.”

Santia pressed her lips together, forcing a smile, before she parted them to speak. “You let him go once, Radiance, and got a second chance. Don’t do it again, because it won’t be a third.”

I smiled. I’d thought about Ja’vari since I walked out of his room that day, and as bad as I wanted to reach out, I felt it was best to leave well enough alone. Ja’vari was the love of my life,but when we broke up years back, it was the end of what we knew. “It’s your day, babes.” I didn’t want Santia to continue to make it about me when it was her wedding day. “Let that be your focus.”

“It is my focus, but so is the happiness of my stubborn best friend.”

I giggled. “Whatever.”

“Last thing I am going to say then I am leaving it alone. Ja’vari can’t help that Vanessa was a lunatic, so don’t hold that against him. You and I both know he would protect Ja’Lani just as much as you would. You kept her from him, and he sprang into action as her father the moment he knew about her. Don’t be selfish because you’re scared to be loved by the person you know is for you. You deserve Ja’vari, and your daughter deserves her father. You’ve set him free. He came back. Girl, get your man.” With her last word, Santia stood, walking away.

There was really no reason for me not to have Ja’vari except, like Santia said, I was scared. It may have sounded cliché, but I was afraid of being loved how I knew I deserved, and I knew I’d find a way to ruin it. I shook my head to rid my mind of the thoughts of Ja’vari and anything involving us, I had a best friend to marry off, and like I told her, she was the focus.

Standing off to the side,I smiled as Santia and Carlo shared their first dance as husband and wife. It was beautiful. Their ceremony was intimate and beautiful, leaving most of the guests in tears at their heartfelt vows. The love the pair shared was something right from a romance novel.

“You want that one day?” Ja’vari’s deep voice startled me, but I did my best to keep my composure.

I shrugged. “Never really gave it much thought,” I lied.

Ja’vari chuckled. “Since when? We’ve talked about marriage since we were in the ninth grade. What changed?”

Lifting my champagne flute filled with champagne to my lips, I swallowed deeply. “Life.”

“I see you still downplay ya feelings when it’s not necessary.” He looked my way. “You gotta stop being so stubborn and let shit happen as it should.”

“I am not stubborn.”

Ja’vari faced me fully. “Look at me.” His tone was calm yet commanding. My eyes slowly rose to his, and when they met his, I melted. I was suppressing my feelings but folding right under his watchful eyes.

“What?” I asked lowly after he only stared at me.

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