Page 86 of Crossing Lines

Warmth floods my body as I translate the words. “Thinking of you, beautiful.” Kross is so sweet.

Guilt shifts my mood as Jamir enters my office with red roses. “Hey, baby. Missed you all weekend.” He places the roses next to the lunch from Kross and wraps his arms around me. “I wanted to take you to lunch, but you’ve already ordered.”

“Yeah.” I discreetly remove the note before he inquires about it. “Um, how was your uncle’s sixtieth?”

“Boring,” he drones. “Everyone sends their love.”

“Hm.”

He lifts his hand to caress my cheek. His touch makes me feel dirty, considering the weekend I had. “Let’s have dinner tonight.”

“I made plans with Trish to meet her after work.”

“I’ll wait at your apartment then.”

It is time to talk about our relationship and my feelings for Kross. Jamir deserves to know the truth. For God’s sake, I had Kross eating me out. “Okay.”

He smiles. “I love you. Always.”

My heart won’t allow me to say it back. I lower my head and pick at my pants.

“You can’t tell me you love me?” he rasps. “Geez, I guess you’re still mad I canceled on Friday and haven’t been spending time with you. You can hold a grudge, huh? I’ll see you later.” He leans in for a quick kiss on my cheek and walks out of the office.

I breathe an air of relief and sit in the chair. Every piece of me wants Kross badly. The more I analyze things, the fewer reasons I find to remain in my relationship.

“Well?” Trishell inquires after sitting and ordering her usual red wine. “Who will it be?”

I drink before telling her, “I love being with Kross. I love it when we touch. I love seeing him, talking to him, just being around him.”

“Hmm.” She slowly turns her head from side to side. “What is it about Kross?”

I speak from my heart. “He lights a fire inside me. It’s like I’m alive again.”

“Oh my god.” She leans back. “You fell for him.”

“It’s so fast. Maybe it isn’t—”

“You’re droopy-eyed over the man,” she insists. “You fell for him.”

Sighing, I brush aside my loose curls. “Jamir will be so angry when he finds out. It’ll crush him. We’re supposed to talk tonight, but I don’t know if I can tell him everything.”

“Is there any part of you that wants to stay?”

I consider it for a beat. “Jamir doesn’t make me feel that fire.”

“Leave him.” She drinks her wine. “He’s a good guy. But it’s over.”

“I hate that I’ll break his heart and hurt Iree.”

“Jamir’s a big boy, Davia, and Iree will understand. It’s worse to continue in a dead relationship when you want another.” She has a point. “What did you tell Kross?”

“That I want him, and I’ll tell Jamir the truth.”

She bobs. “Okay. Don’t leave him waiting. It’ll mess with his feelings, too.”

“I know.”

She drinks more. “How’s your mom and the baby?”

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