Page 43 of A Toxic Redemption

"Devyn, where did you find this one?" She looked him up and down. "He's rather rude."

"Lady, you ain't seen rude yet." He crossed his arms and mugged her. "What are you doing here bothering my girl? From the way she was looking when I walked in, I can tell she doesn't want you here."

"Excuse me?" She reared her head back and placed her hand on her slim hip. "You have no right questioning me. It's not your place."

"Dana, leave." I pointed toward the door. "You've yet to tell me why you're here, and I'm tired of asking. There is no need for your presence, anyway."

"I want us to form a relationship, Devyn," she snapped. "I know I left you and your father all those years ago, but it's in the past. We need to get over that shit and move on."

"Get over it?" I laughed and threw my head back. I literally had tears running down my face. "Move on? Are you crazy?"

"No, I'm serious," she huffed. "I know I left you and David all those years ago, and it's obvious he still has hope for me. He hasn't remarried or had another child, and I know it's because he still loves me."

As if she had three heads, I stared at her in disbelief. The lady had to be on some sort of drug because there was no way she was of sound body and mind speaking like this.

"Lady, my father doesn't give a fuck about you, and neither do I." I glared at her with nothing but pure hatred. "You left him with a toddler, and for what? The only thing you said was you didn't want to be a mother, and you fuckin' left us!"

"I wasn't ready!" she shouted, throwing her arms in the air. "Your dad knew I didn't want to keep you, but he forced my hand. I tried to be there for you but once I saw the love he had for you was more than he had for me, I knew then I had to leave."

"Wow." I chuckled. "Well, as bad as I want to cuss you out and beat your ass for how you played my father, I'm not. That was probably the best thing your selfish ass could have done for me." I grabbed her purse from the counter and shoved it in her chest. "We have been doing just fine all these years without you and will continue to do so. As far as my father still loving you? Wrong. My stepmother has that on lock."

"S-stepmother," she stammered as she held her purse. "You're lying. He said he'd always love me, so I know there isn't another woman in his life."

"Shiddd," Khalil's ignorant ass chimed in as he draped his arm over my shoulder, "Sasha is fine as fuck, too. Ouch, Luck." He winced as I elbowed him in his side. "She ain't as fine as you, though, damn."

"Give me his number so I can call him." Dana stuck her nose in the air as she slid her strap up her shoulder. "I want to sit and have a conversation with him."

"Pops don't want to talk to you, and my girl doesn't either." Khalil glared at her. "You're filling the room with negative energy, and we don't need that, so fly back home on whatever broom you came in on and get. Luck is good."

I'm glad Khalil spoke up for me because my mind was stuck on Dana saying she didn't want me. How can you birth a child you carried for nine months and decide she isn't what you wantin your life? How can you abandon the ones you love without a care in the world?

"Do you have more children?" I couldn't help but ask. "Was it just me you didn't want, or did you not want to be a mother, period."

"It doesn't matter." She rolled her eyes and turned to leave. "Just know that I didn't want you." With that, she turned on her heels to leave, but not before looking at me once more. "You will regret the way you spoke to me today, and your father will regret lying about his love."

"Bitch—"

"Ahhh!" she screeched as Khalil threw a cupcake that was on display at her head. She stood there in shock, and he hurled another one her way. "How dare you?"

"She look like a clown, Dada!" KJ came running around the corner and laughed. "I want to try."

I looked on in disbelief as Dana stood there like an idiot as KJ and Khalil threw various treats at her. Seeing that they weren't going to stop, she hauled ass out of my bakery, looking like a frosty mess.

"Oh my gosh." I held my side as I bent over in laughter. "I can't believe you guys did that."

"It was either that or a bullet." He grinned as he kissed my cheek. "Come on, and let's clean this mess before people come in, KJ. We got shit to do today."

"I got it." I took the broom and mop from him before he made a bigger mess. "I don't want you to be late. I appreciate you for stopping by."

"It's nothing, girl." He winked, causing me to blush. "I came by to ask your fine ass if you wanted to spend New Year's with me. We can go out of town or some shit. Whatever you want to do?"

"I don't know, Khalil." I looked skeptical as he eyed me. "I don't want to complicate things."

With my mother coming and saying what she said, she confirmed what I already knew to be true. Loving someone isn't worth the pain and suffering that comes with it. I couldn't do that myself or allow anyone to do it to me.

"Listen..." He pulled me into his chest and kissed my nose. "I'm tired of fronting like I don't want you, Luck. I know you have your reservations about me, and I understand your stance on not wanting to fuck with a nigga. You need to understand that I want you, and regardless of how hard you try to fight it, we will be together. I don't care if I have to hide in your home or car or pop up at your shop every day. This shit is already written."

"What?" I giggled because Khalil was so serious, and his logic didn't make a lick of fuckin' sense. "Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"

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