Page 3 of For the Lover in You
The world stood still. I couldn't hear or see anything around me. Jazmine's words were on repeat. I didn't think my heart could break anymore, but to hear the devastating blow of Kyle having another woman pregnant gutted me. I'd been begging for another child, but he wouldn't give me one. The tears froze, and the weight of the world sat directly on my shoulders. My life had changed in less than an hour, and I didn't know what to do.
"Mila! Mila!"
I heard my name being called, snapping me back into reality.
"Go home, and I will be there to address this!" Kyle shouted.
I looked at Kyle one more time, telling myself this would be the last time I saw this man as my husband.
Two
Mila
Trina rubbed my head as I laid in her bed, crying my eyes out. Twenty-four hours ago, my world had done a three-sixty. My husband cheated on me and, in the process, made a baby with another woman. Kyle had been calling nonstop, but Trina took my phone, cursed him out, and we've been ignoring his calls since.
"Mila, I am so sorry, babe. If I could take this pain away from you, I would."
I sobbed harder. My world felt dark and confused. I didn't feel like I could get out of this. There was no light at the end of the tunnel for me.
"Mila, come on. We need to get your stuff from over there. You've been in the same clothes for a day, and KJ needs clothes. I'm sure Kyle is working. If we go now, we can avoid him."
I shook my head. "The house holds too many memories. The slut that's having his baby has been in the same house."
Trina sighed. "I get that, Mila. I understand your pain, but we won't stay there long. In and out won't even give you the timeto process any memories." She sighed again and held my hand. "Plus, I will be there with you. You're not doing this alone."
I thought about everything Trina said. KJ and I needed to get some of our things from the house. If Trina was going to let us crash here, we needed to get our personal items. I rose from the bed, took a deep breath, and looked back at Trina. Her face was filled with empathy.
"Thank you, Trina."
Her eyes watered. "No need to thank me. That's what best friends are for. Now come on and let's make this quick."
An hour later, Trina and I pulled up to the two-story house. The house I once admired and adored was now, in my eyes, the most hideous house in the neighborhood. When we picked out this house, I picked it because of the space and the aesthetics. It was the perfect home for a growing family. Now we were a broken family instead. I checked the clock on the dash, and it was four in the afternoon. I knew Kyle like the back of my hand. I knew he was out of the house on his way to the hospital for a shift. I memorized his schedule and routine over the years. He never switched up.
"Ready?" Trina asked, pulling me back from my thoughts.
I nodded, feeling the tears build in my eyes. It was now or never. We both exited the car, and even though the distance was short, it felt like I'd walked a mile. We made it to the door, and I entered the PIN on the keypad to unlock it, hearing the lock turn on the other side. I slowly opened the door, and we made our way in. Everything was the same since I left. KJ's toys were sprawled across the living room. The dishes were stacked in the sink. The smell of fresh laundry still filled the house from the five loads of laundry I did before leaving.
"Damn, his bitch ass didn't even try to clean up," Trina grumbled, scrunching her face.
I scoffed. "Kyle wouldn't know how to clean, even if it were in a medical book. I did everything."
"Horrible excuse for a man," Trina mumbled under her breath.
I didn't argue with her, nor did I check her for her comments, because she wasn't lying. Kyle was a horrible excuse for a man.
"Do you mind going to KJ's room and grabbing him some items? I'll go get my stuff."
We headed toward the stairs but stopped when Kyle came down the steps. He wore a pair of sweatpants and a white tee with stains all over. I was shocked to see him, but he looked annoyed to see us.
"Why are y'all here? And where the hell is my son?" he asked, his voice filled with annoyance and rage.
Trina stepped in front of me, folding her arms across her chest.
"This is just as much of Mila's house as it is yours. She's here to get her shit and KJ's. Since you're so concerned, KJ's is fine. He and Trent are with the babysitter. Now don't make this hard, Kyle."
He scoffed. "And who are you supposed to be? Her guard dog?"
"Nah, I'm her ride-or-die, and you know that. Don't fuck with me, Kyle. You already know how I get down."
