Page 81 of Trust Issues
Me: I broke up with Max.
Within the next millisecond, a Facetime call came through from Naima. She was in the back of an Uber with Cadence and they had Chick-Fil-A. I was jealous. “What the fuck happened?” She blurted the moment her face came into view.
“I brought him lunch and he was walking to his car with some other bitch. They got in, she kept touching his face and…” I shook my head and pressed my lips into a line. Naima’s jaw dropped. She blinked a few times to collect her thoughts then she said,
“Kyle, oh my god. That doesn’t sound like Max. What did he say?”
“He said it wasn’t what it looked like. I can believe that but why the fuck was she even in his car? She had to have been talking to him the entire way to his car. He could have stopped that shit if he wanted to. He didn’t.” I nibbled on my finger like crazy. I bit the skin on the side of my nail until it glowed bright red, warning me I’d draw blood if I nibbled again.
“That’s true but it doesn’t seem like he was going to screw the girl right there in the parking lot,” Naima said.
“He’s done it before,” I muttered with my finger between my teeth.
“Wait…what? Is this the girl you told me he fucked after work?” Her voice raised an octave and she came closer to the screen.
“One in the same,” I nodded somberly.
“Oh…yeah, he knew better than having her follow him to his car. Shit, even if they were just talking he knew better than that.”
“So I’m not crazy for breaking up with him?” I asked hopefully.
“Oh, you are. You could have talked to him about it, Kyle. I can definitely understand arguing and setting clear boundaries in a new relationship but you just broke it off completely.”
“You think I want to sit around while he continues to show me why he can’t be trusted? Absolutely not. It hurts too much.” My voice grew quiet and my eyes turned watery.
“I don’t think it was like that, Kyle. You know I wouldn’t lie to you and I damn sure wouldn’t push you towards a fuck boy. Max hit a gray area and I think it’s the perfect opportunity to work through it.”
“Fuck that. Fuck him,” I huffed. Naima rolled her eyes at me and I knew she thought I was being ridiculous. She didn’t feel the way my heart ached though. The thought of Max with someone else or entertaining someone else hurt all the same.
“You’re going to throw away a relationship with someone you love because of something so trivial? You’re self-sabotaging. You didn’t even listen to a word Max tried to say did you?”
“No. I didn’t. Why would I?”
“Because you’re a normal, rational person and you know damn well there are two sides to every fucking thing.” She finally sighed and said, “Kyle, I know getting your feelings hurt sucks, okay? I know that. I know you’re scared but don’t screw this up.”
“I hear you, Naima. I’m glad you got there safely. I’ll call you guys tomorrow.” We said our goodbyes then I ended the call.
Was I really the unreasonable one?
I tossed and turned all damn night with that question. I couldn’t sleep a wink because I wasn’t beside Max. What the fuck had he done to me? I didn’t need a man to sleep. I wasn’t that ridiculous.
Or maybe I was.
…
When I woke up, I was groggy as fuck and couldn’t tell which way was up. All I knew was that there was a numb feeling in the pit of me. I missed Max. Maybe I was being too harsh. My pride wouldn’t let me back down though.
So, I took Barkley for a walk, fed him, and got ready for work.
Of course, I saw Max when I was standing in the hall waiting for the elevator.Of course. Why would the universe have it any other way?
I tried not to look at him while he was looking at me so we ended up doing this stupid stare-not-stare thing that worked my nerves. I started to open my mouth to say something to him. Once again, my pride sealed my lips shut. We stood shoulder to shoulder in the elevator without saying a single word.
His familiar cologne settled in my nostrils and I ached for him in my heart and between my legs. I stole more glances of him as we rode down to the lobby. His smooth brown skin and perfect Caesar haircut were driving me bananas. The back of my neck turned hot and prickly so I forced my eyes away from him. Instead, I looked down at my nails until the doors opened.
I sped out of that damn elevator so fast I almost broke my neck. I let out a sigh of relief once I was in my car. I couldn’t believe he didn’t try to speak to me at all.
Arrogant, stubborn, asshole.
