Page 24 of Terrez and Shalene
“I tried with you! It had been months, Shalene! Months of nothing but looking at a shell of the woman I loved more than I loved myself. I felt like I’d waited a lifetime just to get you to have a conversation with me. I thought we would never get back to us.”
Hearing the crack in his voice let me know Brevin was being honest about everything he was saying. Truthfully, had Brevin not been so disrespectful, I would have given us another try. It was too little too late though. Not only had he played in my face on several occasions, but he had been sexually involved with another woman.
“Brevin, leave her alone, son. Shalene, please get home safe,” Brevin’s dad shouted from the porch.
After staring me down for a few long beats, Brevin stepped back and walked away. Prayerfully, that would be the last time we had to rehash the past. Our marriage was over now, thanks to him. He was bedding another and I was enjoying Terrez doingthe same with me. Once I was in the car, I looked over my shoulder to see Amayah was knocked out. An incoming call came through from Terrez and I couldn’t help the smile that broke out. Even after that shit with Brevin, Terrez was still the man on my mind. I didn’t know if I was being dick dumb or if I was truly falling for him. The feeling was scary, but the thrill of it was what kept me on the ride.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby. Did you get the princess already?” he quizzed.
From how quiet his background was, I couldn’t tell where he was, but I was hoping he was back at home. I hadn’t seen him since this morning and was missing his presence something crazy.
“I just picked her up. We’re on our way back home now.”
“You wanna do dinner tonight? I know you got the baby, but I’m not tryna drag this shit out. I fuck with you the long way, baby. You got my word on that.”
Quickly, I mentally ran through the pros and cons of having Amayah around another man. I trusted Terrez, but adding my baby to the equation made the stakes higher. With how small she was, there was a chance she could grow attached to Terrez. The thought of us not working out would affect her greatly.
“Are you sure this is something you want to do? Like is being a father to another man’s child a responsibility you’re ready to take on?”
“If I wasn’t ready for that responsibility, we wouldn’t be havin’ this conversation right now. I would’ve let you know from jump if I wasn’t with the shit. As long and you and that nigga ain’t messin’ around, I’m cool. I’ll stay out his way and he’ll stay out of mine. Take care of the princess and move his ass along.”
“Okay. I’ll take your word and hold you to it. What were you thinking for dinner?” I questioned as I maneuvered through the city traffic.
“Shit, something unhealthy as hell.”
“Like what?”
“Artery cloggin’ soul food.”
“I got you. It’s too late in the day for me to really get down, but I can do fried chicken, sweet potatoes, and homemade mac and cheese,” I suggested.
“Bet. That’s good enough for me.”
“Okay. I’m gon’ stop at the store then I’ll be on my way home.”
“Okay. Send me your email so I can send you money for the groceries. Make sure you call me when you pull in the parking lot.”
After acknowledging his statement, I ended the call and went to the nearest grocery store.
“Goodnight, little one,”Terrez said as I carried her to her room.
When I made it home from the grocery store, Terrez and a few of the men who helped me move were in the parking lot waiting. I was instructed to not touch a bag. Once everything was brought into my apartment, Terrez helped like he always did, and we cooked together. It seemed like cooking was how we bonded and I loved the experience. I had no issue being in the kitchen alone, but Terrez made it his priority to be in there right next to me.
The meeting between him and Amayah went nothing like I expected. I thought her curiosity would’ve had her trying to be around him, but no. She paid neither one of us any attention as she played with her toys and watched cartoons on her iPad. Shewasn’t pressed about Terrez’s presence and I was okay with that. When I realized he was comfortable being in the same space as her, I stopped overthinking and relaxed. Since tomorrow was Monday, I went to Amayah’s dresser and closet to get her things ready. My baby wasn’t a morning person, so I made sure she was in the bed by no later than eight o’clock sharp. I truly enjoyed my time off, but it was time to get back to reality.
“You good, baby? You look tired,” Terrez said as I walked back into the living room.
“I am. The food we just ate has a lot to do with that.”
“For sure. I won’t keep you too long, love. Come sit with me and let me hold you for a few minutes. I missed yo’ lil ass today. I’ve been living in your skin these past couple of days and now I’m having withdrawals.”
Laying my head in his lap, I exhaled a breath, followed by a yawn. I still had to clean the kitchen and get in the shower myself, but my body was tired.
“I missed you too. I didn’t think I was gonna see you today,” I admitted.
“Why not? You can see me anytime you want.”
