Page 11 of Love Delayed
As we pulled away from the curb, I looked back at Marcus standing there, his words ringing in my ears.
Henever stopped loving me. What in the hell is thatsupposed to do for me now? Why would he saythat to me after we’ve been apart for sodamn long?Why did I allow him to revisitour past?Why did I even take Marcus up onhis offer to let me stay in his hotel roomwhen I had an entire gotdamn situation of my owngoing on?I’m going through a divorce andhave a whole baby inside of me, for goodness’ sake.
All kinds of emotions were stirring inside me, and I hated it. I had moved on and left my past with him way behind. Knowing I was pregnant, I still refused to go near Marcus.
He could’ve saved hisbreath telling me to call him at his hotel,I thought as Zaria and her husband were having a conversation of their own in the front seat. I tried to refocus my thinking on the sample dishes I would prepare for my potential new client that afternoon.
Enough with thethoughts of Marcus’s “fine as all get out” caramelskin-toned ass,I told myself, but as hard as I tried, it wasn’t easy to do.
Over six damn glorious feet tall, he had matured in the last ten years. No more messy curls. He now sported a clean-cut, low-tapered fade and a beautiful, full, well-maintained beard and mustache. His shoulders were broader, his waist slimmer, and an eight-pack replaced the six-pack I used to love running my hands across.
Damn!I bit down on the corner of my lip.He lookeddamn delicious. How my horny ass kept it all theway together last night, I do not know.
I didn’t bother to inquire whether he was romantically involved with anyone. I did not want to know if he was loving on someone new, and I did not want to open the door for him to ask about my love life.
I had no desire to share that I was married to a man who didn’t love or respect me enough to keep his penis in his pants, and to add insult to injury, he made a baby outside of our marriage. I didn’t want to admit to Marcus that during one night of wine-induced weakness, I foolishly laid with him and got pregnant after three years of trying with no success. No, I did not want to share that information and look like a fool. My eyes watered, and I knew my hormones were to blame for me becoming emotional. While blinking back my tears, I asked the Father for strength.
When my sister’s husband, Josh, pulled up to my house, I blew out a tiny breath. I didn’t know if Evan would be there since he hadn’t completely moved out, and from the looks of it, he was making no effort to move. Whether he was there or not, I was in no mood to cross paths with his ass. My sister got out of the car to hug me while Josh grabbed my bags from the trunk. They offered to walk me inside, and I didn’t say no. If Evan were home, they would be there to help me avoid having an unwanted conversation with him. Although I had come to terms with our situation, I still didn’t like him much. And the way the pregnancy had my hormones so out of whack, he’d be stabbed to death if he said the wrong thing.
I called out his name after stepping inside the doorway. Having entered through the front door, I didn’t know if his vehicle was in the garage. I was relieved once a few seconds passed without a reply, which meant he wasn’t home. I dropped my purse and keys on the counter, and Josh offered to haul my luggage up the steps.
“Thanks so much for picking me up,” I told Zaria. “I have to change and head over to make some samples for a potential client.”
“What’s the occasion?” she asked.
“I believe it’s an engagement party. Since I was supposed to be home yesterday, nothing was marinated last night. So, I must hurry. If I get there within the hour, I’ll have at least three hours to marinate and get my sides together.”
“We’ll get out of your hair, Zee, but you better call me later to fill me in on this Marcus reunion,” she said as Josh descended the stairs.
“I’ll call you, but it was no reunion. I have a lot going on, but plans to see Marc again don’t exist.”
“Whatever, liar. Call me later,” she said, leaning in to hug me one last time.
After locking the door behind them, I raced upstairs, changed my clothes, and left to head to my catering company. Once I arrived, I got to work. Before going to Vegas, I had stocked everything I needed in the fridge and freezer for this appointment. The first thing I did was my thawing process, and after an hour, all the meat was seasoned and marinating. Her menu requests were fish, chicken, steak, garlic mashed potatoes, Cajun rice, mixed vegetables, and fluffy dinner rolls, which all would be a walk in the park to prepare. Dessert was not a request because she had already hired a baker.
Four o’clock was approaching fast, but I was ready to wow this potential client. Since I had time, I whipped up some gravy and honey butter, ready to impress. When the entry door chimed, I quickly removed my apron and went to greet Ms. Spencer. I wore a confident smile as I closed the distance between us with an outstretched arm.
“Ms. Spencer, I’m Zamora. It is so nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. I am so sorry we couldn’t meet yesterday.”
“Me too. I went out of town for a few days, and there were flight delays. Yadda, yadda, yadda. But thank you for agreeing to move our appointment to today.”
“No problem. I heard you could burn, and although I’d love to have sushi and a vegan menu, I don’t want to disappoint my guests.”
“You didn’t mention you were vegan,” I said.
“Because I won’t be eating at the party. I can’t risk getting bloated or looking a mess in my dress.”
“So you won’t be sampling my food?” I asked, confused.
“No. I hoped to attend this appointment with my fiancé, but he had travel troubles like you and couldn’t make it. However, the way it smells so good up in here, you’re hired.”
“Wait, you’re hiring me based on the aroma of my food?” I asked, wanting to ensure I heard her right.
“To be honest, my future mother-in-law recommended you, and there’s no way I would not listen to the woman who gave birth to my man.”
“So, I’m hired?” I asked again, and she gave me another verbal confirmation.