Page 51 of Love Delayed

“Does it?” he asked, not realizing her fragrance lingered in his place.

“It does,” I said, tilting my head to look at him.

“Well, can you at least give it a walk-through and tell me what you think afterward?” he gently asked.

Giving in, I followed closely behind him. It was a beautiful place, but despite how much I loved it, I didn’t want to be in the same place where he had shared intimate moments with her. When we reached the main bedroom, I saw personal items of hers left behind. That did it for me.

“Listen, I’m sure I’d grow to love it, but I think if we are going to do this, we need a fresh start––somewhere we can pick out together.”

“Well, I guess this place is going on the market,” he replied without a second thought.

I smiled, and he kissed me. Then we walked out of the front door, ready to start our new life together and love on each other like no one else could do.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Eliana

When I got home, I was exhausted. My place felt cold and lonely, the result of my bullshit. Being pregnant and alone was not what I had envisioned for myself, but it was now my reality. The thought made me want to crawl into my bed. When I made it to the second floor, I saw my bed was still unmade, and all the memories of the last morning Rush and I had shared at my place rushed into my mind. Remembering I had stripped the bed and put the sheets in the washer, I went to the linen closet to get fresh sheets. I was so weak that it took every ounce of strength I had left to make the bed. As soon as I closed my eyes after lying down, my doorbell rang. Not wanting to move, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, opened my Ring app, and tapped the screen. When I saw it was Rush, I instantly got angry.

“What in the fuck, Rush! Why are you at my door?”

“Man, quit playin’ and come open the fuckin’ door.”

“Ain’t nobody fuckin’ with yo’ ass no more, Rush. So, please leave.”

“Man, come let me in before I kick this bitch in,” he threatened.

I blew out a deep breath and got up. I was tired as fuck and didn’t want to see his stupid ass at all. I was wearing yoga pants and a tank, but I still grabbed my robe from the back of my bedroom door to throw on. I didn’t want him to see the imprint of my nipples and get any ideas. I meant what I said about being done with him.

Before I could make it to the door, the fool started banging and ringing my bell insanely.

“Fuck, Rush! Stop it! I’m coming, dammit!” I yelled.

When I snatched the door open, he stood there grinning, and I wanted to throw up. Just a couple of days ago, seeing him would have turned me on, but today, I wanted him as far away from me as the wind could blow his dumb and trifling two-timing ass.

“You gon’ let me in?” he asked, trying to step inside the doorway.

“Hell no,” I said, putting a hand on his chest to stop him. “What the fuck do you want, Rush?”

“I need to talk to you, and I suggest you quit playing with me,” he said, trying to move forward again.

When I tried to stop him this time, he knocked my hand away. I looked at him, but he continued to walk in and headed straight for the liquor.

“So, what? You thought you’d never see my face again? You thought you could run up in my fuckin’ crib and do that childish bullshit, and that would be the end of it?!?”

I had seen Rush angry plenty of times before, but never this angry with me. So, he scared me a little. I wanted to pop off and run my mouth, but I kept my cool because I didn’t know how mad he was or what he would do to me.

I cleared my throat before speaking.

“I was upset, and I reacted. I’m sorry,” I said nervously, my eyes glued to the hardwood floor.

I didn’t want him to know he frightened me, and I didn’t want things to escalate. I wanted him to say whatever he had to say and leave my house and me forever.

“You think an apology is going to make shit all good? Fuck your apology!” he roared and poured himself another drink. “The streets are talking, El, and the streets got a lot of shit to say. But I want to know what the real is from your damn mouth. So, bring me up to speed on what the fuck is going on!”

I exhaled and dragged my slippers on the floor as I crossed the room. My back was to him, so I rolled my eyes before I flopped down onto the cushion. I told myself to speak calmly and answer the bastard’s questions as nicely as I could so he could vacate my damn space.

“What do you already know or think you know?” I asked, softly.