“Because I didn’t think about it. I gave her the code a while ago when she was decorating and I forgot to change it. That’s it. That’s the whole story.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Girl it’s the truth. And you need to stop raising your voice in my house.”
We stood there, both breathing hard, the air between us charged with anger and hurt and something that felt dangerously close to breaking.
“I’m changing the code,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Today. Right now if you want. She won’t have access anymore.”
“It’s not about the code, Prime.” Zahara’s voice dropped, heavy with disappointment. “It’s about trust. It’s about the fact that I just gave you everything—my body, my son, my whole fucking life—and you got another woman’s panties under your bed.”
“Yo, you’re trippin’. I explained. She planted them there. Probably when she was redecorating.” Hell she could’ve done it the night that I brought her here while she was drunk.
“Then why does it feel like you did?”
I didn’t have an answer for that.
Zahara stared at me for a long moment. Then she laughed—bitter, broken.
“I’m so stupid,” she whispered. “I knew better. I knew not to trust this. Not to trust you.”
“Zahara—”
“Yusef!” She turned toward the stairs, her voice sharp. “Get your stuff. We’re leaving.”
“Are you serious right now?” I followed her, grabbing her arm. “You’re gonna walk out over some panties I didn’t even know were there?”
She yanked away from me. “Don’t touch me.”
“This is crazy! You’re jumping to conclusions without even?—”
“YUSEF!” She yelled louder, ignoring me completely. “NOW!”
I heard movement upstairs. Yusef’s door opening. Footsteps.
“Zahara.” I stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “You are takin’ shit too far over a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” She laughed again, that same broken sound. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“Yes. Because that’s what it is. I have never touched Farah. I have never wanted Farah. The only woman I want is standing in front of me right now, acting like I’m the enemy when all I’ve done is protect her, provide for her, and love her.”
Something flickered in her eyes. Doubt, maybe. Or want. For a second, I thought she might stay. Might let me explain. Might trust me the way I’d trusted her.
Then her walls went back up.
“I can’t do this right now,” she said quietly. “I need space. I need to think.”
“Fine.” The word came out harder than I intended. Colder. “You want space? Take all the space you need.”
Yusef appeared at the bottom of the stairs, backpack on, confusion written all over his face.
“What’s going on?” he asked, looking between us. “Why are we leaving?”
“We just need to go home for a bit, baby.” Zahara’s voice softened for him, even as her eyes stayed hard on me. “Get your jacket.”
Yusef looked at me. I saw the question in his eyes. The fear. After everything that had happened, after everything I’d promised him—was I about to disappear, too?
“It’s okay, lil man,” I said, forcing my voice to stay even. “Go with your mom. I’ll see you soon.”
