“No,” I said, cutting him off. “We’re done, Shawn. We’ve been done. I don’t want to be a part of whatever story you keep telling yourself about what we are. I’m in a new relationship. I’m happy,and I need you to stay away from my house. I need nothing from you. Please, just… leave.”
He stared at me for a second, breathing hard. He looked like I’d just crashed his car or something.
“You know what? Fuck you, Noa. You a crippled bitch who got lucky,” he spat, and Teagan raised her taser again.
“Leave!” she said.
“Watch how fast your luck burns out. All this shit? Temporary.” He dropped the takeout and flowers on the floor and stormed out the front door. Teagan slammed the door behind him and dropped her taser on the table by the front door before swooping up the takeout bag and bouquet and tossing them in the trash.
“Cheap ass flowers. You won’t be needing these.” She then turned to me with a grin. “Next time, I’m tasing his ass first.”
“Please do.” I laughed as she came over and hugged me.
“I’m so proud of you. You finally know what you deserve.”
“He really thought I’d never move on.”
“Well,” she said, brushing off her hands, “you did. And your new man is fine as hell and about to be rich. That’s what we call an upgrade!”
“You’re terrible.”
“I’m real,” she said, heading toward the kitchen. “Now, you want tea or wine while you spill about LA!”
“Wine, of course,” I replied, and Teagan ran off to the kitchen just as my phone buzzed in my lap. I picked it up, a little annoyed that it may be Shawn, but the moment I saw my man’s name, I smiled.
Quade:
Arrived at the studio. I’ll be late, but I’ll be there tonight. You good? Y’all make it safe?
Me:
Yeah, I’m good. Everything’s cool now. Handle your session.
Quade:
Always do. See you soon, sunshine.
Me:
Don’t work too hard. I need your battery to be full for tonight.
Quade:
Say less.
Me:
Handle business. See you later.
I set the phone down and exhaled slowly. I think I liked this little life of mine.
My sister’shouse felt too damn quiet without everyone here, and I didn’t know how to feel about it. True to his word, Ron had proposed to my sister and moved her into their new house a few miles away from the one I had bought her. They’d been slowly moving since the proposal, but they’d officially moved out over the weekend. I grabbed the bag I had prepared off the counter and trekked to the front door. I was half-expecting Zy to crack a joke about me going to Noa’s, but the only sound I heard was the alarm setting as I walked out. This was definitely going to take some getting used to.
I made my way down the stairs to my car. I’d stopped by the house after the studio to drop off some clothes before heading toNoa’s. I was tired, but I’d promised her I was coming by, even if it was just to crawl into bed next to her and fall asleep.
I slid behind the wheel, started the engine, and let it idle for a second while I rubbed the back of my neck and prepared for this drive.
“Let’s go see our sunshine,” I said to myself as I pulled out of the driveway and headed toward Noa’s. I thanked God that the streets were dead at this time of night because I didn’t have to focus too hard.
