“Again, I apologize. This couldn’t wait.”
“It’s fine. Baby, I do apologize, but I have to end our night. Ashton just got a lead on a case, and I have to go check it out.”
“Now? Liam . . .” And this was now becoming a problem. Even with my heavy caseloads, I still made time for Liam in between. I always sacrificed for him, but he could never seem to do the same for me. I wasn’t trying to act like a brat, but this was becoming a problem too often.
“Babe, I know. I promise to make it up to you tomorrow. This is a big case. It seems as if we’re both being called to work anyway.”
“It’s fine, babe. Just go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I didn’t want to get into all of this in front of Emery. He didn’t need to know what was going on in my personal life.
Liam took my chin between his pointer and thumb. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Call me,” I told him, kissing his lips.
“Walter, it was good to meet you. With my baby as your representative, I’m sure you’re going to win your case.” Emery gave him a nod as Liam left the table. My eyes landed back on Emery while he stared at me.
“I guess you got your wish, huh?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure it’s going to come true soon.”
“What do you want from me, Emery?”
“For you to see that our love has never ended. We didn’t get to see how far we could have gone before you shattered my heart and left me.”
“We were too young to be so passionate about what we were to one another. I won’t lie and say it didn’t break my heart that you were lying to me throughout our entire relationship.”
“I lied to protect you. You may not have seen it that way, but there was no way I was going to ruin the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I scoffed. “I doubt I meant that much to you if you knew I didn’t approve of your lifestyle.”
“My world was dark, Yumi. The only time I felt a sense of relief or normalcy was when I was with you. You were my light in those dark times.”
“What was so dark in your world at eighteen? Every time we were together, I didn’t see you down or depressed. You were happy and carefree. Hell, I used to be at your house all the timeand never felt bad energy or saw anything drug-related around there. Your mom and dad were nice and didn’t give off king or queenpin vibes.”
“Shit ain’t always what it seems. At the age of fourteen, I was at the gun range four times a week, learning how to shoot. By sixteen, I was learning combat and martial arts, then it was on to the family business. I never had time to be a kid because I was being groomed to take over.
“Those moments when I could get away and be with you were the times I didn’t have to think about numbers, learning a new skill, or being taught the ins and outs of business trades. In my heart, I knew you were made for me. And as bad as I want to put a bullet in ya man’s forehead, I’m going to let him continue to fuck up so I can be there to catch you before you fall. I need that time back.”
I looked away and tried to settle my racing heart. I could agree that we fell fast. I was in love with Emery’s swagger and overall vibe. He wasn’t like the rest of the high school boys who always tried to come at me. He dressed preppy and sometimes showed up in slacks and dress shirts, and it was so appealing to me. He was giving pressure and was a boss from the age of fifteen to eighteen. The way he walked, talked, dressed, smiled, and looked at me made my young hormones rage.
Even as I looked at him now, he gave off the same energy as he did when I first met him.
It was never really my decision to break up with him. My parents disapproved because, somehow, they knew Emery was a walking mystery. They felt he was lying about his lifestyle, and although they were right, I would have still been with him. I never wanted to disappoint my parents, so I did what was best for them, not what my young heart desired.
“I love him, Emery.” I felt the need to confirm.
“No, you don’t. You’re tolerating him.”
“How do you figure? You act like you know my life. It’s been years. You don’t know me like you think you do, and I don’t know who you are aside from what I already know.” He sat up, placing his elbows on the table and staring at me.
“I would never put my work before you. Our time will be our time, and that means no phones, no friends, no family, no work. Once we cross over the threshold of our home, we’ll put the world on silent. After a hard day of work, we’ll chill in our spot while I rub your feet, and you tell me all about your hard or easy day at work. We’ll watch our favorite shows, pop some popcorn, and gossip about ya friends’ tacky lace fronts.” I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I need to show you what I would have done had you not broken up with me . . . Show you how good I can make you feel. I bet that man don’t even know your favorite weird ass color.”
I sipped my wine and looked him in the eyes. “Do you remember?”
“Affirmative.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you if you agree to come to the house tomorrow night and have dinner with me.”
