Emery, please.I refuse to get caught in your web.
It was after eight when I finally made it home after having drinks with Langston. I was currently on the phone with Liam, once again disappointed that I wouldn’t be seeing him tonight.
“This is getting out of hand, Liam.”
“What do you want me to do, Yumi? If you want me to be jobless and live off you or my parents, then say that. I’ll be your video-game-playing, broke ass boyfriend if that’s what you desire.”
“Stop being an asshole. You know that’s not what I want, but this has been going on for months, Liam. We haven’t been spending any time together, and I’m wondering if you even really want to be in a relationship with me or your job.” I kicked off my heels and tossed my keys in the bowl by the door. I turned on the lights in the living room, then headed to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine for myself.
“You’re sounding selfish right now, Mimi. I love you, and you know that. We both have demanding careers that have ourschedules out of whack, and I think you’re being very dramatic about it. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than with you right now, but I can’t, and I think you’re being very inconsiderate. Like, what’s with you?”
“Wow. You know what? I think we need to end this call now before we say something neither one of us will like. The fact that you think I’m being inconsiderate because I’m voicing my concerns in this relationship is insane. If you think seeing each other two times a month is cool, then something is seriously wrong.”
“You have never had a problem with it before. What is this about?”
“Nothing. Goodnight, Liam.”
“Yu—”
I hung up and tossed my phone on the counter. I had been patient enough throughout the six years we had been together. At first, we saw each other four times a week, but as soon as he started working as a PI, our time was reduced to once every other week.
I craved intimacy, sex, and cuddles at night. I craved the gifts, the flowers, and the ‘good morning, beautiful’ text messages. I had been patient with him for over three years, but it was becoming a significant problem because I needed love and attention.
I poured myself another glass of wine after finishing the first one, then headed toward my room to undress and take a long-needed bath. I frowned slightly, not remembering closing my door this morning. I pushed it open, walked inside, screamed, and jumped back, dropping the glass onto the floor as it shattered. The fine ass, bulky figure sitting up in my bed with his legs crossed at the ankles, flipping through channels on my TV, had me grabbing my chest to settle my racing heart.
“Emery! What the hell?”
Chapter
Four
EMERY
“How was your day, baby?” I asked, licking my lips, seeing her in that tight-fitting dress.
“How the hell did you get in my house, Emery?”
“You should really learn to lock your windows, beloved.” I watched as she stared at me as if I were some psycho. Maybe I was a bit unhinged, but she should have known the pressure wasn’t going to end with me.
“If you don’t get up and get out of my house, I’m going to call the police,” she threatened.
“Don’t be a Racheal, Yummy.”
“What? Negro, it’s Karen, and I will be if you don’t leave.”
I stood from the bed and inched toward her as she backed away from me until her back hit the wall. With nowhere to run, I placed my palms on the wall on both sides of her, staring at her pretty face. This girl—woman’s face always made me weak in the knees.
“You gon’ call the opps on me, yum? Hmph?”
“G-get out.”
“We both know I’m not doing that. I asked you to come to dinner, and you stood me up.”
“I have a boyfriend. What part of that aren’t you getting?”
“The part where he cares about his job more than he cares about pleasing you.”
“Y-you heard that?”
