“Yumi Alaya!” my mom yelled in shock.
“You have clearly lost all your good sense, speaking to us that way,” my dad said.
“See, it’s happening already. She sees that fool and starts acting like some hood chick from the projects!”
“Fuck you, Zeke!”
Liam stepped in front of me because I was two seconds from slapping the fuck out of Zeke’s ass. “Hey. Let’s calm down, please. Let’s all calm down and regroup. I know you guys may not like this, but she’s right about this being her career. She doesn’t want to jeopardize it by not taking on this case.”
“You don’t understand, Liam. But I don’t care no more. When some shit goes down, don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Zeke switched his funky ass away as I stood frowning at my parents.
“I’m not dropping this case. If I win, I’ll become a senior partner. I’m not jeopardizing that to appease you all. I’ve been appeasing you all since I was a kid. I’m tired of it. I’m a grown woman and can make my own decisions and choices.”
“Do what you want, Yumi, but I’m telling you now, if Emery Aldana thinks he’s going to come back and call the shots, then he has another thing coming. Let’s go, Marie.” He took my mother’s hand and pulled her away. I let out a breath, trying to calm myself down.
“So, you have history with these people?” Liam asked. I shut my eyes momentarily and nodded. “Why didn’t I know that?”
“Because I didn’t feel there was a need to. I didn’t know I would be defending them after all of these years.”
“Hmph.” Liam looked off, then back at me. “Are you going to explain this to me?”
“Not today. I just want to forget about today completely.”
“Fine. You want to come back to my place?”
“I need to stop at home first, then the office. I’ll be by after.”
“Okay. I love you.” He pulled me in by my waist and kissed my lips.
“I love you, too.”
He opened the door for me, and I got inside. I waved goodbye to him, then pulled out of the parking lot. Today felt long, and it wasn’t even lunchtime. All I knew was that I couldn’t keep enduring the bullshit with my family about this case. They didn’t understand, and I was sure they never would.
I pulledinto Liam’s driveway at five o’clock and saw that he was home. At first, I wasn’t going to come over, because he hadn’t even attempted to contact me since yesterday evening, but I gave in and decided I’d have a conversation with him. We needed to fix whatever was going on in our relationship because I genuinely did love Liam.
I felt bad for cheating on him. I needed to tell him because I didn’t want any secrets between us. Whether he forgave me or not, I prayed we could get through this together and continue with our lives.
Easier said than done, Yumi.
I couldn’t go to my parents or cousins about how I was feeling because I was pissed at all of them. The way they attacked me at dinner yesterday and again today, I was over all their asses right now.
I grabbed my purse, overnight bag, and suitcase and headed up to his door. I pulled my key from my purse and opened the door, letting myself inside.
“Liam?” I called out, kicking my heels off at the door. I set my bags on the floor and my purse on the table by the door, then headed toward the stairs. He emerged from his bedroom and greeted me at the top of the stairwell.
“Hey, babe. What are you doing here?”
I frowned. “What do you mean? You asked me to come over,” I told him. “We really need to talk.” I took him by the hand, about to lead him back to his room, but he halted me.
“I forgot that fast, but Ash just called, so I was just on my way out. I have to follow up on this case.”
My eyebrow lifted. “In your drawers?”
“I was . . . getting dressed.”
“Liam, . . . for just one freaking day, I need you to give me some of your time!” He pulled me back down the stairs, taking me into the dining room.
“Yumi, I love you. I really do. I need you to understand that I’m trying to give you everything your heart desires.”
