“Isn’t what you and Jackson share worth taking your relationship to the next level?” Cree shot back defensively, and someone in the room gasped. Surprisingly, the others didn’t jump in since they all felt the same about Essence and Jackson.
“We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you!” Essence said with some bite behind her words, which was a rarity. She was typically the cool, calm one in the group, mothering everyone. “And while we’re on the subject, Cree, aren’t you tired of keeping secrets? Does he even know about—”
“Essence!” Cree snapped, forcing her sister to stop talking before she said too much.
Anger swirled inside of Cree at what her sister was probably getting ready to say. There were some secrets Cree planned to take to her grave. And for Essence to almost reveal one meant she was really pissed. She got like that whenever Cree called her out about Jackson. Essence and Jackson were the best of friends, and he wanted to be more than friends. They got along like a happily married couple, and Jackson had always been like a father to Tray, who adored him. Yet, Essence wouldn’t budge. She wasn’t willing to be more than just friends with the man.
“Clearly we’re missing a big piece of the puzzle,” Nyla said, dividing her attention between Cree and Essence. “And I’d guess it’s a very big piece.”
“Does Tristan know you used to be a stripper?” Raven asked, and Cree growled under her breath.
“Yes, he knows,” she ground out.
That had been a source of contention in their relationship, mainly when someone recognized her. That didn’t happen often since she used to wear a disguise when she worked at a strip club. The reddish wig and heavy makeup transformed her into someone totally different. Someone named Siren, which was Cree’s stage name. Her alter ego was bold, edgy, and playful while also being mysterious. Cree hated stripping, but she enjoyed playing the role.
She had always been careful not to share her real name with anyone at the club. She had only stripped for a year, and never to the point of being completely nude. She’d only done it to help pay her way through law school, and it had been a profitable side hustle.
Her sisters and brother knew, as well as Tristan, about that time in her life, but it wasn’t something Cree planned to share with anyone else.
“What’s the other big secret you’re keeping from us? Because I know there’s something else, and it’s something that Essence knows.”
“I’m done talking,” Cree snapped and stood. She wasn’t leaving yet, but she needed air.
“Wait. I have one more question,” Dorian said quickly, and Cree turned back to her. “Are you going to give Tristan a second chance? I don’t know him, but if he was able to convince you, of all people, to marry him, he must be special.”
That, Cree could agree with. Tristan was special and like no other man she’d ever met.
“I think you should give him another chance,” Dorian added.
“I do too,” Nyla and Raven said in unison.
Of course they did. They were all madly in love with their men and wanted everyone they knew to be just as in love.
For the first time in a long time, Cree imagined what it would be like to be happily married to her soulmate. She often said she didn’t need a man, but if she was honest with herself, she wanted one. But only if it was Tristan.
“I don’t know,” Cree finally said, rubbing her forehead as a sudden bout of exhaustion settled over her. There was so much to consider, and right now, she didn’t know what she’d do. So she said, “We’ll see.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tristan followed behind Quincy and Jamal’s uncle like a lost puppy, and he couldn’t seem to snap out of the disinterest that plagued him. They were touring the commercial building that his brother wanted them to purchase, and Jamal’s uncle, the owner, dominated the conversation. He told them more than Tristan cared to know about the building and the tenants.
From what he had seen of the place so far, it was nice, but his heart wasn’t into being social today. Mainly because almost every thought he’d had over the last few days were centered around Cree. He had no idea where he stood with her because she was back to business as usual.
Guilt plagued him. He just couldn’t seem to get anything right with her, and it started years ago. Back then, he had lost her because he failed to communicate his intention of getting a new agent, even if the decision had been a good one. At least this time, the riff between them wasn’t his fault, not totally. No, that honor went to his sister and her horrible timing and big mouth. All the progress he’d made with Cree had taken a nosedive, and Tristan didn’t know how to fix it.
Cree, who didn’t embarrass easily, had told him that being caught like two teenagers making out in the back seat of a Chevy was extremely embarrassing. Especially at their age. It hadn’t helped that Bethany had revealed that Cree had been the woman behind Tristan almost giving up on football.
Thanks to his sister, any progress of getting Cree back was probably destroyed, and he’d have to start his pursuit all over again. At least that’s how it felt. Cree had accepted his apology but gave no clue as to where that left them. She made sure the few conversations they’d had since that day at his apartment centered around business, and he was sick of it.
“Since I knew I’d be selling the building, I didn’t renew most of the leases,” the owner said, cutting into Tristan’s thoughts. “The info your accountant requested will show the building has been income-generating for the last twenty years. In this neighborhood, you won’t have a problem leasing out the space. We housed a retail business on the main floor and an array of other businesses on the second and third floors.”
They were currently near a set of elevators on the second floor, and Tristan finally started listening when the owner told them the type of companies that had leased the top floors. In his opinion, the building was way more space than they needed, but the idea of further diversifying his portfolio appealed to him. Owning a commercial building in a prime location near downtown Chicago might not be a bad idea. He never wanted to be a landlord, but if someone else was managing the place, buying commercial real estate could be a win.
“We can head up to the top floor that is currently being leased by a law firm. They are closed on Sundays, and it won’t be a problem with us touring the space.” As they rode the elevator, the landlord explained that the firm was one of the companies whose lease wasn’t renewed. They’d be vacating at the end of this month.
A short while later, the owner unlocked the door to the law office and began showing them around. It was clear the firm had already started moving based on some of the empty spaces and packed boxes.
There was more space than Tristan expected, and he wondered if Quincy would use that floor for the nonprofit. Or if he would lease it to another law firm. Which would make more sense to Tristan. The nonprofit didn’t need that large of a space.
