He shrugged, leaning back into his chair. She kept watching for signs of anger or distress, but Marq’s face remained smooth except for the teasing sparkle she saw in his eyes.
“What could I say? You’re a grown woman. I trust you to makeyour own decisions. If you’re giving your time to him, then I’m assuming he’s a good guy. Was I wrong?”
She breathed deeply, trying to figure out how to answer that complicated question.
“Adamisa good guy.”
He gave his finger a quick tap on the table. “But you two are still having problems?”
She looked at Marq, unsure of why she felt the need to discuss this with him. They hadn’t been together in years. With the exception of James, her personal life didn’t concern him.
“There are two major issues. The first is that James mentioned to Adam that he wanted you and I to reconcile. Adam being such a decent person, he decided that stepping aside to let that happen would be the honorable thing to do.”
He nodded slowly as he considered her words. “And if that displeased look on your face is to be believed, I’d guess he didn’t discuss this decision with you before he made it, did he?”
“No, he did not,” she huffed, crossing her arms in exasperation. “I know it seems like such a silly thing to be mad over, especially since he was trying to do right by our son. But it made me livid.”
Marq stared at her. His eyes were filled with so much compassion, it almost hurt to look at him.
“Intention doesn’t mean he didn’t hurt you, Janae. Regardless of his intent, he crossed a line. You have every right to be upset.”
“But?” She waited for him to drop the other half of his statement, because she was sure there had to be more to it than his agreement with her perspective.
“But, considering his intent, do you want to give him the opportunity to rectify the situation?” She attempted to answer, but he held up his hand to stop her.
“Let’s put that on pause. Tell me about the second issue?”
Janae went on to explain what happened at the hospital with Adam’s father and the resulting wedge it drove between them.
“This dude can’t seem to help getting on your bad side, can he?”
Janae laughed. It was a fair assessment. Hell, it was pretty much the entire narrative of their collective interactions from their childhood rivalry.
“Janae, I abused your trust time and time again to manipulate you into doing what I wanted, what was best for me. You gave me so many chances to get my shit together over the years.”
“And you’re suggesting I do the same thing with Adam?”
“No,” he replied before taking a breath and sliding his hand across the table, laying it atop hers. “What I’m saying is, it appears Adam was trying to do right by our son. And while fumbling the bag the second time, he was in between a rock and a hard place when his sick father and his woman were at odds.”
He gave her a consoling smile and continued.
“I’m just saying, that should at least warrant a little grace. Chew him out, give him hell about his behavior. But when you’re done putting him in his place—and if you’re the same Janae I know and once loved, I know you will put him in his place—then, and only then, give him a chance to rectify his screw ups.”
She raised her hand to his forehead, making a show of checking his temperature.
“You sure you’re all right? The Marq Sanders I knew would never show such benevolence.”
“The Marq Sanders you knew hit rock bottom when he stupidly lost the woman he loved and the family they created together. He’s learned his lesson; now he only wants his ex to be happy.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You deserve it after all the hell he… I put you through. If this Adam makes you happy, then I want him to get his act together and be the man you need him to be, the man you deserve, the man I couldn’t be.”
Janae had waited a long time to hear that admission from Marq. The shell around her heart slightly receded, and she knew she needed to talk to Adam at the very least. She’d left before hecould say anything and everyone deserved to be heard. She owed him at least that much.
She pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened the texting app.
If you’re up to it, I’d like to talk at my house after the fundraiser.
Three dots appeared on her screen followed quickly by,I’ll be there.
There, this was her being open-minded. This was her facing her fears. She only hoped it didn’t get her heart broken all over again.
