Dexter rubbed the small of my back. “Natalie, baby, trust me, I know exactly how you’re feeling. You know my situation about having to come clean with the truth, and there is no judgment on my end. My primary concern, however, is that if you and I want to pursue something as a couple, I need things to end with him.”
I hesitantly nod my head. “I will… after the birthday dinner. All I need to do is make reservations for the restaurant downtown and maybe pick up a cake–”
“Are you serious right now?” Dexter asked, removing his hand from my back.
“This is the last thing. In a few weeks, at our next family meal, I’m going to tell everyone what’s really going on.”
Dexter stood up as he shook his head. “And what if that doesn’t work for me?”
I gave him a confused look as I crossed my arms over my chest. “No offense, Dexter, but it doesn’t matter if that doesn’t work for you. Look, I like you, and I want us to work, but this is something Lawrence and I have been doing for a year now. You can give me grace and time to end this. As I said, all I need to do is set up his birthday dinner, and then that’s it.”
Dexter shook his head with a humorless chuckle as he grabbed his laptop and went towards my room. I sat on the couch in confusion because I didn’t understand why he was so upset. Yeah, we liked each other, and we wanted things to work out, but at the end of the day, we were both living in lies. I said I was going to come out and tell the truth, but on my own time. He can't rush me. Before I knew it, Dexter had come out of my room with his bag and keys in his hand.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I need some time to think. I’m going to head to my house.”
“Are you seriously upset about something that has nothing to do with you?”
“The moment I slid inside you, and you told me you were mine, I got involved. Natalie, I want you, but I’m not about to share you. I don’t care if what y’all are doing is purely a lie. I mean, for fuck’s sake, how would you feel if I was lying up under you while I texted my ex-mother-in-law about throwing a birthday party for my ex-fiancé?”
I opened my mouth but then shut it.
“Exactly! So, until you get that situated, I’m going to stay on my side of town.”
“Really?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air.
“As I said, I’m not going to share you.” With that, he left my house.
Dexter
I layin my bed and repeatedly threw my stress ball up in the air before catching it. It had been a week since I not only stormed out of Natalie's house, but since I had been back to the shop. I hated leaving the way I did, but honestly, I was pissed. How could she not see how messed up her situation was? I mean, if the shoe were on the other foot, I'm pretty sure Natalie wouldn't have shit to do with me. I thought about going into the shop to help her with work, but I couldn't do it. Being around Natalie would bring up too many emotions, and the last thing I wanted to do was get into a heated conversation at her business.
My phone buzzed on my desk, causing me to quickly grab it. Disappointment ran through me when I saw it was only Ricky calling. I don't know why I thought it was Natalie. She probably wasn’t thinking about me, or never wanted to hear from me again. Sadness washed over me with that epiphany, and I prayed that wasn't the case.
“Yo?” I said, answering the phone.
“Dex, man, what are you up to?”
“Nothing at all.”
“I stopped by the shop, and Natalie said you haven't been there in a week. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure? You know you can talk to me about–”
“I said I was fine, damn,” I snapped.
The line became silent as I exhaled a long breath. I've been upset in the past, but after all these years, I've never yelled at my best friend.
“Key, I apologize,” I said, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
“What's going on, man? The last time I saw you at the Spring Festival, you were good.”
“I…I'm just stressed out.”
“Are you worried about the meeting with G.T. Games on Monday?”
