I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. I wanted to say I loved him too, but the words would only leave me stuck, so I said nothing. Holding his gaze a little longer, I wiped another tear before it could fall. Turning away from him, I picked up my shirt, socks, and shoes. Making my way to the door, I walked out of his bedroom.
Each step felt heavier than the last as I made my way down the hall. Stopping at the steps to slip my shirt over my head, I pulled on my socks and shoes. Slowly descending the steps, I grabbed my jacket and purse from the living room and punched in the code to disable his alarm for the last time.
“Hey, Siri, play Mariah the Scientist,” I said out loud once I was in my car.
The intro toRainy Daysspilled through the speakers, soft and heavy at the same time, as I pulled out of his driveway. As I drove, I watched Pryce’s place get smaller in the rearview mirror. Tears blurred my vision as I thought about the possibility of him watching me from his bedroom window but not making an attempt to stop me.
Tonight, I chose me. And while I thought the decision was supposed to bring about some hidden strength, the constant ache in my chest said something different. But I kept driving, secretly praying that this last time wasn’t the last time.
CHAPTER 1
Forty-Eight Hour Warning
ADAI
My phone vibrated on the table next to me just as I was digging into my second crab cake at Steak 48. I was out for a late dinner with Trill after he’d sent a text earlier letting me know he missed me and wanted to feed me. I was craving crab cakes and shrimp deviled eggs. Steak 48 had been calling my name, and since he was back in town, I figured I’d take him up on his offer. He showed up to my place an hour later in a black truck, and I was off to be wined and dined on his dime.
I almost ignored the phone, but at a quick glance, the name displayed on the screen made my chest tighten, and my hands became clammy.
My Forever.
For a second, I just stared at the screen with my hand hovering over it, debating whether I should open the message now or wait until I was alone. I was nervous as fuck and anxious. The flutters in my stomach were proof of that. Why was he texting now? It had been months since I’d heard from him. And although I still kept in touch with a few of his family members, last I heard, he wasn’t checking for me.
Knowing firsthand how stubborn Pryce could be, I figured if he was reaching out, it must’ve been important. I glanced up atTrill to see if he was watching me. He seemed to be preoccupied with his own phone, so I unlocked mine. Navigating to my text thread, the first line of Pryce’s message let me know what time he was on. I still proceeded to open the text to read it in its entirety.
My Forever: It’s been 189 days since I’ve seen your face or heard your voice. You wanted space? Cool, you got that. But a nigga tired of not sleeping for more than three hours every night. Consider this your 48-hour warning, Dai. Make your way back to me before I have to come get you.
My Forever: And no, I’m not mad. I’m pissed the fuck off. But I love you.
I reread the message twice more, taking in every word he typed. I could hear his voice and envisioned him gritting his teeth as he hit send. One hundred and eighty-nine days. He’d counted from the day I left his house up until today. I couldn’t say that I was surprised that he had. I was more surprised that he admitted it.
The forty-eight-hour warning was clear. I knew Pryce wasn’t above sending for me or coming to find me himself. His family was well connected, so it wouldn’t take long. Exiting the text thread, I locked my phone and sighed. My appetite was gone, and my mind had gone into overdrive, trying to figure out why he waited until now to reach out, now that I had opened myself to the possibility of moving on… kind of.
“You good?” Trill’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I blinked and looked up at him across the table. Forcing a smile, I nodded.
“You sure?” he pushed.
“I’m sure,” I said, setting my fork down and giving him my full attention.
He studied me for a second before reaching across the table for my hand. Rubbing his thumb across the back of it, he flashed a charming smile, showing off his bottom set of grills. Tray’Von, or Trill as the city of Houston knew him, was very handsome. And he looked especially good tonight. His dreads were pulled back from his face, loosely held together by a rubber band. The white crew neck tee he wore fit his toned arms perfectly.
As always, he was iced out, diamonds flashing from his ears to his neck, wrist, and pinky ring. Trill was the flashy type, quite the opposite of what I was attracted to. Pryce’s face flashed in my head. He was always lowkey, even though he could pop it the hardest if he wanted to. There I was again, thinking about him when I should’ve been focused on the man in front of me.
I wanted to sigh but didn’t want to wear my anxiety on my face, so I shifted in my seat instead. The text had my mind elsewhere, despite me trying my best to bring myself back mentally.
“Oh, my God, Trill?” I heard a soft squeal from behind me before a woman came into view.
She was dressed in a mini skirt, halter top, and a pair of strappy stiletto heels. Her lemonade braids were about the only thing I could compliment her on. The whole outfit looked like she’d stepped out of a 2000’s video shoot — and she was not the main girl.
“I told my friend it was you. Can I please get a picture witchu? You look even better in person.”
The excitement mixed with lust in her voice didn’t move me. I was used to it by now. In reality, I didn’t care enough to address it when his fans did too much. Although we’d been dating for the last few months, nothing in me felt that it was exclusive. Sure, we spent time together, went on dates, and he bought me nice gifts.We’d even kissed multiple times, but that was as far as it went. The fact that my heart was still in New York had a lot to do with that.
Trill was a popular rapper in Houston, and his name was beginning to buzz on a mainstream level. He was big in his city though, and that was clear whenever we were out. People flocked to him, and he not only loved the attention but expected it. That was clear from the first time we met.
It was my third week in Houston, and I was both homesick and lovesick. The combination was enough to put a newly single woman in the hospital. I’d been living out of a hotel for three weeks after leaving New York and had been regretting every day. I hadn’t even thought about starting my apartment search because I just knew that Pryce would be calling any day, and I’d be on the first flight back home. At least that was what I hoped he’d do.
