Shaun looks around as if he’s not sure of what to do. Quincy and Devon both grab me, trying to pull me off him. I knew that if I didn’t let him go soon, he’d either pass out or die. Finally, with a shove, I let him go.
Quincy and Devon pull me away from the table.
“What the fuck, man!” Shaun shouts.
Jack helps Drew off the table. Once Drew is on his feet, he snatches away from Jack and turns to me as if he had the mindset to approach me.
“You’re out of your fucking mind.”
“Don’t ever disrespect Ella in front of me again.”
Devon and Quincy have yet to let me go.
Drew’s face scrunches up. “All this over that bitch?”
I charge toward him, pulling both men with me. Shaun jumps in between us.
“Aye, calm down, Miller.”
It’s only because Shaun is between us I let it go.
“You were supposed to bemyfriend,” Drew shouts. “You took sides.”
“You abandoned your family. Left Ella to fend for herself. Someone had to step in.”
“It didn’t have to be you.”
I wasn’t going to argue with him. After that announcement at the restaurant, Drew basically left Ella high and dry. He didn’t care that she was mentally struggling or trying to find a place to live with her two boys. All he cared about was himself. Yeah, I took fucking sides because any decent man would have.
Snatching away from Quincy and Devon, I tug at my shirt.
“You don’t have to agree with what I did, but you will respect Ella in my presence.” With those last words, I head for the basement door. I’m halfway to my truck when I hear my name being called.
“Miller, wait,” Devon says behind me.
I stop and turn to face him.
“What the fuck was that about?”
“I already said it; I don’t like him disrespecting Ella.”
Devon stares at me, his brown gaze fixed on my face as if he might find something.
“Nah,” he finally says, shaking his head. “You’ve been on shit since you got here. The moment anyone brings Ella up, you’re ready to tear into them.” He steps back, looking from my head to my feet, then back to my eyes. “You’re fucking Ella.”
I let out a fake laugh while running my hands through my hair.
“What? No.”
Devon is shaking his head as I speak. “I may not have known you as long as Andrew, but you’re my boy. I know you. You’re fucking his wife.”
“Ex wife,” I shout. Why the hell do I have to keep reminding people of that?
Devon shakes his head again, his face balled up. “That’s messed up, Miller. I know shit has been off with ya’ll, but that’s still your homeboy.”
“Fuck him,” I say, shifting my weight. “I knew her first. She was supposed to be mine, and he took her.”
He stares at me, and I can tell he’s still not okay with this. “So what? You’re trying to get back at him for that? That’s why you’re messing with her?”
