“I know you lying,” Dove declared in a heated tone as she stepped up beside me.
Daniella smiled and asked, “Who’s this, Reigh? Another one of your little weekend toys?”
I knew she was acting like a bitch for Dove’s benefit. In the past, I had fucked around a bit. Daniella and I had an openrelationship. It hadn’t always been that way. It started after the third year when I proposed marriage, and she turned me down. She said that was a major step, and she still had too much to accomplish in her career to take our relationship to the next level.
She didn’t care that I would support her and be there for her. She said that her modeling career sometimes demanded that she cater to clients and constituents alike. When I asked what she meant by that, she said that she might have to go on dates with important people just to snag a job.
I knew that I should have walked away then, but I didn’t. Instead, I settled for an open relationship, one that I took full advantage of. The only thing I asked of the women was that they sign an NDA. Despite the way things looked, I cared about Daniella a great deal, and I didn’t want any other woman openly disrespecting her by laying claim to me or posting pictures of me and them on social media.
“No, Ella, this is the woman I love. How did you find me, anyway?”
“Did you forget that we share locations with one another? I’m one of the few people you ever trusted to do that with. I guess you still trust me. Did you share your location with her?” She threw a hand casually in Dove’s direction. I could feel the tension radiating off my baby’s body, and I didn’t want to spend another moment entertaining Daniella. That shit was beneath me.
“You have to go, Ella.”
“Where, Reigh?” She batted her light brown eyes and turned her lips down in disappointment.
“I don’t give a fuck. I’ll pay for someone to get you if you need me to, but you can’t stay here. That shit’s disrespectful, and I ain’t never been a disrespectful nigga.”
Daniella looked as if she were being harassed. She threw one arm up in the air and extended the other one behind her. “The car that just brought me was the last one. Apparently, the car service stops early on the island. The nearest hotel, which isn’t even within walking distance, not that I’m going to walk, has no rooms available. Believe me, I already checked.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head as if she were over me.
“You can’t stay here.” I was adamant as I shook my head and grabbed the door to close it.
“Why? You found yourself a little playmate who caters to your fantasies and holds your hand while you cry that the world is victimizing you? What, Reighvyn? I have invested time in us. You can’t just push me aside at the first challenge we face.”
“I didn’t push you aside. You did that shit. You walked out when I was at my lowest,” I countered.
Daniella looked to Dove. “You see this?” she asked, waving her hand at me. “He still loves me. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t even entertain the conversation that I’m having with him. He’s just punishing me right now. In time, he’ll forgive me and be back at my door, begging me to take him back. Sweetheart, you should save yourself the heartache and walk away now.”
Dove crossed her arms and folded them over her chest. “Maybe he does still love you. You can’t turn that off like a faucet, but I promise you that it’s not you he’s in love with. His heart is in my hands, and I won’t be a fool like you and carelessly toss it on the floor.”
“You should go now, Ella,” I declared coldly.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Dead ass serious. As serious as life in a maximum-security prison with no chance at parole,” I replied.
Daniella threw her hands up, and tears filled her eyes. In the past, they would have torn me apart. I never could withstand her tears in an argument. Unfortunately, I had quickly learnedthat she turned her tears on and off like a water faucet. She used them as a manipulation tool.
“I can’t believe this. I have literally nowhere to go, Reigh.”
“Nobody told you to fly ya ass out here.”
“How could you be so cold and do me this way after all the years we invested?” Daniella asked as her bottom lip trembled. “For her? You’re doing this all for her? She’ll be gone next week, Reigh, and you and I both know this. Just like all the other ones.”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you the same question? We were together five years, Ella. Five! You just threw me away like I didn’t matter at the first sign of trouble because you were worried about your modeling career. Then it became ‘fuck Reigh.’ Fuck you, Ella, and fuck those fake-ass tears in your eyes.”
“Reigh, if I had somewhere else to go, I would. You know that.” She hissed through clenched teeth. When I paused and just stared at her, she continued speaking. “Please don’t make me stay outside. Things happen to people, and I really don’t have anywhere to go.”
Tears fell from her eyes, her voice and chin trembled, and it was ripping me apart, but I refused to disrespect Dove, who smacked her lips and finally spoke up.
“You know what? Let her stay here for tonight. You can stay in one of the guest rooms, but you will be gone in the morning before the sun rises. Oh, and please don’t take my kindness for weakness. Grab your things, and I’ll show you to your room,” Dove snapped.
I stepped back as Dove waved Daniella through. I wanted to shut that shit down, but Dove looked like I had better not say anything, or she would chew my ass up and spit me out too. When I remained in position, Daniella turned back and glared at me. “Can you at least get my bags for me, Reigh?”
I smacked my lips and rolled my eyes, but I did as she asked. We had to make it through the night, but I only prayed that it wouldn’t mess up things between Dove and me.
I watched as the two of them disappeared down the hall. I took a few minutes to calm myself down by drinking a beer before I returned to my room. Dove had taken to sleeping in my room with me since we had sex, and she was sitting up in bed the minute that I stepped through the door. Dove’s head was tilted, and her arms were folded over her breasts. She had disrobed, and she stared at me.
