The event had been over for hours, so he should’ve been home by now. I was looking at the pictures on their website when I saw a nice-looking picture of him on the front page. I clicked on it and the caption underneath.
Princeton Brentley is the youngest recipient in the history of the Business Innovator of the Year ceremony. The founder of a multimillion-dollar security and luxury transportation company, Brentley has built a reputation for protecting some of the biggest names in entertainment while ensuring their safety, privacy, and comfort both on and off the road. With an expanding fleet of luxury vehicles, armored transportation, and elite security services, his company has quickly become one of the most trusted names among celebrities and high-profile clients. At the rate his business continues to grow, Brentley is projected to reach billionaire status within the next several years.
I closed my phone angrily.
About five minutes later, I stood up when I saw him pull in on the cameras through the garage.
He yawned as he exited the car and slowly made his way inside. Once he got to the living room, I hopped up quick.
“So, you was just not gon’ tell me?”
“Oh shit!” He jumped back, hand flying to his side out of pure habit. “What the fuck, Paisley!”
He flipped the light on, and I came across that living room floor fast and put my finger right up in his face.
“After we had sex, you took somebody else as your date to an event you didn’t even tell me about? You were being honored for something so special, and you decided to take another woman?”
Because that’s what got me.
Not even the picture. Not even the woman. It was the fact that I had to find out from Desiree.
See, me and PB ain’t never been official. I knew what we were and what we weren’t.
But I ain’t never stopped wanting it to be more.
He was a good man and a good father. Been that way since day one. And when Rah put his hands on me that last time, PB was the one who came. He showed up for me, Summer, and Rah Jr.
You know what that does to a woman?
“Man.” He set his jacket down on the arm of the couch and rubbed his eyes. “You need to chill.”
“No.” I shoved him in his chest with both hands, and he stepped back. “I thought we were really trying to build something!”
“I ain’t never told you that.”
“Well, your actions showed otherwise!”
He came toward me. “Nah. Your actions show that you want me to wife you up or something. And I’m not on that type of time with you.” He shook his head slow. “I’m not even on that type of time with nobody right now.”
I went to the pictures and showed him looking all in love with whoever this bitch was. He looked at them, dropped his head, and let out a long breath.
“She’s just a friend, but even if she were more... look, I don’t wanna say nothing I don’t mean. I don’t wanna come at you rude, so I’ma just go lay down. I got a headache.”
“No. Fuck that.”
I stepped closer. “We’re gonna have this conversation right now. Are you gonna try and be with that woman in that picture, or are you gonna try to be a family with me and the kids?”
“Pais…we ain’t never tried to be together, or a family, before. What you talking ’bout, man?”
He walked past me and dropped down on the couch, elbows on his knees, head hanging between his shoulders.
Then he dragged his hand down his face and looked up at me.
“I don’t wanna hurt your feelings, but I knew how this shit was gonna happen. That’s why I didn’t wanna fuck you that day.”
“I just…I don’t understand why I can’t be the woman for you.”
“Look how we met.”