Page 6 of The Sweetest Return

I nodded.

“Damn.”

Something in my chest dropped. “That’s all you have to say?”

“What?”

“Damn?”

“I’m trying to catch up.”

“With me getting my dream?”

“With you moving to New York.”

There it was.

I wiped beneath my eyes. “You could sound happy for me.”

“I am happy for you.”

“You don’t sound like it.”

“What you want me to sound like, Imani?”

“Like my man.”

That hit him. I saw it in the brief pull of his brows before his jaw tightened.

“You worked for this,” he said. “I know how bad you wanted it. I’m proud of you.”

“Then why are you choosing every word like you’re speaking to a reporter?”

“Because you told me while we still naked in my bed, and five minutes ago you were wrapped around me telling me you love me. Now you’re talking about New York.” He rubbed one hand over his mouth. “I’m trying to catch the fuck up.”

The hurt beneath his irritation took some of the fight out of me.

“I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“When did you find out?”

I hesitated.

His expression changed.

“When?”

“This afternoon.”

“Before you came over?”

“Yes.”

Dre looked away, and somehow that felt worse than him getting loud.

“Don’t.”

His eyes came back to mine. “Don’t what?”