Page 30 of If You Love Me

My heart and mind weren’t on the same page, and I wasn’t sure they would ever be again.

Breakfast was awkward as hell.

Thankfully, Summer Rose dominated the conversation. She asked her mother fifty thousand questions, practically ignoring me. I didn’t take offense to it. She was excited, as she should be. This would be a great experience for her, and she deserved that.

Nina and Jersey arrived earlier than expected. Evenie and Summer still had to get ready. Jersey busied herself by going out back to play while Nina watched me clean the kitchen.

“Sooo…” she said, leaning across the island.

“Go on and ask.”

“How was last night?”

“How do you think it went based on what you saw while you were here?”

“If I had to guess, you’re in the doghouse with your wife.”

“Bingo.”

“You know you could end this, right?”

“How?”

She looked at me like the answer was obvious. “Call off your engagement.”

“Didn’t you tell me you wanted me to be happy?”

She waved me off. “I do want you to be happy. But I know you aren’t going to be as happy as you could be if you marry Iona. Be honest with me, T. Do you really love that woman?”

“Now she’sthat woman?”

“First of all, she’s always beenthat woman.Let’s just put that out there. Answer my question.”

“Yes, I love her.”

“Wrong,” she answered immediately.

“How are you gonna tell me what I feel?”

“Let’s see.” She started naming points on her fingers. “You never changed a thing in this house in ten years. You rarely spend the night at Iona’s because this is your comfort space… the home you built with yourwife. You were perfectly fine with her keeping her place. Every time she comes over here, she has to bring a bag because you never made space for her in your closet. You’re marrying her next year, but you never started the divorce process, even before my bestie came home.

“And… let me stress this. If youdolove her, you will never love her the way you love Evenie. That shit she pulled last night, kissing you in the mouth in front of my girl, almost got her snatched the fuck up. She was trying to be funny, but baby, I can be hilarious. I don’t have a problem letting a bitch know she can’t compete where she doesn’t compare.”

I palmed my face. This was the Nina I was used to. Evenie’s disappearance drastically toned her down over the years. Now that she was back, I could see her being back on her bullshit.

I was glad to see Evenie turn the corner so I didn’t have to entertain her assumptions. At least, so I thought. When my eyes landed on Evenie in that T-shirt dress that clung to her newfound curves and a pair of sandals, I bit my lip. It was such a simple outfit, but she looked so damn good in it. She’d taken her hair down and I assumed used some of Summer Rose’s hair products to tame her curls, which fell down her back. She’d gone through her jewelry box, which I’d packed in one of the boxes I brought down and was wearing a few pieces I’d gifted her.

“Close your mouth,” Nina said, patting my face a little too hard.

I slapped her hand away. “Get out of my house,” I mumbled.

She laughed as she went over to Evenie. “Can we get a little commotion for the dress,” she said, spinning her around and smacking her ass. When it jiggled, I had to look away.

“Nina!” she exclaimed.

“Girl, don’t act like that’s the first time I smacked your booty. You got thick on me, baby.”

“I feel underdressed.”

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