Page 32 of If You Love Me

I leaned in and kissed her cheek, then immediately went back into the kitchen. I didn’t want to watch her leave. My eyes would betray me, and I had to get myself under control.

Pull it the fuck together, Tyrion,my inner voice said.

Somehow, that was easier said than done.

10

Evenie

It felt weird being out in the world so soon after coming home.

When we first pulled up to the mall, I couldn’t get out of the car. My nerves were all over the place. For a moment, the fear of being taken again crept in. I had to close my eyes and count to twenty because ten wasn’t doing it.

You’re with Nina, and she won’t let you out of her sight.

You know her crazy ass will throw hands if someone tries anything.

And you know she’s always carrying.

It was true that since my best friend became licensed to carry at nineteen, she kept her gun on her. I didn’t have to express my concerns to her. She simply opened her purse and gave me the reminder I needed before we got out of the car. I felt safe with her, and it was a relief after all I’d gone through before coming home.

Well, I guess I shouldn’t say home, considering last night’s events.

I was trying so hard not to be mad at Tyrion for moving on in my absence. I couldn’t blame him for wanting love and companionship. And I could understand that things happened so fast yesterday. He was blindsided by my return, so maybe my anger was unwarranted.

I didn’t know how long he’d been with this woman or how long he waited before dating again. I didn’t know what their relationship was like, but he had to have felt something if he asked her to marry him. What I knew was I didn’t like her. That passive aggressive shit she was pulling was going to get her feelings hurt sooner rather than later.

“You with me?” Nina asked, snapping her fingers in my face.

I shook myself out of the daze I’d been in and went back to looking through the clothes.

“I’m okay. Just a little tired. I didn’t sleep much. Every time I settled into a good cycle, I woke up with the urge to check the locks.”

I must have gotten up about four times last night because my mind wouldn’t let me rest. The last time, I had to talk myself out of grabbing a knife from the kitchen to put under the pillow. The last thing I wanted was for Summer to wake up and find it there.

“That’s understandable, boo,” Nina said. “You look like something is on your mind, though.”

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Tyrion.”

She nodded. “Girls, why don’t you two go try on these clothes,” she said to Jersey and Summer Rose.

They grinned and rushed over to the dressing rooms, with us following behind. I couldn’t stop myself from checking every open stall to make sure there was no one waiting inside. Once they were tucked inside, Nina and I took a seat in the waiting area. My eyes darted in every direction, surveying the area.

Nina snapped her fingers in my face. When I looked at her, she tapped her purse.

“I got us, remember?”

I nodded. “I remember.”

“What’s on your mind?”

I sighed. “Was I wrong to think I was coming home to my man, my child, and my family? He told me he loved me, Nina. We kissed, and all the while, there’s another woman.”

“You’re not wrong to think that, babe. Now, even though I don’t care for that woman, he wasn’t wrong to move on, either, and I know you know that. I’ll give her credit; she’s good to him, and she’s good to Summer Rose. If she wasn’t, I would have nipped that shit in the bud a long time ago. What I will say is I don’t really think he wants to marry her.”

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