Page 102 of Unexpectedly In Love

Each time he moves, his thigh muscle bulges in his tailored dark blue pants. I don’t know if it’s the time away, but my husband looks divine. Wait…he is not my husband anymore. My mood dampens.

“I was wrong and disrespectful, and I am so sorry, i psykhí mou.” He stops with his arms stretching to me. When I don’t make a move he drops his hand and pinches his nose bridge.

“What does i psykhí mou mean?” I ask.

He smirks. “It means, my soul.”

I keep my face stoic, but my insides are jumping for love. “Why are the flowers different colors?”

“The white rose signifies loyalty. It means that I will be loyal to you always.” He moves to another box with blue roses.

“Blue is for what?” I pick up the box to show him. He walks up to me and holds the other side.

“It means I will cherish every unique aspect of your personality.” I see his hand reaching for me but he pulls it back as I look away.

I move across to the black roses. “Does this represent my death?”

“Never, it represents new beginnings for us. The yellow is for our friendship.” He places the box of flowers back on the sofa.

“What is rainbow for?” I find it interesting that he knows the meaning of all these flowers.

“I bought it because it reminded me of you. Ask me what the red is for.” He picks up the box and walks to me, he steps slowly into my personal space.

“Sex? Romance?” I said jokingly wanting to break the tension surrounding us.

“Love for a partner,” he whispers. “That’s why there are so many boxes of red roses.”

My eyes become teary, but I can’t give in yet. “You didn’t love me some days ago…what changed?”

“Me. I thought that the best way for me to protect you and Kai was by pushing you away.” His fingers touch mine at the side of the box.

“And now you had an epiphany and you’re in love?”

He shook his head. “And now I realize that it was an excuse. I was afraid to love you because I don’t know what my life would be, if I lost you.”

He slowly places the roses on the table and pulls me into his arm, slowly, wrapping me in his arms. I inhale him, dig my nails into the side but then I pull away.

“Well, thank you for coming.” I walk to the door wiping my tears away.

“What do you want from me, Anise? Tell me and I would, do it?” he states.

“I can’t live the life that you are living. I will dance in hell with you but—” I blink rapidly keeping my tears at bay. “But my son won’t. Our son is black, he already has the world at his back.”

Eryx sits and pulls at his hair at his root.

“I’m not going to let my baby boy become a don or whatever you call it. I want him to know that there is more to life than a yearning for power.” I open the door bowing my head. “I already have to teach him how to respond to the police when he is driving. Being in your group makes him a bigger target. I want him to know that there is more to life than attaining power.”

Tears drip down my face quickly to wipe them away.

Eryx remains silent, but his silence is screaming out loud to me.

“File the divorce papers. Thanks for stopping by. The roses are beautiful,” I state.

* * *

ERYX

She was politely putting me out of her mom’s home. I’ve had enough of this. I want my family back, and I will fight tooth and nail for them. I say nothing. I walk to the door and take her hand off the knob. Closing it, I push her against the door.

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