Page 217 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Who were you speaking to?” Dante asked, coming over to the desk while I flung my cell aside and rubbed my wet eyes.

“It was Matt. He called.” I cried in horror. “Oh God. What have I done? I think I told him. I said- what the fuck was I thinking? Oh Jesus, oh sweet Jesus.”

“Stop swearing, you made a deal with God.” Dante tried to calm me down. “What were you talking about? How does he have your new number? Why is he even calling you?”

Oh, that’s right. Dante was in the dark concerning the whole frame up revelation. I hadn’t gotten around to telling him and he was busy trying to finalize the purchase of his first property. To be honest, I kind of deliberately kept it secret, but only because Dante would’ve pressured me to go to Matt and reveal the truth.

“Text.” I reclaimed my cell, sending a quick ‘thanks’ upwards the screen hadn’t been smashed when I tossed it. “I’ll text him back, say I was talking to someone else and the call got cut off. Yeah, yes, that could work. No telling what might come out my mouth if I talk to him. He’s got this weird ability to make me confess. I don’t understand why it happens with him-”

“Take a breath,” Dante interrupted me while my fingers flew over the screen in haste. He pulled a chair and scrutinized my face. “Why were you talking to him?”

I finished the text, pressed send then turned off the cell. Exhaling slowly before smoothing my features into one of serenity, I met Dante’s gaze.

“He knows I never cheated and feels guilty because of everything,” I chewed my lower lip at Dante’s incredulous stare. “Umm, he apologized. I guess he feels bad about the divorce. I’ve forgiven him, and it’s all water under the bridge now. Ah, did you speak to Francois about the changes I wanted?”

Dante remained silent, his hands were clasped loosely on his muscular thighs.

“It’s all good.” I volunteered to help cover the awkward silence from Dante. I tried to grin and continued with a lightness that belied the growing tension in my body. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not telling him and it’s my choice, my decision. Stop looking at me like that. I’m not having those people influence my kids. Affluenza is a real thing now and I don’t want them growing up in that environment. They’re old money, Dante, I’m talking generational wealth. Proper old English breeding and money…and they’re toxic. Not the girls, they’re sweet. Hannah and Stuart were nice to begin with but they never once contacted me after Matt and I split. His parents are…I am not having those vipers around my children. And Grumps is a nasty old bat, well, not all the times – Adam is a rightdick. He grabbed my arm. Did I tell you that?”

Dante unclasped his hands and raised them to his head. His trademark braided hair was gone, instead he sported a low-cut style. It took some getting used to.

“Madison,” he begun in a gentle tone.

“Don’t start.” I stopped him, not wanting to hear it. This was my life and my decision. I decided what happened to me and my kids. “He threw what we were away, Dante.” I snapped my fingers. “Just like that. He threw our marriage away, he threwmeaway. I can’t trust him and there is no way in hell I’m going to risk him hurting us. Do you know what Grumps said? I told you, didn’t I? He said they would take any child I had away from me! They canneverlove them the way I will. No. This is my choice and I’m sorry you’re stuck in the middle but,”

He grabbed my flailing hands and held them tight. “I think what you’re doing is wrong. I’m not going to lie. It’s wrong and you know it. So what if your marriage didn’t work? None of that matters. Stop fucking around with this, Madi. I’ve been your friend for a long time, I know you,” Dante gave me a sad smile. “And you’re scared. It’s ok to feel that way but you can’t do this. What are you going to tell them when they get older and start asking questions? I mean, you said Matt knows you didn’t cheat. You can sort this out now, even if you don’t want to get back with him, you can sort it out.”

I shrugged defiantly, yanking my hands free. It was my choice.

“Are you going to deny them a father? Seriously?” he asked.

“You don’t know anything about Matt!” I stood up, frustrated over our conversation. God. He just wouldn’t let it be. “Look, I get you have daddy issues, but that’s on you. Do you really think the great Bradleys will want half black babies in their family? They won’t, and I’m not going to let anyone make my kids feel inferior.”

Dante ignored my scathing tone and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “As much as I didn’t get along with Matt, he’s not that type of person.”

“Oh fuck off,” I exploded. “He’s not - you don’t – I lived with him. He can be cruel and cold and-”

“He hurt you,” Dante stood up also. “I understand. You’re angry at him for hurting you, but get over it. This isn’t just about you anymore. This is about them.” He reached over and placed his hand over my bump.

“I know that.” I hissed back. “And I’m trying to do what’s best for them.”

“What’s best for them or what’s best for you?” Dante asked without rancour. His warm brown eyes searched my face. “Don’t be a coward. I can’t watch you be a coward anymore.”

Those words hurt. Dante hurt me badly with those words. I wasn’t a coward. Stepping away from his touch on my stomach, I glared at him, hating him in that moment.

“I’m a coward?” I sneered.

He nodded slowly.

“Fuck you.”

“You’re a coward.” He folded his arms and jutted his chin out. “A scared little girl who’s afraid to do what she knows is right. A fucking punk.”

“Fuck you.” I yelled into his face. “You don’t know what he put me through. You have no idea-”

“I don’t care.” Dante shouted back, finally getting angry. “I. Don’t. Fucking. Care.”

“Get out.” I screamed, moving forward towards the door.

---