Page 38 of After Him, There Was You
“Tara—”
Holding up my hand to stop him from talking, I walked over to the side of my chair, and picked up my desk phone, fully prepared to call the security desk.
“I’m leaving,” he conceded before my finger could hit the first number in the extension.
Defeat was evident in his demeanor, and I hoped it meant he heard everything I said, especially regarding how our son had grown to ultimately resent him. Jason needed a change starting with the man in the mirror, but knowing him, he would find fault with everyone around him before he found fault in himself.
Chapter 17: Pretty Wings - Eva
A Few Weeks Later
“Do you realize if this thing works between us, as a unit we have five kids?” I asked Zeke with my face nestled into his tattoo-covered ribs, enjoying the natural aroma of our lovemaking session.
Me pointing out the obvious had everything to do with Zeke asking me to have his baby mid deep stroke and my silly ass telling him yes. The last time I agreed to such a proposition, I got pregnant
“Yes, I thought about that,” he confirmed. “All we need is one more to have an even number.” Touching my stomach as if something was there, I quickly shooed his hand away because I didn’t need that kind of voodoo in my life.
“Boy, move your hand.”
“What do you mean if this thing works between us?” Zeke asked popping up from the bed, physically forcing me out of my comfort zone
“I’ve already told you where I stood regarding whatever it is that we’re doing, Zeke. I don’t want to be an emotional rebound for you,” I confessed, allowing myself to be fully vulnerable with him, which was something I could do effortlessly.
“Eva, I’ll never get over losing my mother. When it comes to her passing, the only thing I can really do is learn to live with the pain,” he admitted. “With that, the feelings I have for you don’t have anything to do with the loss I experienced. I’m a grown man, and I know I was feeling you before everything happened.”
“Zeke, I come with two sons, and while they have a very present father, I don’t want to bring anyone around them who isn’t here to stay.”
“Eva, you just did the math, so you know I have three daughters. I’m never going to play the game to where they have a revolving door of illegitimate stepmothers, and if I felt like you were going to be a temporary part of my life, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Nodding my head in understanding, he laid back down, allowing me to cuddle in between his arm and his side.
“So, you really want me, huh?” I asked, breaking the silence, causing Zeke to release a chuckle which I felt the vibration of because I was wrapped around him like he was a tree, and I was an eager climber ready for a challenge.
“Yes, Ireallywant you, Eva Monroe.”
“Okay, we can do this for real. I know you think that I have my doubts about you, but honestly, I know you’re a good man, and I feel like you’re someone who my sons could learn from as young men.”
“What are your reservations then?”
“I’m just afraid to fall harder for you than I already have.”
“Oh, so you like melike me?I knew you wanted me just as bad as I wanted you,” he teased. “You don’t have to be afraid to fall for me because I’m right here to catch you, and as cheesy as that makes me sound, I mean it. I’m falling for you hard, which is why I want to make sure you’re in the same head space as I am. I’m not trying to fall by myself either.”
“So, we’re doing this?”
“Yes, we’re doing this.”
Slightly turning over, he leaned his head toward mine and covered my lips with his.
Just as he deepened the kiss and moved his body on top of me, my cell phone sounded from across the room. A quick glance at the clock on the wall, and I saw it rested on a few minutes after midnight. I instantly thought the worst and feared it had something to do with Egypt, Tyger, my mama, or my sisters.
“Let me get that,” I stated, rolling from underneath him, rushing to where my purse sat on his dresser, with my phone right beside it.
Quickly grabbing my phone, I saw my sister Alexa’s name flashing across my screen and hurried to answer it.
“Alexa, are you okay?” I asked and she sniffled in response. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?” I questioned, feeling my heartbeat well beyond its normal rhythm.
“It’s Daddy. He was in an accident,” she stated between sniffles. “Me and Mama are on our way to the hospital now.”
“Oh, thank God it’s not serious,” I stated, failing to use the barrier I had put in place a long time ago when it came to Alexa and our dad. I hated to admit it, but her confession made me release a breath of relief, which seemed to be stuck at the bottom of my lungs.
