Page 65 of A Trial of the Heart
I knew LeeAnn almost better than she knew herself, so her verbiage meant, “Bitch, you pregnant. Ain’t no need in taking another test, so accept it. She had only said it for my mother’s sake.
“Just take another test, sweetheart.” My mother reached over, stroking the top of my hand.
It wouldn’t matter if I took a million tests, I was late, and nine times out of ten, I was pregnant.
I looked from my mother to LeeAnn, and she shrugged.
“Fine.” I would be wasting the money testing, but a little piece of me hoped my mother could have been right.
“Let’s go.” My mother was already heading out the living room to grab her things. I guess she wanted to go to the store immediately to see. She was clearly more anxious than me.
With my bottleof water in my hand, I headed to my bed, resting back on the edge of it. The need to exhale took over my body as I placed the water bottle on the nightstand. Closing my eyes tightly, I took in the moment and enjoyed the silence. I needed this moment. When I slowly opened my eyes, they fell to the nightstand where about five positive pregnancy tests rested. There was no need for the five tests, yet I found myself after each positive wanting to take another, hoping to see something else. It wasn’t that I couldn’t take care of a baby because I was financially set, but I just never imagined myself being a baby mother before being a wife.
“Just get it over with, Shiloh.” I spoke out loud, picking up my phone to call Rashad. He was my unborn child’s father, so he had a right to know I was pregnant. No matter his stance on the situation, I was having the baby. I’d tell him in hope of the support, but if he wanted to bail, he could.
The time in the corner of my screen caused me to send a text rather than call as it was pretty late, and I didn’t want to disturb anything.
Me:Hey Rashad, its Shiloh. Sorry to be messaging so late but I was hoping you and I could get together later this week to sit down and talk. I am free from noon until one thirty Monday thru Friday, or anytime after five. I am free anytime during theweekend. Let me know what words for you and we can go from there.
After pressing send and reading what I’d sent, I had to giggle at the professional tone of the message. Here I was sending out a text as if I was in business mode. Rashad had turned me every way but loose, had his genitalia in my mouth while he feasted on mine, and I was now carrying his child. Professionalism had long ago been off the table.
Rashad:It’s a little late Ms. Monroe, are you sure you’re only messaging for a sit-down meeting in the future or are you wanting to sit on my face tonight?
“This mother—” I started but instantly stopped. Rashad delivered in every way possible, and had I not needed to talk to him, I would have taken the bait for a booty call.
Me:No Rashad I do not want to sit on your face. What I need to talk to you about does not include the removal of clothes. I just need to know if and when we can meet.
Technically, it had involved the removing of clothes, but not in the sense he was thinking.
Rashad:Eighteen hundred tomorrow @ Bonefish Grill
Rashad used military time as if he had served before, and sometimes, it would throw me off since I never read the clock in the same way.
Me:Works for me
Rashad:C’ya then beautiful
The smile that curled the corner of my lips couldn’t be prevented even if I tried. Rashad and I’s relationship had been complex from the beginning. Adding a pregnancy to the mix made it damn near impossible to understand. The smile I had faded almost instantly when my eyes fell to the pregnancy tests on the nightstand. I figured once I told Rashad about the baby, he’d want me to get rid of it, which would mean the littlerelationship we did have would diminish. He’d never said that. I just had my own assumptions. At least we had a few fun times.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Rashad:
Leaned back in my chair with one arm stretched toward the table and gripping my glass of liquor, I watched Shiloh be greeted by the hostess before she scanned the restaurant. The second our eyes locked, she smiled toward the hostess and said something to her before heading my way. The ambiance and the soft tunes that played were calming, making Shiloh’s walk toward me more dramatic. I was used to seeing her with weave, so seeing her with her natural tresses stunned me a bit. She was more beautiful. It seemed like her steps were in line with the beat of the music playing, something straight out of a movie.
“You’re early.” Her sultry voice always came off like music to my ears.
Without looking away from her, I lifted my glass, taking a hefty swallow…
“Just wanted to watch you walk in.” I winked.
Shiloh blushed before slowly licking her lips. “Oh.”
There was a brief pause between us. Shiloh avoided my eye contact, and I glared at her, trying to read what she seemed to behiding. Her eyes always told a story, and right now, she appeared scared and nervous. I stood, stepping around her.
“Want to sit?” I pulled the chair back, allowing her access.
