Page 31 of A Trial of the Heart
“Yo?” I spoke lowly after sliding the green icon over.
Any other time, I wouldn’t answer my phone in such a way. I was almost positive whoever was calling wasn’t someone I wanted to talk to, and they knew it.
“Yo?” I stated again, getting more irritated.
When nothing was said from the other end, I pulled the phone from my ear to see if the call was still connected. It was. Saying fuck it, I prepared to hang up, but a voice spoke softly.
“Rashad?”
I knew the voice; it was one I couldn’t forget even if I tried, and I surely had tried to do so on more than one occasion. It was Lauryn, and she was brave to even call my phone.
“Can you say something?” she whispered after a bout of silence.
While I still had my assumptions, I didn’t have solid proof Lauryn was the reason for my charges. I still wasn’t in the business of taking chances. Plus, Lauryn and I ended badly, so I wanted to keep the past where I had left it.
“It’s bold for you to call me after all this time,” was all I could say.
Lauryn sighed heavily. “I miss you, Rashad.”
I chortled without realization. “You miss me?”
“Yes.” Her tone was too eager. “Can you meet me somewhere?” she asked before I had a rebuttal.
I had to hold in my laughter. Not only was Lauryn bold for calling, but she had to be on some good drugs to think I’d meet her after our last encounter.
“You high? Somebody holding you hostage? Or you dying?” I questioned all in one breath, laughing.
“Really, Rashad?” her tone led me to believe she’d rolled her eyes and neck when she said my name.
“Dead ass. I mean, Lauryn, I don’t get how you think I’d miss you or even want to see you.”
“Because what we had was real and dope Rashad.” She spoke like it was supposed to be obvious to me.
Real and dope,I repeated in my head. At one point, I would have agreed with Lauryn. She had been the first woman in a while I’d let in. Sadly, she was bat shit crazy and just couldn’t take the rejection after she showed me who she truly was.
“Maybe so.” I shrugged like she could see my gesture. “No matter what it was, Lauryn, we’re done, and I don’t have a desire to see you or even try to fix what I don’t see is broken.”
Lauryn sniffled. She may or may not have been crying, but I learned early on that she’d use tears or fake crying to get her way. It wouldn’t work on me now that I knew her game.
“Rashad please,” she uttered.
I wasn’t in the business of hurting anyone or even causing pain, but I had a full plate, and entertaining Lauryn didn’t fit.
“Take care of yourself, Lauryn.” I stood my ground before disconnecting the call.
Lauryn said something before I hung up, but it never made it to my ear. Whatever she had to say, she’d had a better chance telling God. I was done with the situation, and I had no energy to give it. I powered my phone off since I knew Lauryn wouldn’t get the message and keep calling. I’d probably have to change my number but turning it off would suffice for now.
Chapter
Fifteen
Shiloh:
I was arms deep in files and researching for the case when a knock sounded at the door, and my office phone rang instantaneously. Isla and I had been back from our quick lunch almost an hour ago, and I had requested to not be bothered. That obviously meant nothing here.
“Come in,” I said, answering my phone right after. “Shiloh Monroe with Crowley and Associates. How may I help you?” The person that had called had my direct line as it wasn’t a transferred call.
Once my office door was pushed open, a massive bouquet of Unicorn roses that a delivery guy held greeted me. They were rare and my favorite. No one ever sent flowers and never had a reason to since I broke up with Daniel.
