Page 96 of Played
“Yeah.”
I mug him. Still blunt to a fault and rude. That shouldn’t make my pulse trip over itself or have my pussy clenching like she’s performing Kegels.
Crossing my arms, I glance around him, and sure enough, Malcolm and now Jared are hanging out here.
“You’re a brave man. Both my brother and Jared are here. You must like playing with your life.”
He shrugs. “Nah. I called them a couple of days ago to apologize, and they told me about your plans to come in today and report that muthafucka who’s been harassing you.” His eyes narrow, and a flash of anger brightens them. “We’re gonna have a discussion about that, ma. You shouldn’t have had to deal with that shit alone. Especially when you had so many people willing to have your back.”
I cock my head. “Are you really here to go off on me—hold up. What do you mean, you called to apologize to them?”
“Just what I said.” He mimics my pose, crossing his big arms over his bigger chest. “I didn’t show up and protect their daughter and sister when that video came out. I failed you, and, man to man, I needed to own up to that to the men who have been covering you since you were born.”
“If that ain’t some patriarchal shit.” I suck my teeth. “And my mother? Or me, for that matter? We don’t deserve an apology?”
“I went by your mother’s office at the university and personally apologized earlier that same day. You’re her daughter, and as a woman she gets, more than your father and brothers, how that video hurt you. As for you, that’s why I’m here now. I couldn’t call you, because you have me blocked.” Sure do. “And besides, when I did, it needed to be to your face, looking in your pretty brown eyes so you could see how sorry I am for failing you. For abandoning you. I should’ve never put my fears above your safety and mental well-being. I’m sorry, Adina,” he softly repeats.
Well, that stole some of my mad. Damn him.
“You hurt me,” I tell him. “You need to know how much you hurt me.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
I close my eyes at the endearment.Ma. Li’l mama.Those two set my panties on fire each and every time he uttered them. But thissweetheart? It touches my heart. Like a butterfly’s wing brushing across it. Why now?
Good question.
“Why now?” I ask him. “Why are you giving this to me now and not more than two weeks ago?”
“Because I’m a coward. Or was. I’m trying to do better, be better. But, then, I was too afraid to admit that you meant more to me than sex. That we could be more than sex.”
“What you mean is I wasn’t—am not—your wife,” I murmur.
“No, you’re not.” I drop my arms, take a step back from that verbal smack. He’s gonna stop hurting my feelings— “Stop, ma.” Hecuffs my upper arm, letting his hand slide down to grab my hand. “Let me finish. No, you’re not Kendra. You’re Adina. Brave, beautiful, sweet, smart-ass-mouth, take-no-shit, sexy-as-fuck Adina. And there’s not another person like you. I don’t need you to be anyone but you.”
He scrubs a hand over his head, leaving me speechless. Shivering. Disbelieving.
“You terrified me from the first moment we met. Because I came alive in that conference room. Against my will, you dragged me back into the world of the living. And part of me worshipped you for that. And the other half was just fucking scared. Scared that if I allowed myself to become attached to a person again, it would mean eventually losing them. And with your job ... I jumped on that as an excuse to hold you at a distance. You asked why now? Because now I realize that having you, loving you, is worth the risk. And because asking you to give up who you are to appease my fears is a bitch move. So I decided to give up my fears instead of you.”
Loving you is worth the risk.
I stare at him, studying every feature of his face. Searching his eyes for the truth, afraid I’m projecting what I need to see. What I long to see.
But no. It’s there. Right there.
And it’s all for me.
Love.
Mine, if I’m brave like he called me. Brave enough to claim it, him and his son.
I don’t know if I’m brave. But I am in love with him. So fucking in love with him and Khalil.
I move forward.
He meets me halfway.
We lean toward each other at the same time, and one of his hands circles my neck, the other cups my cheek. Then his mouth is on mine, and I’m falling into him, trusting him to catch me.
