Page 67 of Sweetest Temptation
The man I had a one-night stand with over a year ago, and was currently sleeping with for almost two months, was related to the woman who had an affair with my ex-husband. Jamilla, Samir’s sister, was the mother of Jerome’s child.
This can’t be life—my life.
My stomach was in knots. I prayed he wouldn’t look my way. Maybe I could just wheel this cart out quietly and pretend I never saw him. With my heart racing, I grabbed my cart and rolled it towards the entrance. As soon as I thought I was in the clear, Jerome’s dumb ass shouted out my name.
“Zanova? Wait!”
I turned around and locked eyes with Jerome. Jamila looked between us, trying to put together the connection.
“Y’all know each other?” Jamila asked.
The look on Jerome’s face was telling me to not blow up his spot, but it was too late. He should’ve just let me leave.
“Uh, yeah. Zanova is a… A friend of the family,” he lied, proving he was still a fuck nigga.
“A friend of the family, huh?” I had to laugh to myself. “I guess I wasn’t the only one you were hiding shit from. Friend?” I hauled off and slapped the shit out of Jerome. The impact was so loud, it echoed throughout the room. “Nigga! I was your fucking wife for ten years!”
“What! Huh?” The voice came from Jamila, loud and sharp enough to slice through the music.
Her eyes were wide and her mouth slightly open, like she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. The room fell quiet, parents whispering, and kids staring. Jerome’s face went pale. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“Wait...” Jamila said, taking a step closer. “You’rethe wife he told me about? The one he said cheated, and didn’t want to divorce him, three years ago?”
I laughed, a dry, humorless laugh. “That’s funny… Really funny. I could’ve swornIwas the one that he cheated on, and had a baby on, while he wasstillmarried to me.”
Jamila blinked fast, her face twisting between shock and anger. “Hold on… Zanova, I swear I didn’t know he was still married. I definitely wouldn’t have given him the time of day if I knew.”
“Figures. Jerome has always been a manipulator and a liar.”
“I guess that’s the only type of men you like to fuck,” Jerome said through clenched teeth as if he had the right to be upset.
I rolled my eyes. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Ask the nigga you are screwing…” Jerome smirked and looked past me to the door.
I turned around, just in time to see Samir walking into the venue. But he wasn’t alone. His ex-wife trailed behind him, smiling like she’d won the lottery.
What the hell was going on? And what was she doing here? Did he invite her?
So many questions were running through my head, and too much was going on at once, making my head feel light.
“What is she doing here?” Jamila asked the same question that I was thinking.
“Samir invited me,” his ex-wife said, looking at me, smirking.
This bitch had to know who I was from the way she kept staring at me. I’m sure she did since Samir and my pictures were floating all over the internet.
Before Samir could speak, I noticed Samir’s mother walking up. She was carrying Jamila and Jerome’s daughter, and I got stuck, staring at the cause of our divorce in human form.
“What’s going on?” Ms. Carter asked, looking confused.
“Mom, take Joya over to see her cake. I’ll explain later,” Jamila said to her mother.
Ms. Carter hovered for a bit before doing as her daughter requested.
“Nova baby. It’s not what it looks like. She’s?—”
I cut Samir off. I didn’t give a fuck to hear any excuses right now. “It doesn’t even matter. Stay away from me. You ain’t no different from this nigga,” I said, pointing to Jerome. “He showed me his hand long before he had a baby on me. But you?” I looked at Samir. “You played your role perfectly. Had me thinking you were different, that you were solid.” My voice trembled, but I refused to let the tears fall. “You knew exactly what you were doing, Samir. You let me fall for you just to embarrass me like this?”
