“I’m telling you that’s not my child.”
“And that may be true, Montie. Still, this whole ordeal has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It’s enough that I have to deal with the fact that you were in love with your ex-wife up until a short while ago, but to know that you slept with her husband’s ex and that she may be pregnant by you is pushing the bar of tolerance that any woman should have.”
“I’ll give you all of that and raise you one. I know for a fact the child isn’t mine. I used protection each time I was with her and it didn’t slip off or anything. Every drop of my sperm went down the toilet,” I proclaimed.
“That’s what every man whose being accused of being a baby daddy says.”
“I’m a father, not a baby daddy.”
“Humph,” she humped her shoulder.
“Just say you’re willing to end us because of a woman’s claim and it turns out unfounded, and what was meant to be our once in a lifetime love dies a horrid death because of her lies. Will you be able to live with knowing that we’ll never feel like this again?” I pulled her to her feet and cradled her in my arms.
She sighed deeply and allowed her soft body to fall onto mine. I palmed her rotund ass and tugged her closer to me so that she was up against the ever-present erection I had whenever she was near. Lissa didn’t have to say the words that her body spoke so eloquently to me.
“I can’t live without you either, Lissa.”
***
The next few hours, I explained Lissa and Shayla that Lissa was the only woman I cared for romantically. I told them about Justine attacking Destiny and that she was a treacherous witch who sought to destroy anyone in her path to Jacob. Shayla came around to my understanding and gave me her blessings with her best friend. Lissa forgave me and asked me to spend the night. She said she didn’t want to be alone.
“Stay with me tonight,” were four words just above a whisper drew us back together.
We dressed for bed and just laid together. I fell asleep with her in my arms and it was hard as hell to put on my shoes and walk out her door the next morning. I desired to stay for fear that leaving would erase our reconnection
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Montie
Win. Lose. Draw.
Destiny called me a couple times during the night but didn’t leave a message. She hung up each time before I could answer and did not answer my return calls the next morning. I somehow managed to sleep a few hours despite the stinging in my heart alerting that trouble was looming. I called Destiny once again on my drive home. Still, no answer. I got dressed for work and headed in. I used my key to open my office door and was shocked when three figures arose from my leather sofa.
“Surprise. Surprise daddy, surprise!” Junior was the first to run over to me with his trophy in hand. “Look daddy, I won. Daddy, daddy, my team won the all-state trophy and we all got one to take home.”
“I know you won, son. Your mother sent me the awesome video of you scoring the game point,” Destiny had sent the video right after Justine’s call. I sat lonely in my hotel room and watched it with hurt and pride flowing through me at once. “Give me a pound,” I touched knuckles with my son. He jumped up in my arms and hugged tight. “I’m so, so proud of you, son. I’m glad that you won but very sorry I couldn’t be there. I’ll be there next time and that’s a promise.”
“It’s okay, dad.”
Destiny stood there gushing as Junior and I reunited. “Thanks for coming,” I mouthed to her. She mouthed “you’re welcome” back.
“Well, had I known you guys were coming, I would have planned for a breakfast date,” I said, scooping my daughter up and nuzzling up to her cheek. “I miss you so much, sweetheart.”
“Miss you too, daddy,” said Montana in her tiny raspy, toddler voice.
“Montie, I planned everything with Shalonda. We’re your first meeting for today and she gave us a two-hour slot, so we can still go for breakfast. You know how much the kids love IHOP,” she said and giggled.
“Oh, so I see now that Shalonda is just as sneaky as you are,” I teased Destiny. I caught up with my kids for a bit. Destiny sat on the sofa and gave us time to bond. “Who wants to go for some IHOP?” I asked them thirty minutes later.
“Ouuwee, IHOP!” Junior said and pumped his fist in the air. “Yes!”
“IHOP, yes!” Montana repeated.
“Come on, I’ll drive,” I said.
***
Conversation was light over breakfast. Destiny wasn’t as talkative or nearly as cheerful as she normally was. Something was bothering her. “Are you okay, Destiny? You hardly said anything when we were at breakfast,” I asked, when we were back in my office lounging around.