The Other Side of the Pillow

He sighed. “It’s not only about the pregnancy. Floyd sat there and listened to me for months, describing how I would go sit outside of your old place and wait for you. He knew that I was about to go crazy with worry and his ass knew how to contact you all along. That’s unforgivable!”

“No, it’s not unforgivable. He only did what I asked so if you must take it out on someone, take it out on me.”

Tevin frowned. “I’m not taking anything out on you. I love you.”

“And Floyd loves you. Don’t try to punish him or confront him about any of this. He’s avoiding you because he feels bad. I told Courtney at lunch the other day that you’d figured it out, about them knowing. I’m sure she related that to him.”

Tevin smirked. “I’m sure she did.”

“Floyd’s a good man. You need to cut him a break. He was only trying to do the best for all involved.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest. “Besides, what does it matter now? We’re back together, you know about the baby, and everything’s all good.”

Tevin’s heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. “Floyd’s not the saint you and Courtney believe him to be.”

I giggled, let him go, and started to climb into the driver’s seat. “I never said Floyd was a saint. But he is a good man and he loves his wife and kids. And he loves you. So go kiss and make up.”

“I’m not kissing his ass.” Tevin finally laughed. “But I am going to make sure I see him today, tomorrow at the latest.”

“I’m going to stop by Eatonville and pick up dinner. You want some of that gumbo you like?”

“Yes, get some gumbo and grab some of those corn muffins while you’re at it.”

“Bye, baby.”

Tevin leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips.

“Now go lay one of those on Floyd,” I joked as I put on my seat belt.

“Shit! There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell of that happening.”

We both laughed as he shut my door and watched me start the engine and pull away. He seemed like he was in a better mood. I hoped that Tevin would let the entire thing with Floyd go. He had been stuck between a rock and a hard place, and made the only choice that made sense at the time. That’s all any of us can ever do.

Chapter Twenty-seven

“You don’t mean anything to me. You mean everything to me.”

—Unknown

When Tevin got back that night he had indeed tracked Floyd down at Sibley. It did not go well.

“That motherfucker!”

I was sitting on the sofa with my feet up when he stormed into the living room and threw his keys on the coffee table.

He collapsed into the armchair as I stood up and walked behind him to start massaging his shoulders. It was obvious that he was talking about Floyd.

His muscles were tensed up like bricks.

“Baby, you need to calm down before you have a stroke or something.”

He sounded like he was hissing but didn’t respond.

“I hope you didn’t get into a loud confrontation in front of people at the hospital.”

He shook his head. “No, I finally told his punk ass to meet me at the bar down the street so we could talk about the situation like men.”

I sighed. “Sounds like you wanted to have some kind of gladiator fight.”

“I should’ve whipped his ass.”