A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

I look up, and the gentle smile on his face makes me tear up. He’s too kind for this world.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he adds, clearing his throat. “Are you?”

“I’m okay,” I reply, taking a sip of my coffee. “Strangely enough, I’m more than okay.”

“Hmm.” He sits down too and cocks his head. “Does he treat you right?”

I nod. “In a way.”

He puts his coffee down and gives me an awkward smile. “What does that mean?”

I shrug. “He’s just … Easton. I can’t explain it. It’s how he’s always been.”

Ashanti throws us both a glance after every single sip she takes of her drink.

“Okay … but he doesn’t hurt you?”

I lick my lips. “Define hurt.”

His brow lifts, and we stare at each other for a second while my cheeks start to glow. “I don’t think I want to know anymore.”

I laugh at his response, and then Ashanti asks, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Deion explains. “Adult joke.”

“What joke?” She frowns. “Tell me.”

He pets her hair, and says, “Maybe when you’re older.”

“Aww …” She pouts.

I grab her hand, and say, “When I was your age, no one ever told me anything. And you know what? I wish I didn’t know now what they were talking about. It’s much easier not knowing than knowing something you wish you could forget.”

“Hmm … so it’s something bad?” she asks.

“No, not necessarily,” I say.

“Yeah, it’s bad,” Deion interjects. “Very bad. So bad, Charlotte can’t even say it out loud.”

The mortified look on his face makes me laugh. “I can, but I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your kid.”

“Good, because I won’t be able to finish my drink if I don’t get this image of you and Easton out of my head.” He shakes his head and takes a reluctant sip of his coffee while I laugh my ass off.

It’s the first time in a long while that I’ve felt so at peace with who I am and where I’m at.

And there’s no place I’d rather be at right now than with these two.

Easton

From afar, I peek through the windows. None of them see me while they talk as I’m hidden behind the darkened car glass, but I can see her. In all her beauty and pride, she radiates when she speaks. Her eyes sparkle, and her locks dance as she moves.

It was hard to let her go, to give her that freedom she craves so badly knowing she could use it against me. She could run away and never come back to me again.

But I had to take this chance. Had to make this leap of faith … for both of us.

The more I watch them, the more I realize I’ve taken from her the very thing that would make her happy, and that seeing her happy brings me immeasurable joy. This was the right thing to do.

I used to think I only wanted her to punish her and her father, that I wanted to control her so I could use her against him, but now I’m beginning to understand that was only a part of my obsession with her. Because the other part … it’s fallen so damn hard for this girl I can’t even keep my head straight.

“Sir, we should be going, or you’ll miss your appointments,” my driver says.

I sigh and nod. “Let’s go.”

But I don’t take my eyes off the window. Not until he’s started the car and driven out of view. And even then, I still picture her in my head, and I can’t help but smile.

Charlotte

I spend an entire day with them, playing with Ashanti in her room and in the garden, cooking food with Deion, and then eating a fabulous meal. We even play a game of cards afterward. It’s the perfect way to spend a day, and nothing was spent in angst or fear for what’s to come.

By the time someone rings the doorbell, I’m re-energized despite the whole day having passed. I’m not afraid as I open the door even though I know who’s there. Easton waits for me, but this time, there are no tears, only smiles.

“Hey,” I say, licking my lips. “I’ll go grab my coat.”

“I’ll wait inside the car,” he says, and he turns around and walks off.

Just like that, he’s left me alone again in their house again. It’s so unlike him, yet he managed to leave me without starting an argument or acknowledging his own dislike for leaving me with another man. Because I know how much he hates seeing me in another man’s arms. He must’ve cringed hard when I hugged Deion. Still, he didn’t say a word and let me spend the day with them. I can’t believe he did that. Has he changed so much?

As I grab my coat, I kiss Deion and Ashanti on the cheeks, and say, “I will see you again soon, I promise.”