The Other Side of the Pillow
It was obvious that he was letting his feelings enter into the discussion.
“How about a compromise?” I said. “I’ll stay here most of the time but still keep Tiana’s place for the next month or so, in case something hap—”
“In case something what? Happens to break us up again? Jemistry, why all the negativity and assumptions? It is possible for two people to make a life work together. Granted, we live in a different time than even our parents but it doesn’t mean that everyone is incapable of having a functional situation. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“I get what you’re saying but we just got back together last night.”
“You keep making it sound like we’ve been apart for a decade. Neither one of us has changed that drastically since the beginning of June. And we love each other. That’s all that matters.”
He pushed his plate away. I felt bad since he had gone through all of the trouble to go shopping at sunrise and come back and cook. Then I made that comment about not wanting to see drama on television and we were outdoing everyone on it.
“Tevin, okay. I’ll move in.”
He eyed me sideways. “Now you’re only trying to satiate me.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted? For me to cave? So I’ve caved. I’m moving in.” I picked up his fork, scooped up some of the egg whites, and held it up to his mouth. “Open wide.”
He ate it and laughed. “Don’t treat me like an infant!”
“I’m practicing.” I picked up some more food and pretended the fork was an airplane then started making engine noises. “Come on, Poor Little Tink-Tink, one more bite.”
He almost choked on the food from laughing at me.
“I have to get to work,” he said. “I have a consult in an hour.”
“That’s cool. I’m having lunch with Courtney today anyway.”
Tevin had stood and was halfway to the kitchen entryway when he stopped and turned to look at me. “Courtney who?”
I giggled. “Courtney as in Floyd’s wife.”
“I didn’t realize that the two of you were still communicating. She hasn’t said anything to me, and neither has Floyd.”
“Yes, we are. We’ve been hanging out quite often. She’s my new BFF.”
“What’s a BFF?”
“Best friend forever, silly.”
&n
bsp; “Forgive me. I don’t hang out with fourteen-to-eighteen-year-olds like you do at school.” He seemed hesitant. “Does Floyd know that the two of you have been spending time together?”
I laughed. “You make it sound like we’re screwing each other. Spending time?” I finished off my juice. “I guess he knows but I honestly haven’t seen him. We usually meet up. Sometimes with the kids and sometimes without them.
“After this huge breakfast, I may have to push lunch back an hour so I can get a nap in. Since I’m pregnant, I can throw down every few hours though. I hope you don’t dump me if I put on too much weight.”
Tevin waved me off. “Never going to happen. But let me ask you one more thing. Does Courtney know that you’re pregnant with my child?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that question. Lying would have been easiest because the truth would only lead to Tevin not trusting Courtney—and Floyd. Courtney had sworn Floyd to secrecy, making him promise not to divulge anything to Tevin. He had confronted me about it and I begged him not to say anything to Tevin.
“Well,” he stated impatiently. “Does she know?”
I stared up into his eyes.
“Never mind,” he added. “I get the picture.”
Tevin walked out and while I felt some kind of relief, the words unspoken were enough to make him recognize the truth. He was far from stupid.