I swiveled around to face him completely. My ire was rising, and I suddenly took offense to his tone. It had a little too much bossiness than I cared for at the moment. I plastered a stiff smile on my face and looked him in the eyes, holding back every attempt to lash out at him. Unfortunately, my little performance might have fooled Jenny, but I saw the instant Sean realized something was wrong. His eyebrows furrowed, and he took a cautious step toward me.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I ignored his question and focused my attention back on the computer screen.
“I’ll be ready in a second. But I was so caught up in going through the articles that I didn’t realize what time it was. Thank heavens Jenny stopped by to show me the pictures from Whiskey North.” I waited to see if my words would cause any reaction. When nothing happened, I turned back around and backtracked through the pictures.
Sean leaned over the back of my chair. His face was so close I could feel the heat from his skin and smell the mint on his breath. As uncomfortable as this situation was, I wanted to nuzzle up under his chin. When we reached the pictures where the woman was sitting on his lap, I slowed down clicking through them. By the time we got to the end, he still held the same expression he had before.
“Sean, I can’t believe it’s been so long since that night,” Jenny said. She leaned back in the chair and pulled at a clump of her auburn strands and twirling it around her finger. “You remember my friend Tina, right?”
“Who?” Sean stood up, hands in his pocket and a noticeable tick in his jaw. He was pissed. Not the kind of pissed I saw a few weekends ago at Francisco’s. But definitely pissed enough that this situation could turn left quickly.
“Oh, come on Tina, gorgeous blonde that hung out with us that night,” Jenny said looking up at Sean.
She reached over and clicked the mouse until the display went back to the picture of Sean and this woman, ‘Tina’ sitting on his lap. She grabbed my arm in an overly exaggerated display of astonishment.
“Oh, my goodness! The funniest thing happened. I posted this picture on Facebook the other day, and everyone kept commenting on how great Sean and Tina looked together. A few people even congratulated her on her new boyfriend.” Her laughter was grating to my ears.
“What?” Sean asked finally looking at Jenny. His voice came out like a bark.
“I know, right. I mean she was totally asking about you the other day too,” Jenny said still smiling brightly.
“Yeah, Sean…she was asking about you. I mean you guys do look great together,” I said looking at Sean, openly showing the hurt emotions on my face. “I guess you really had a great time out that night.”
“I had a great time. You should remember because you were with me most of the night at Whiskey North,” he replied in a voice he’d never used with me before.
His menacing green gaze settled on Jenny.
“Well, thanks, Jenny for showing us the pictures,” Sean said dismissively.
He then turned to me, pulling out his cell to check the time. “You ready to go? I’m tired, and we need to stop and grab a few things for dinner. And I still want to stop by the home improvement store to pick up the supplies to redo the office.”
Hold up? What in the world just happened?
It must have been the sound of my blood pounding through my veins that had me thrown for a loop. Because, I could have sworn Sean just flipped the script on me and acted as if the pictures of him with a woman on his lap weren’t being displayed on my monitor. We had discussed infidelity before, and both agreed, if the point came when either one of us felt like they weren’t content with being with the other person, then we would call it quits.
The fact I had proof of him fraternizing with someone else, should have been more than enough reason for him to show some type of remorse. I was about to go off on him, straight show him a side of me I didn’t use often. Elizabeth Price had raised a lady, but she didn’t raise no fool.
I leaned forward, hand pressed into the armrest, when I suddenly caught a glimpse of Jenny’s face. That smirk, that conniving smirk I’d seen her use on more than one occasion was in full display. Why was she smirking like that? And, was that lust she had in her eyes, staring at Sean? Jenny was so caught up with looking at Sean she didn’t even see me staring at her.
What the hell am I missing here? I looked from the picture to Sean and then to Jenny. The reality of what just happened finally set it.
I felt like the air was knocked from my body. All the events leading up to today came back to me. The rude comments when Sean and I first started dating, her attitude toward me, the way she so happily came by my desk after weeks of no contact to show me photos of Sean with another woman. How I didn’t recognize her brand of crazy in the beginning was completely lost on me. I guess I was too busy being happy to worry about Jenny hating on my relationship.
Dang it! Now, I’m going to have to deal with Sean’s ire when we get home. I knew from the moment he got that tick in his jaw he was pissed I thought he was unfaithful.
That bitch!
“What?” Sean asked.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, preparing to humble myself to this man. I had perfection, and my stupid insecurities were rearing their ugly heads again—trying to spoil what was real authentic love.
I rubbed my fingertips against my temples and let out a slow breath. I quickly turned around to my computer, closing all the programs I had pulled on the screen. Removing the thumb drive from the computer, I handed it to Jenny without a word. Sean and I had quite a few things to discuss, but that conversation wasn’t happening in front of her.
Turning around in my chair, I looked up at Sean. Reaching up, I grabbed him by the tie and pulled his head down. My actions caught him by surprise. He grabbed hold of the arms of my chair to steady his balance. I wasted no time, as I pressed my lips to his and devoured his mouth. I could taste a hint of mint mixed with his special essence. I slid my tongue deep into his warm mouth, tangling and teasing his tongue. I found the source of the minty flavor. It was gum hiding on the inside of his right cheek.
I felt Sean’s hand reach up and grip the back of my neck. He used his dominant position above me to angle my head so that he could kiss me more deeply. I moaned my acquiescence as he sucked my tongue forcefully. I received an answering moan in his deep baritone that made me shudder with need.
“You ready to go home?” Sean asked, pulling away from my lips. His voice was dark with desire.
“Yeah, babe; I’m ready to go home,” I said with a breathless whisper.
“Me too,” Sean answered looking at my mouth like he was ready for round two.
I was already plotting. My blunder would yield me prostrate before him, on my knees. My thoughts must have been clear, because his green eyes darkened with lust. Tonight, would end with passionate, makeup sex. I gave him a quick peck and turned away. Reaching down, I took my purse from the bottom drawer and threw my phone, day planner, and iPod inside. I was on autopilot looking for the keys, when I remembered that Sean had driven this morning.
Sean stepped back and steadied my chair as I stood. I looked at Jenny still sitting there watching us. She held the thumb drive in a death grip. It surprised me she hadn’t cracked the metal device in half. If I were her, I’d have run away with my tail tucked between my legs after trying to pull a stunt like that. She almost got me. Maybe it was the long twelve-hour day I just had or the pile of work I’d been trying to tackle. But her antics almost got me to believe the worst about my man. And, to imagine, I used to consider this woman a friend.
“Well, Jenny it was very nice of you to bring the pictures by for us to see.” I hoisted my purse over my shoulder and allowed Sean to grab my other bags.
Jenny’s jaw clenched as she quickly stood and moved toward the opening of the cubicle. She turned around, gracing us with a simpering smile before flipping her hair over one shoulder.
“No problem. I was sure you would definitely want to see them.” She turned and wal
ked toward the elevator.
“Hey, Jenny?” Sean called out, before she walked through the double doors.
“Yes?” she answered, pivoting to look at him.
“Take down any pictures you have posted of us online. I didn’t give you permission to put them up,” Sean said, his voice stern with no questioning he meant every word. Nodding her head stiffly, Jenny stepped in the elevator, letting the doors close behind her.
Sean slid his hands down my arm until he reached my hand. Tangling his fingers with mine, he pulled my body close as we headed out the building. I braced myself for a hell of an apology I hoped he accepted.
CHAPTER 26
SEAN
I fucked up.
Maybe if I told Lashawnda about Jenny, we wouldn’t be in this position.
When I got Lashawnda’s text, I should have known something was wrong. Usually, she’d call me and let me know when she was ready to head home. Even the tone of her message was unlike her. I quickly made a tour of the lab to ensure everything was safely locked up before taking the stairs down to Lashawnda’s floor. The nagging feeling stayed with me until I rounded the corner by her cubicle and heard her voice.
I stuck my head over the hedge of her cubicle and saw she had company. I nodded briefly at Jenny, slightly on edge as to why she was here. I knew about the shit talking she’d been doing, the way she ignored Lashawnda at lunch a few days prior. Not to mention the nasty pictures she sent me. Now, here she was, again trying to build a wedge between Lashawnda and me.
Was she pissed I didn’t give her any kind of reaction to the video? She had to assume I figured out it was her.
When Lashawnda was scrolling through those pictures, I knew how it must look from her point of view. I instantly regretted not being more forceful with Jenny’s friend. I didn’t need this bullshit to screw with the foundation I was building with Lashawnda. The woman trusted me enough for us to buy a home together. If Jenny fucked this up, God help me, but I might forget I don’t hit women.
God was definitely on my side. After my life flashed before my eyes, and Lashawnda finally came to her senses, I could breathe easy as we walked out of the office in silence. The streets were quiet as we made our way toward the parking garage. The echo of Lashawnda’s heels and my heavy footsteps were the only sound in the air. It wasn’t dark out yet, but the sun had already set. Another muggy day. I wanted to slip out of my suit jacket, but I wasn’t going to let Lashawnda’s hand go. When we got to the truck, I opened the door and helped Lashawnda into the front seat; reaching across her body, I buckled her seat belt.
We went to the grocery store and did a little shopping, both of us calmly avoiding the big pink elephant in the room. By the time we got back home, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I brought the bags of groceries into the kitchen and put the cold items in the fridge. Lashawnda escaped upstairs to the bedroom after fixing Fat Bastard’s dinner. The cat was hardly home since he spent so much time at Mrs. Price’s house.
I pulled out a pizza menu, because I was no longer in the mood to cook. Lashawnda had been teaching me how to prepare simple dishes. Tonight, we were supposed to make chicken stir-fry. I was finishing up with our pizza order when she came back downstairs.
“I ordered pizza and wings. I didn’t think you still wanted to prepare anything,” I said raising the phone in the air.
“I wouldn’t have minded,” Lashawnda answered suddenly looking like she’d been caught doing something naughty.
Pulling out her chair, I motioned for her to take a seat at the table. I pulled my chair around and placed it directly in front of her. Sitting down with my elbows on my knees, I bowed my head in thought. I couldn’t sort out all the things that were going through my mind. In the last few months of being with Lashawnda we’d never been unable to communicate. Sometimes we would sit around for hours at a time just talking. Sometimes it was important events other times it was mundane nothingness that most people would have rolled their eyes at. But never had this happened.
I was thankful Lashawnda didn’t flip out on me and attempted to show Jenny a united front. But I still had to set her straight.
“I hope you don’t think anything happened between me and this girl?” I asked.
“Sean, I didn’t know what to think at the time. But I won’t lie to you; the thought crossed my mind,” she said, not looking at me.
“Ask me?” I demanded, still not looking at her.
“I don’t need to,” Lashawnda said in a timid voice.
“Ask me, damn it,” I beseeched between clenched teeth. I wanted there to be no further assumptions about some woman I saw for fifteen minutes; especially one whose name I couldn’t remember.
“What happened with Tina?” Lashawnda sighed and picked at her nails. It was one of the bad, nervous habits she’d been trying to break since adolescents. I’m sure the words tasted like hot bile leaving her mouth.
I pulled my seat closer to her chair, scraping on the tile floor. I leaned forward and took Lashawnda’s hands in mine. Slowly, I traced the two freckles on her right middle finger. I loved touching her, being connected to her in any shape or form made me feel whole. From our first kiss, to the first time we made love, my greedy hands never missed out on a moment to feel her. Placing my hands underneath her chin, I raised her face so we could look in each other’s eyes.
“I was sitting at the table, when Jenny pulled her friend over for an introduction. She was flirty and plopped herself down on my lap. I could smell the liquor on her and didn’t want to be rude. Jenny pulled out her camera and took pictures of the guys, then of Tina and me. She tried to kiss my face, and I turned my head away. At that point, Jenny pulled her up and took a picture of us together. Tina offered to give me her number. I shook my head, ‘no’, and then, she walked away. Some girl came strolling by, and Brent asked her to dance. We all followed him to the dance floor. That’s when I saw you and the girls dancing.”
I held her gaze throughout the entire speech making sure she read the sincerity in my eyes. I pulled away, sitting back in my chair, waiting for her response.
“Thank you for explaining what happened.” Lashawnda’s voice was just above a whisper.
I placed my head in my palms, rubbing them from the back of my head to my face.
“I guess this little incident with Jenny was a test for both of us, huh? I could tell by the expression on your face you doubted me at first. Didn’t you? You thought I did something with that girl, right?” I asked, restraining myself from lashing out.
“Yes, I did. I’d say I’m ashamed, but I won’t. I am only human. After the initial shock of seeing that woman with her hands on you wore off, I knew. I looked at the picture and realized something was wrong,” Lashawnda said, eyes moving around the room like she couldn’t look at me.
“What do you mean?” I gritted out. I kept telling himself to remain calm but hearing her say she thought I hooked up with that girl was setting me off.
“Your eyes…they told a whole other story when I really looked at the picture. You weren’t smiling at all; if anything, your expression held a hint of irritation.”
“There shouldn’t have been any doubts, Lashawnda!” I yelled in frustration, standing, knocking the chair backward.
“Well, I’m sorry, but I didn’t think clearly,” Lashawnda responded raising her voice as well.
“How do you think I feel when you don’t fucking trust me,” I yelled kicking the chair.
Lashawnda looked like she was about jumped out of her skin, as the chair crashed against the bar. Fat Bastard hissed, his tail poised in the air like he was ready to pounce. I didn’t mean to scare her, so I took a deep calming breath.
“Sean, I do,” she pleaded.
“Not like you’re supposed to,” I said getting close to her face. “Not like I need you to. You think I didn’t feel a twinge of jealousy when I saw the pictures of you dancing with other men, or when I witnessed it with my own two eyes at the club. Hell,
you were going all googly-eyed over Brad just a few weeks ago. I had to sit through it, but never once did I think I couldn’t trust you.”
“I’m so sorry; I promise nothing like this will ever happen again.”
As much as I wanted to believe her, I knew it was deeper than that. Her insecurities were the reasons we had issues a few months back when we were talking about moving in together. I thought I fell in love with a pretty solid woman. But it was becoming clear Lashawnda had some demons I would have to slay. I had no intentions of leaving her. The thought never crossed my mind.
“Sweetheart, you’ve got to stop thinking this relationship is going to end. Remember what I told you when your parents caught us after having sex for the first time? This is it for me. I’m not worried about nothing else but building a future with you. I need you to have the same level of trust in me, baby. I need that from you. I need you to love me and take care of me, just like I do for you. I don’t need you doubtful some shit may pop off, causing things to end. We haven’t said any vows yet, but I’m already in the, ‘for better or worse’ frame of mind when it comes to us.”
I grabbed her hands between mine again.
“Baby, I need you here with me on the same level. I don’t wanna constantly feel like I’m walking on eggshells, because I’m afraid of pissing you off. We’re going to piss each other off. But, one thing I can promise you, no other woman will ever pull my attention away from you. Think about how I was when we first met.”
Lashawnda laughed lightly shaking her head. “You were a nervous wreck just trying to ask me out.”
“I was.” I tightened my hand around hers. “You know it’s funny, I spent over a year preparing to meet you. I stopped having sex cold turkey because I had grown numb. You know what I think that was? That was God setting things up, so I would be better prepared to welcome you into my life. Don’t you think I would have been distracted if I was still fucking around when we met? I was preparing my life to welcome you in your rightful place, sweetheart. I wasn’t even remotely interested in dating before we met.”
Over the Hedge: Part 2- The Finale (Lucky in Love) Page 31