“That’s not even an option, right?”
“Not at all. I told her I wasn’t even sure I was having this baby, and—“
“Jaylah, please don’t—“
“What?” She crossed her arms defiantly even though she was in the kitchen alone. “I’m not. And nobody is going to rush me on this.”
Johnny let out a long, exasperated breath. “Fine, but you know what I want. I want you and our baby.”
“Anyway.” Jaylah refused to acknowledge his statement. “She said you were the only one with any sense because you want me to have it. She said I need to ‘accept the consequences,’ as if having a baby is akin to being grounded. Can you believe her?”
Johnny was silent. Jaylah knew he agreed with her mother, knew he wanted her to have this baby, their baby. But she still wasn’t convinced.
Jaylah heard a woman’s voice in the background. Is that the TV? Johnny hates listening to the news in the morning, she thought. But the woman’s voice grew louder.
“Who is that?” Jaylah pressed her ear to the receiver and realized the voice was calling Johnny’s name, asking him, “Coffee or tea.”
“Who is what?” he said, seemingly unaware she could hear the voice.
“That woman, in the background. I thought you were at home.”
“I am,” he swallowed audibly, “it’s Fiona.”
“Fiona, your wife? I thought she was in Scotland?”
“She was until yesterday—“
“How convenient. I leave and she slips right back in. Is this how it’s going to go, Johnny? Tag, she’s it?”
“Calm down, Jaylah. It’s not even like that. Nothing happened, or will happen.”
Jaylah smacked her teeth and paced around the kitchen. Fucking Fiona, she thought to herself, Johnny thinks he’s slick.
“Look, you have a good time with your wife. Bye Johnny,” she said, but paused to hear his response.
Could he explain why his soon-to-be-ex-wife was making him coffee despite the fact they’d decided to divorce?
Or had they?
The thought shot through her brain. He could be lying about that as well.
“Jaylah, please. I didn’t even know she was coming back. She showed up last night and—“
“And you couldn’t tell her to leave? Are you even getting divorced, or what? Is this some sort of elaborate scheme to keep us both? I know your African ass isn’t trying to turn me into a second wife!”
As soon as the words crossed her lips Jaylah regretted hurling such an ugly stereotype, but every nerve in her body felt like a balled up fist ready to strike.
Jaylah was crazy about Johnny. She longed to be with him—despite his wife, despite the baby—and it terrified her. If she was willing to overlook his lie, what else would she eventually turn a blind eye to?
Wasn’t the saying, “How you got him, is how you’ll lose him”?
Even though she’d just left the comfort of his chest days before and was carrying his child, would Jaylah eventually end up losing him to another woman, or worse, his wife?
“Johnny, how do I know this whole thing isn’t just some temporary affair? How do I know you won’t magically get back together if she wants to work it out? I mean, is that why she’s back?”
She could picture him rubbing his eyes like he always did when she flew into one of her hormone-induced fits. “It’s not. And we’re not working anything out. This is her home too, Jaylah.”
“Whatever,” she spat. “When is she leaving?”
“She says she’s not.”
“Okay, when are you moving then?”
“I don’t know. My townhouse has two bedrooms. I was thinking, I can just stay in the guestroom until I find something more permanent.”
Jaylah looked at her phone. Is he for real?
“Absolutely not.”
“Jaylah, apartments take time to find and—“
“Ab-so-lute-ly not!” she repeated, this time stretching the words out for emphasis. “If you stay there I swear this whole thing is over. I’m not about to try to figure out what to do about this baby and worry about you sleeping with your wife. I refuse!”
“I’m not sleeping with her, Jaylah. I just need some time to sort out a place to stay. You already know the divorce is happening. You went with me to the solicitor.”
She sucked her teeth again. “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China, Johnny?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Look, move out of there by the end of the week or you can forget about us. Period.”
“Just like that?” he asked in disbelief.
“Just like that.”
Jaylah hung up the phone without saying goodbye or even uttering another word. Her mind was made up. Johnny could not, under any circumstance, live with his wife. She understood this probably made her sound unreasonable and totally insecure. But Jaylah was not about to be played for a fool by the only man she’d ever truly loved.
The stakes were just too high.
*Want to know what happens next? Pick up Two Steps Back in the Kindle store today!
About the Author
Britni Danielle is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including Essence, Jet, Ebony.com, Clutch, and Heart & Soul.
Enjoyed reading Turn It Loose? Tell Britni what you thought of the book on Twitter @BritniDWrites or on her blog, BritniDanielle.com.
Books by Britni Danielle:
Turn It Loose
Two Steps Back
Bad Dates & Other Disasters Vol. 1
Bad Dates & Other Disasters Vol. 2
Break Out of Your Box
Visit Britni Danielle on Amazon for current titles.
To be informed of new releases & special offers, sign up for Britni’s email newsletter.
Thank you for reading
We invite you to share your thoughts and reactions:
Turn It Loose Page 12