After getting dressed and removing the rollers from my hair, I brushed Scottlyn’s hair into two ponytails and put pretty bows on them. I put on her snow suit, packed her bag, grabbed my purse and Scottlyn off the bed, and headed downstairs. Truce was sitting on the couch in a black peacoat with his hair pulled up in a man bun, looking even more fucking enticing.
Jesus wept.
I shook off my crazy thoughts and walked into the living room, placing Scottlyn in her car seat and strapping her in.
“Damn, you women take a thousand years to get ready.”
I tossed my hand on my hip and pointed at Scottlyn. “As if I don’t have another human to groom and dress.”
He chuckled and tossed his hands up. “Touché.”
I went inside the front closet to retrieve my caramel red bottom riding boots and leather caramel jacket with fur. As I moved around the room, double-checking everything to make sure I wasn’t leaving anything behind, I could feel Truce’s eyes on me. I had to ignore him. Those light brown irises surrounded by long, curly lashes and thick eyebrows were making it hard not to watch him watch me.
“Okay, we’re ready,” I said in a huff.
Truce stood, picked up the baby, and tossed her bag over his shoulder. I grabbed my purse, and we stepped out into the winter's chill of November. It had snowed last week, so the ground was covered in white sheets of it. Looking at the snow made me think of the holidays I had as a child. Christmas would be the second holiday I’d spend without my family. I didn’t want to dwell on that, so I pushed it to the back of my mind as we loaded up in the car and headed to their mom’s house.
We pulled up toRoyal Destinythirty minutes later, and I wanted to tell Truce to pull off. Why was I doing this? This wasn’t some fairytale. I wasn’t in love with him anymore, and I knew he didn’t feel the same about me. I took my phone out of my purse and dialed Damien’s number. It rang out to voicemail, and I dialed the number again. This time, he picked up, and before he could even speak, I spoke up.
“Damien, where are you?” I hissed through my teeth.
Girlish giggles serenaded the other end of the receiver, and I felt myself about to explode. “Hello?”
“Who the fuck is this?” I asked.
“Oh, heyyy, sister-wife. Dame’s busy at the moment, but I’ll let him know you called.”
“Which bitch is this? Tasia, Whitney, Kelly, or Brittany?”
“Damn, pooh! You know us all, huh?” She laughed. “But this is Brittany, of course. Thefirstmain bitch.”
I bit my lip trying not to let this woman rile me up. She didn’t have to confirm what I already knew, but just hearing her answering his phone and talking recklessly made me want to tear some shit up. I gave this man years of my life. I gave him a baby, treated him like he walked on water, only for him to do this shit to me. The physical abuse was disgusting enough, but the mental abuse was just as unbearable. If this wasn't my final cue to get the fuck on, I didn’t know what else I needed to hear or see to push me to move on.
“You got that.” I hung up. “Please get me the fuck away from here,” I told Truce as I tried to calm my breathing.
He didn’t protest or say another word as he pulled away from the curb. I tried desperately not to let my tears fall, but they betrayed me anyway. The only sound that could be heard was my sniffling and the low volume of the music. I looked over at Truce, and his face held a scowl while he focused on the road.
He lifted the center console, handing me some Kleenex.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping my tears.
“You don’t have shit to be sorry for.”
“I do. You just got home, and already, we’re stressing you out. You can just take me back to the house. I’ll figure out how to get Scottlyn from your mom and try to plan my next move.”
“How about we go somewhere and have some fun? You look like you could use it.”
“Fun?” I scoffed. “What's that? I don’t even remember how to have fun.”
“Then let me remind you.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“When’s the last time you've been out of the house to hang out?”
“A few months ago, for a business meeting Damien had.”
“And before that?” I shook my head.
