CHAPTER Twenty-Three
Ryan
My day started off as any Friday would. Morning sex, check. Hit the gym, check. Work, check. I hadn’t seen Taiya since morning, because she went to work, then to her mum’s house. I had a pretty hectic day, between Reid telling me MMA scouts are up his ass, wanting him to fight, also him dropping the bomb that our father’s been trying to get in contact with us again, obviously using his limited phone calls trying to get one of us on the line. What I didn’t expect was to open my apartment door and find Taiya, sitting on the couch, staring daggers at her ex-best friend.
“What the f*ck is she doing here?” I ask Taiya, my heart slamming against my chest. I refuse to let anyone ruin what Taiya and I have, what we have worked for all this time to get our relationship the way it is. I finally have my wife back, and no one is going to get between us.
“We need to talk,” Sarah says, standing up. She looks the same as she did the last time I saw her. Blonde hair, brown eyes, and a model’s figure. I had no idea back then that she was bat-shit crazy, but one learns from their mistakes.
“What could we possibly have to talk about?” I ask, sitting down next to Taiya and taking her hand into my lap. She allows me to do it, which is a good sign.
“I’m pregnant,” Sarah says, throwing a smug look at my wife.
“And good luck to the sorry bastard that knocked you up,” I tell her, confused as to why she felt the need to tell me this.
“That sorry bastard would be you,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest and looking triumphant. The f*ck? I have never slept with her in my life, and I haven’t even seen her since the time we kissed.
“You’re kidding me, right?” I say slowly, wondering what her game is. She clearly doesn’t want Taiya happy, or to be with me. Why? I have no f*cking idea. She’s probably jealous of Taiya.
“Don’t act innocent. Two months ago, we slept together and now I’m having your baby!” she says. It’s official-- this bitch has lost the plot. And I’m the one who is going to have to pay for it.
I turn to Taiya. “She’s lying. I would never cheat on you,” I tell her, my voice taking on a pleading tone.
Taiya purses her lips, and pulls her hand away from mine. I close my eyes, squeezing them shut, knowing this is the moment where I lose her. At least until I can prove my innocence.
“Get the f*ck out,” Taiya says. I think she’s talking to me, but I look to see her saying it to Sarah.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” Sarah says, narrowing her eyes.
Taiya scoffs. “I heard you. And you’re a lying bitch. First of all, I trust my husband. Second of all, I’ve read too many romance novels to know that trusting the bitch of the story, is never a good idea. If you’re so adamant that the baby is his, come back when he’s born and we can do a DNA test. Which will prove Ryan isn’t his or her father. So if you’re even pregnant at all, perhaps you should go and find the real father. I understand that might take some time to go through all the names of the men you’ve been with, so you best get to work.” With that, she stands up and storms into the bedroom. I open and close my mouth in surprise. How amazing is my woman? I block out Sarah’s whining and bitching and escort her out the door, slamming it behind her, then walk into the room where Taiya is lying on the bed, her pet bird sitting on her stomach.
“You okay?” I ask her, kneeling on the bed.
She puffs out a breath. “Yeah, it just sucks. I don’t know what I ever did to her.”
“She’s just jealous,” I tell her, lifting my hand to touch her, but moving it back when the bird makes that scary hissing noise. Taiya giggles, and almost getting my finger bitten was all worth it.
“Thank you for believing in me,” I say quietly. “I thought you were going to kick my ass out.”
She leans her head to the side. “You’re not that stupid to lose me twice.”
I chuckle at her comment. “You’re right about that.”
She gets up and puts Leo on top of his perch.
“Are we going to have make-up sex now?” I ask. “I could really go for some.”
She puts her index finger on her chin. “I don’t know. Does that count as me running into one of your ex conquests?” I can tell from her voice that she’s teasing me.
“No.”
“How about we just snuggle?” she says, getting back on the bed and leaning into me.
I yawn. “Snuggling is good.”
I don’t know how to put it into words what her trust means to me. I feel like I’ve just won a gold medal or something. F*ck. I’m obsessed with her.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
*****
“You’re not f*cking wearing that out!” I say for the second time, hoping from my look she knows I’m serious.
“You don’t control what I wear,” she snaps, putting a pair of big dangly earrings into her ears.
“You might as well be naked!” I say, looking down at her beige fitted dress. It clings to every curve on her body, showing every little detail. “No, it’s not happening.”
“Except it is,” she replies, pouting her lips as she smothers them with gloss or something.
“I’m going to be a walking erection all night,” I mutter.
“Well, I’ll take care of that when we get home,” she says flippantly. Is she even listening to me?
“Tay, every f*cking guy is going to be staring at you, going home and probably…”
She raises her hand cutting me off. “It’s just a dress.”
“Yeah, maybe for a f*cking stripper,” I say without thinking. Her face instantly changes, and I know I’ve pissed her right off. “I didn’t mean that,” I try to backtrack. “Don’t be mad.”
“What do I know? I’m just a stripper,” she sneers, stepping out of the bathroom and into her closet, where she pulls out the highest pair of f*ck me heels I’ve ever seen. “Yes, I think these go with tonight’s theme, apparently.”
Me and my big f*cking mouth.
I head into the kitchen and pour myself a drink, waiting for Taiya to finish getting ready. We’re heading out to dinner and then to a club with Reid and Summer for Summer’s birthday. I’m chewing on an ice cube as Taiya enters the room, dressed to kill and ready to go. She has Summer’s gift in her hand, in a shiny pink gift bag. I stare at her dress once more, which now looks even sexier paired with the heels. I don’t know where to look… cleavage, thigh, legs or just the hourglass shape of her mid-section. My hard on isn’t exactly welcomed right now, considering we need to leave and she’s pissed at me. Although much can be said for angry sex…
“Are we going or are you going to stand there staring all night?” she asks, tapping her heel.
I sigh and put my glass in the sink, then walk to the front door and open it for her. “Are you bringing a jacket?” I ask, unable to contain the hope in my voice.
“No,” she says sweetly, walking outside. I lock up and head to Reid’s, then we all get in a cab and tell the driver directions to the restaurant.
“I love this dress,” Summer says, eyeing Taiya.
“You can have it,” I add in, ignoring the scowls from both women. Reid turns from the front seat with an amused smirk.
“Stop being an ass, Ry,” Summer says softly, her voice laced with steel. “Taiya looks freaking amazing.”
“Apparently, that’s the problem,” Taiya adds dryly, crossing her arms over her chest. It’s Summer’s birthday, which I don’t want to ruin so I decide to keep my mouth shut on that topic.
“Did you like the gift, Sum?” I ask her, effectively changing the subject.
She claps her hands together. “I love it!” Taiya and I got her tickets to a concert where several different R & B and rap artists are performing. It’s funny because now Reid has to go and sit through it as well, and he isn’t a fan. Two birds with one stone. Make Summer happy, and annoy my brother. Taiya also got her a perfume and some other girly items. Reid turns his head once more, his blue eyes narrowed on me. He calls me a ‘bastard’ with that one look, and I tell him ‘ha ha’ with mine.
“Anything to make you happy, Sum,” I say, and I see his eyes and expression soften. Oh yeah, Reid will be going to that concert; he will hold a damn sign if he has to. Anything for his woman. I take Taiya’s hand in mine. She silently complies, and I rub little circles on her palm with my thumb. We share a look, and then she breaks out in a smile.
Time to enjoy the night out with my favourite people in the world.