I needed a second to catch my breath; it felt like I couldn't breathe sitting there next to Jared, especially after he caught a glimpse of an old picture of the two of us.
After making it to the bathroom, I pulled my wig back into a ponytail, before splashing some water on my face.
I looked up at myself in the mirror over the sink, my voice low and shaky once I finally spoke, trying to psych myself out.
"Come on, Tay. Get it together. He's not yours anymore."
I was taking slow, deep breaths, trying my best to focus on just inhaling and exhaling.
The bathroom door swung open a second later and the first thing I noticed on Kiana and Della's faces was the shared look of concern as they each took a spot on either side of me.
"You okay, babes?"
Della's voice was soothing as she rubbed my lower back and I couldn't help but be grateful for the two girls who had gotten me through some of my darkest days.
I nodded and gave them a fake smile through the mirror before reaching for a few paper towels.
"Well, I call bulshit."
After patting down my face, I turned to look back at Kiana, and after noticing the way she had her arms crossed over her chest, I knew I was in for some tough love.
Della, knowing how blunt Kiana could be, discreetly smacked her before facing me.
"We can go to The Familiar Bar. Dylan's band is playing and it's 90's/2000's night. We can get our Blaque on while pissing off my brother at the same time."
I thought about it for a minute, then shook my head, knowing how it would look if we all just left.
"Guys, we're already here. Leaving now would just..."
I trailed off and shook my head again just as Kiana and Della shared a look that didn't go unnoticed.
I looked back and forth, scrunching my eyebrows together in confusion.
"What?"
"We just-- we don't want you to do something that you might end up regretting?"
I turned, leaning against the sink as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Like...?"
"Don't act dumb, bitch. You know being here with that white boy is only gonna bring up memories that you do not need to be getting sucked into tonight, okay?"
I cut my eyes over at Kiana, who was already giving me a look. I sighed dramatically as I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever."
Della gripped my shoulder before she used her thumb to rub it.
"Tay, he's getting married tomorrow... Babe, I'm sorry, but... you-- you gotta let him go."
✖️
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The last of the boxes had been unpacked and everything was set up in the condo Jared's parents got us.
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I still couldn't believe they'd go all out like this for us; our place was amazing.
I was rocking a sleeping McKenna in my arms, watching as Jared set up the mobile over her crib.
Once he finished, he turned and wiped his sweaty forehead, and in his shirtless state, I couldn't help but bite back a tiny moan; Jared's body had always been ridiculous thanks to soccer and the scruffy beard he was growing was starting to give him a more rugged look.
"See something you like, Princess?"
"Huh?"
I blinked rapidly before looking up at him smirking; I hadn't realized I zoned out for almost thirty seconds.
"I've been calling your name over and over. You distracted over there or what?"
I rolled my eyes before setting McKenna in her crib. I rubbed her belly then stroked her cheek before turning back to look at a still smirking, shirtless Jared.
I tilted my head and smirked before walking up to him. Standing on the tips of my toes, I was just able to reach his lips, hovering in front of them, making sure we didn't actually kiss.
As I stared up into his forest green eyes, I batted my eyelashes, slowly running my hand down his chest to his jeans, gripping his hardness through the fabric.
He hissed, dipping his head down, resting it on my shoulder.
"Princess, don't start something you can't finish."
After turning back to see a sleeping McKenna resting in her crib, I turned back to face Jared with a cheeky smile on my face.
"Well... you're all sweaty and I wanna finish in the shower."
Suddenly, I was thrown in the air, upside down on Jared's shoulder. He smacked my ass and gripped it before heading for the door.
"Babe, wait!"
I had just gotten my bearings when he stopped in his tracks, turning his head, nibbling on my outter thigh.
"What, woman? You got me rock hard over here!"
I smirked and smacked his ass before pointing back into McKenna's room.
