Finally Us (Next Generation #5) - J.M. Walker Page 0,101

there was no reason for him to be worried. It wasn’t like I was going anywhere.

My house hadn’t been salvageable. The burnt debris was torn down and the land was cleaned up. Another family bought the property and began building their own house. It was surreal how one bad thing led to Vince and I finally confessing our love for each other.

The police weren’t any closer to finding out who had set my house on fire, but they did determine that it had been arson. We already knew that, but it still didn’t make me feel any better to have that little fact confirmed.

I couldn’t work as much as I used to. I would teach as often as I could but found that I couldn’t stand on my feet for long once my ankles started swelling, but I tried not to complain. I eventually hired another teacher to take my place while I was off on maternity leave and so I wouldn’t have to shut the business down during that time.

I was able to teach the girls from Rouge their routine and even though I couldn’t dance with them like they had wanted, they pulled it off and left Candace in tears at the thoughtful gift. It was amazing to see my routine up on stage like that and I promised the girls that once the baby was born and the doctor gave me the go-ahead, I would do a routine with them. I just wouldn’t tell Vince until it actually happened.

One evening after I had cleaned up the apartment, I was cooking dinner for Vince and I. The baby was craving pasta, so I made us one of my dad’s famous dishes that he used to cook for us as kids.

Vince had spent the past few weeks with the guys fixing up the center, so we hadn’t been able to spend much time alone. A bad storm had rolled in that knocked down a tree and blew off a few shingles. No one had been hurt thankfully. But tonight, he would be home, and we had the whole evening together.

My phone suddenly rang, startling me. Vince’s handsome face flashed across the screen. “Hi,” I answered.

“Hey, Queenie. How’s my girl?”

“Good. I’m cooking for you.”

“Naked?”

I laughed, looking down at myself. “No. But I am wearing just a tank top and little shorts.”

“Good enough for me.” He chuckled.

“Supper’s almost done.”

“I’m on my way home. I was going to stop by the bakery and pick up dessert.”

“Oh wonderful.” I gave him a list of pastries that I wanted.

“Okay, I’ll stop there, grab what you want, and then be on my way home.”

“Thank you.” We said our goodbyes and disconnected the call. About ten minutes later, the door to the apartment opened. “You got here fast,” I called out, dishing the pasta. It was perfect timing actually. He must have hit every green light. “Did you grab the donuts Meadow had set aside for me?” I placed the plates on the table when the hairs on the back of my neck tingled.

I glanced up, a gasp escaping me. I backed up a step. “Tenise.”

She was holding a pistol, aiming it directly at me.

“What are you doing here?” I continued until I hit the bookshelf behind me. “How did you get in?”

Her eyes were wild as they moved back and forth over my face. They dropped to my stomach, something flashing behind them. “How far along are you?”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to answer but at the same time, I didn’t want to do anything that would cause her to pull the trigger. “Almost eight months.”

She nodded, looking around her. “You live here now.”

“I do,” I said, even though it hadn’t been a question.

She nodded again. “Rory broke up with me.”

“I-I heard that but that was months ago.” What did she want?

Her dark eyes landed on me. “Did you fuck him too? You probably fucked all of them.”

“Excuse me?” I was taken aback by her question. “I didn’t sleep with Rory or Mason if that’s who you mean.”

“No. I asked if you fucked him. Not if you slept with him.” Tenise moved to the dining room table and sat.

“What do you want, Tenise? We haven’t seen or even heard from you in months. What’s going on? Why now? Why not before?” I tried controlling the fear trembling in my voice, but truth was, I was terrified. Especially for my baby.

The way Tenise kept glancing at my stomach made me realize that she was jealous.