he laid me down on the bed. He began to kiss me and caress me all over. As I held him tight, nothing else mattered. At that moment, the only thing that existed for me was Rick.
He made love to me until I was satisfied. I was in heaven. Secure and full of peace. I rolled off of him, snuggled up under his arm, and hugged him around his waist.
“I don’t want this to end, Rick,” I admitted.
He kissed me on the forehead. “Me, neither.” Those words caused a smile to form on my lips. I won. I closed my eyes and found myself basking in the glow of love after sex.
When I opened them again, the right side of my bed was empty and cold. I sat up, and my eyes darted around the bedroom looking for Rick’s things. They weren’t there. I jumped out of the bed and ran to the window. His truck was gone.
TASHA
There had been enough drama in my house the last few days to last for the next few years. Angel went back to New York, and Jaz went back to Atlanta. Rick was gone, and Kyra had been moping around the house for a week. Rick and Kyra? Of course I wanted my girl to have the man she wanted but what about Rick and his relationship with Nina?
That was a situation that I honestly didn’t want any part of.
Trae and I, knock on wood, had been chillin’. No fights, no arguments, trying to stay on course of getting back to what we knew we were. It had been quiet and peaceful for the most part. The last time my stress level rose was when I spoke to Jaz. She sounded as if she was about to be on some ignorant shit. I was hoping that she was just running her mouth.
I had just fed the kids their lunch and was cleaning the kitchen when Trina called me. So much for being stress-free. I hadn’t heard from her since she came over with that bullshit message from Kyron. Despite the fact that Trina didn’t want me to, I had been calling my brother, but he never would answer his phone. I didn’t want to answer her call, but with all of the shit going on, I decided to pick up.
“Hello.”
“Hey, it’s me. Can you talk?” she asked me.
“What’s up?”
“Hold on.” She clicked over. “Tasha, you there?”
“Yeah, what’s up, Trina?” I asked her.
“You are.” Hearing his whispery voice caused my stomach to flip and my knees to buckle. “What’s up? I got your little letter. I need to see you.”
I had to regain my composure. “You have to be the dumbest nigga in America. I don’t want to see you or speak to you. I am done fucking with you. Period. It shouldn’t be that hard to comprehend. And like I said in my letter, don’t call me anymore, don’t say shit to me. No letters, no messages, just leave me the fuck alone, Kyron. Damn.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be sure?”
“All right, then! I guess your brother don’t mean shit to you. But I got something that will give me your undivided attention.”
“Whatever, Kyron. I’m calling Kaylin and telling him what you did to my brother and that you are harassing and threatening me.”
“I’ll catch up with you sooner or later. Give my regards to Trae.” He hung up.
“Whatever, nigga! And Trina, stop with the three-way phone calls and messages! Stop letting this nigga intimidate you! Call the cops on his ass! Call Kaylin right now, and tell him what he has you doing!” I spazzed out on her.
“Tasha, I—”
I hung up, not realizing how badly I was shaking. I needed to tell Trae about Kyron, but I was scared to death to do so. Maybe I would tell Kaylin and let him be the one to tell Trae. I went to dial Kaylin, but then I heard Trae calling me. He came into the family room.
“What, Trae?” I snapped.
He looked at me sideways. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing.” I tried to play it off.
“Tasha? What’s up?” He came toward me. “You’re trembling.”
“I just spoke to Trina, and she’s trippin’, that’s all.”
“Trippin’ about what?” He came and stood in front of me, staring into my eyes as if he could read my mind. “She got you trembling like that?” He took my cell and looked at it confirming that it was her who just called me.
“Why I won’t come over to