LOGINQueen's eyes moved slowly from the woman to James. Then back again.A bitter laugh escaped her. “You've got to be kidding me.” James immediately stepped forward.“Baby—” She raised a hand. “Don't.” James stopped.Queen looked around the room again. Her face twisted with disbelief.“So this is what you were doing?” “Baby, I can explain.”“Explain what?” Her voice rose. “Explain why you're in here with two women?” Threesome on the bed you said we would have our own children on. James opened his mouth. Nothing came out.Queen laughed again. “You know what? No. Don't even bother.”Ava stepped into the room beside her. She looked at James with pure disgust.“You have got to be the biggest hypocrite I've ever seen.” “Ava, stay out of this.”“Stay out of this?” Ava laughed. “Are you serious?” She pointed at Queen.“You spent four years making this woman hate her own body.”James frowned. “That isn't what I did.” Queen turned toward him. “Oh, really?”Her voice shook. “Then what did you do?”
Saturday morning came quietly.Queen woke before her alarm and lay still for several minutes, staring at the ceiling.Her mind went straight to James.Not George. Not work.James.She had spent the entire previous evening talking to Ava about everything she had been carrying around for months. Things she had barely admitted to herself.She was tired of pretending the relationship was still something it had once been.Tired of saying she needed more time when what she really needed was the courage to have one honest conversation.Queen finally sat up. “It’s time.”She said it out loud this time. Hearing herself say it made the decision feel real.She needed to talk to James. She couldn't keep hiding behind a break.She couldn't keep avoiding his calls and pretending that would somehow solve everything.If she was going to move forward with her life, she needed to close the chapter properly.Queen reached for her phone.8:14 a.m. She knew James's Saturday routine almost by heart.He usu
Queen had barely stepped inside before Ava looked up from the couch. One look at Queen's face, and Ava put her phone down.“Well?”Queen slipped off her shoes. “Well, what?” Ava stared at her.“Don't do that.” “Do what?”“That innocent thing. You went to dinner with George, came back late, and now you're standing there looking like you have something to tell me.”Queen smiled despite herself.Ava pointed at the space beside her. “Sit.”Queen laughed. “You sound like my mother.” “Your mother probably has more patience than I do. Sit.”Queen dropped onto the couch. Ava immediately turned toward her.“Talk.” Queen hesitated for a moment.Then she said quietly, “George told me he likes me.”Ava's eyebrows shot up.“He actually said it?”“Yes.” “What exactly did he say?” Queen looked down at her hands.“He said these past few weeks have made him happy. He said he likes spending time with me. He likes talking to me. And he wants to keep seeing me.”Ava's face lit up.“And you?” Queen looked
George didn't let her off the hook, but he didn't push either. "What if," he said calmly, "after you've had your time, you still want me?" Her eyes met his."Then I'll tell you." "And if you don't?" "Then I'll tell you that too." A faint smile touched his mouth."I can live with honesty." Queen smiled. "I figured you could."George looked down at the table for a moment, then returned his attention to her."I won't pretend this is easy for me." That surprised her. He continued before she could respond."I've spent the last few weeks trying not to move faster than you. I have wanted to ask you out more times than I actually did. I've wanted to call you when I had no reason to. I've wanted to see you even when I could have easily found an excuse to discuss work instead."Queen's heart began beating faster. "I waited because I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."She watched him. "But waiting doesn't mean I suddenly stop feeling. His voice stayed controlled, but something more vulnerab
Queen stared at him. For several seconds, she couldn't find the words.The city was still moving beneath them. Cars crawled along the streets. Somewhere behind them, the pianist had started another song.None of it seemed real anymore. George waited. He didn't rush her. He didn't reach across the table.He sat there, giving her the space she needed. Queen drew a slow breath."I should have told you this before now." George's expression remained calm, but his attention sharpened."Told me what?" Queen looked down at her hands. "About the man I was talking about when I said I had things to figure out."Do you remember the second time I met you?" George's brow furrowed slightly. "The wedding." "Yes."A small breath left her. "The guy who came to take me back to the reception." George's expression changed. He remembered. He hadn't forgotten the scene.The man had been angry. Possessive. More concerned about getting Queen back inside than about why she was hungry, she almost fainted there,
The door closed, and Queen sat back against the leather seat, the flowers resting in her lap.She could still hear his voice. You look spectacular. She looked down at herself, then at the flowers, and shook her head.“Lord…” A second later, the opposite door opened, and George got in. He caught her expression.“What?” She looked at him. “You know exactly what.” “I don't.” “You're enjoying this.” “Very much.”Queen laughed. George settled beside her, then reached for the small bouquet. “Give me those.”She handed them over. He turned toward the driver. “There's a vase in the back compartment.”The driver immediately reached for it. Queen watched as George carefully placed the flowers inside before handing them back to her.“You're keeping them.” She smiled. “I wasn't planning to throw them away.” “I know. I just wanted to make sure they survived the evening.”“You're ridiculous.” His gaze moved over her again. “I've noticed. Queen laughed and turned toward the window before he could se







