Kayla rose at five o’clock to prep and freeze Sledge’s food, not forgetting her many morning routines. Soon as she stepped out of the kitchen after the preparation, Anthony walked in to get lemonade. He was about going for a jog.Anthony was pouring himself a glass of lemonade from the jug on the countertop when the phone next to him rang. It was Kayla’s phone. He had no intent to check who it was. But inadvertently, he glimpsed at the caller. The caller's name held his attention for a brief moment. William Shithole was the name of the caller. Judging from the offensive name she gave the caller, Anthony realized it must be someone she had issues with. It wasn’t his business, so he ignored.The phone rang for the third time when he was imbibing the lemonade. He drew rigid; he tumbled into something. William Shithole. Did she mean William Dale? Setting down the glass of lemonade on the counter, he took the phone and picked up, waiting for the caller to speak.‘Kayla, are you there?’Ant

Kayla downed a half glass of wine. She could not tell why, but the fear that Anthony would catch her just deepened and crushed her like garlic in a mortar. The restaurant was cold, yet she was burning. She downed another glass of wine. Why was the feeling getting stronger?“Relax, Kayla, will you?” Corey crooned.Kayla nodded, took a breath, yet Corey now locking his eyes behind her and looking all tensed tightened the knot in her stomach. She was going to ask what he was staring at when he said, “You’ve got a company.”Before Kayla could turn around, the seat beside her got occupied. Anthony? Kayla’s heart jolted and tumbled down her stomach, thrumming violently. Nearly, she was shivering. She folded her hands beneath the table. Repeatedly, she gulped one hard lump down. Corey promised her, didn’t he?“I hope I’m not late, sweetheart?” was the first thing he said when he sat down, and then his fingers were fiddling with her hair as if he enjoyed the silky feel of it. Anthony half-expe

The massive living room frolicked in the calm night. Lots of excitement, plenty of guests chatting over refreshments. Kayla’s eyes picked out some faces she found familiar, faces from her alma mater, and she’d only waved at them. She spotted Sonia and a group of guests she recognized were her friends and acquaintances from the university. They beckoned her over and she approached. They exchanged greetings and embraces soon as she got there.“Congratulations once again, Sonia,” Kayla said, holding out a big gift box to Sonia, who took it and asked her babysitter to keep it.“Where’s your husband, Kayla?” a female acquaintance asked.“Yeah, where’s Mr. Handsome? He’s the reason I did the whole nine yards to look hot tonight.” That was Imani with her silly comment.“Hold on, Kayla, is Anthony outside or…” Sonia waved a dismissal hand. “You know what I’m trying to ask.”Kayla’s face clouded over; as a result, her friends made distasteful faces as they awaited her disappointing response. S

Kayla woke up to vibrations from messages blowing up her phone. She turned repeatedly in her bed. The vibration wouldn't stop—that was more messages than she'd received over the month. Pushing through her sleep-fogged brain, her eyes drew open and she reached for the phone on the nightstand to see what the messages were for.New month's wishes from nearly everyone she knew, including Corey. She threw her head back, rolled her eyes, and snorted. Not like she cared about the new month. She frowned, not buying the kinds of text she saw. Troubled, she melted in the bed, pretending to cry. Sonia was informing her about Nora's surprise party Jerome was planning, saying they began the meeting on that very day. Samuel also reminded her of the American Football coming up. It was his first match; he wanted her to come along with Anthony.Ugh! How in God's name was she supposed to convince Anthony when she failed to convince him of Sonia's housewarming party? She'd have to face her family because

The question threw Kayla into defense. “I remember everything that happened in my drunkenness. I can tell you everything that happened if you want me to. Giovanni celebrated his winning with his lawyers, I had to join them. I had soda, only soda, not alco—”“So you're going to look me in the eye and lie to me?” Graveness and rage resonated in the gruff butterfly-soft of his voice. Anthony couldn't soften the harshness of his emotions yet. Srymium told him of the celebration at the restaurant. For the soda… she lied.Tears nearly dribbled off her flooded eyes at the accusation, but she blinked them back. Defending herself was pointless, it deepened the raw emotions in her. Her eyes wouldn't mind raining tears. She wouldn't defend herself anymore. She'd cry if she did because he wouldn't believe her. “I got drunk on alcohol. Because I couldn't carry the weight on my shoulders. Is that what you want to hear?”After a moment of silence, “Sit in the chair, legs on the armrests. I want to w