End Zone Love (Connecticut Kings Book 4)

by Love Belvin

  “Because I wanted to!” I blurted over him with closed eyes. I took a deep breath before peering over to him again. “I wanted to. I was the one who backed out in the end, but it was me who put it into play.” A wry smile formed on my face. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

  Another stunned emotion struck Trent’s face.

  “I wanted to hurt Ryshon. He’d done it to me over and over. You notice I don’t have any girlfriends, other than my cousin, who are confidants? I did at one point. Kyree even had a godmother. He’d slept with her while I was in my last weeks of pregnancy and for weeks after I gave birth. He slept with another friend I went to high school with a year later. He humiliated me time and time again. Then he embarrassed me in front of my cousin, Lashawn, by trying to talk to her girlfriend at a club. That was the last straw. He got locked up not too long after that, thinking everything was going to be cool. We were going to do another bid together. I had other plans. Little X distributed his money to his kids’ mothers when he was away. One day, he came over and I seduced him. It was the best acting job I’d ever done. I wanted revenge.”

  Things got quiet. I didn’t know if he cared to hear more. The reemergence of the pain was keen.

  “I had my reasons for doing it. It was for the pain he’d caused me over the years. At some point, for him, the romance was over. Interest in the charming, naïve rich girl from South Orange wore off. I wasn’t anything special to him.” I shrugged. “So, Little X was with it. He came over at the agreed upon time and I was ready. We were almost naked and I couldn’t do it. Something hit me so hard as he was pulling down his jeans. I stood with my bra exposed and felt rocked, dizzied, all of a sudden. I was spinning out of control.”

  I choked on a cry. “I couldn’t go through with it. There was no intrigue, attraction, love, or lust. I wasn’t that girl. I’d only been with three guys.” I wiped my face. “Little X got angry…started pulling back on his clothes. He was yelling, ‘You know what this means, right? You know what this means? I’m telling everybody we did it. They not gone believe you. What bitch line up a fuck with her old man’s right hand while he locked up? You know he knows, right. You know I told him’.” I’d never forget his words.

  “He was being honest. Ryshon told him to go through with it.” Hot tears fled down my cheeks. “He did it. Little X went around telling people he’d slept with me. And in their world, it only takes your boy to say he slept with a woman. Because I’m a whore. Right?” I shook my head. “I mean… Just look at me. The weave, slayed face, boobs, and ass. Just like the world thinks I’m your whore now.”

  “Jade, you should’ve said something down there! We would’ve believed you. We know the woman you are!”

  I shook my head again, wiping my tears, and sniffling. “You know what? It’s… It’s… It’s over with.” I picked up dress number four from the floor and stood. “I deserved it. I should’ve never dealt with Ryshon or people like him in the first place. I just can’t shake this. I can’t shake it.” I shook my head, decided. “I’m going to always be the cunning whore. The one prone to blunders.” A cynical giggle shot from the back of my throat as I stared at the size six tag in my hands. “As soon as I was gaining my ground, becoming a new person—turning over a new leaf—it all blew up in my face.”

  My eyes fell to my protruding belly. April was right: it seemed since we learned about the pregnancy, the pregnancy told on itself.

  “Jade!” his commanding tone snatched my attention. My eyes flew to him immediately and caught his on my belly, too. Trent had caught on. “For some reason, it’s always about what other people think, never about just me and you. When we exchanged those vows, who was there? It was me and you. The only other people had a role in making it official. Nobody else matters. You gotta get over that, Jade.”

  “Remember you said after the party how you had your trust flaw? Well, you’re aware of my insecurities. It’s always been about how people perceive me. I can’t shake that either, it seems.” Trent shook his head, frustrated. “You know why I love this place? You know why I took to it so easily during one of the lowest points of my life?” His doubtful eyes met mine. “Because it was big enough to hide myself inside of. I can become a different person. A new person. I could reinvent myself. I could give something to it. I felt you may not have needed me, but this house did. I proved something to these four walls!” I pointed to no place in particular.

  “I was something useful to something that knew nothing of the old me. It knew nothing about my past. The house even protected me by keeping my baggage from my old world in an adjacent place: the furthest garage from the main house! Trent, I am so tired of being what these people say I am. I just want to move on. I thought I was.” I grabbed my belly. “But…” I stopped to breathe.

  I caught Trent’s face opening as his eyes were stapled to my midsection. “So, what me and my daughter represent to you is another mistake?” He took a step back, tearing me in two. “If that’s the case, I ‘on’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t know who the fuck I married.”

  He walked out. Just as quiet as Trent came in, interrupting me from my self-loathing tears, he left me to them with fresh agony.

  “Trent!” Chéri called my name like she missed me. By the time I turned from the painting hanging in the hall close to the front door, I caught her approaching me, looking over my shoulder, with her arm wrapped around her husband, George. “It’s so wonderful to see you.”

  She made her way over, wasting no time to hug me.

  “How are you?” I greeted as she squeezed tight.

  When Ms. McDowell backed away, I caught a glimmer in her clear green eyes with gold specks in them.

  Damn, she fine like Jade…

  It was hard not to acknowledge. I couldn’t speak about her body because Chéri dressed her age: not much fitted on her—thank God. But her face and exotic eyes were my lady’s: through and through.

  She backed away and her dreamy eyes and excited smile went up to her husband, making room for him to greet me.

  George stuck out his hand. “TB! Good to have you over.”

  We hugged, too.

  “Good to be here, man.”

  “Come, Trent.” Chéri waved me into a room not too far from the door.

  I followed her into what ended up being their formal living room. I knew about those since becoming a home owner. All big houses had one, from my understanding. George pointed to a seat in the corner, a fancy sofa chair, white with a dark wood trim. I took a seat.

  “I understand you just arrived back into town,” Chéri shared, sitting down to where only half her bottom was on the sofa, she crossed a leg over the other, and straightened her spine. “May I offer you a refreshing drink? Something to eat?”

  “Yeah,” I sat back in the chair. “I just flew into Teterboro from Milwaukee. Nah, I’m good. I don’t wanna take up too much of your time. I just wanted to touch down with you then I gotta get home to check in with Jade and Ky to make sure everybody’s good and in one piece.” We laughed together. “Take care of what needs to be handled after being away for a few days. Then I know Jade’s gonna give me a good hour before she makes me go lay down and relax. I’m sure she got something cooked and waiting for me.”

  “Oh. Okay,” Chéri sang in soprano, her eyes bounced around a little, making me believe she was analyzing something I’d just said.

  George lowered his chin as he stared at me. “So, I take it all is well with those two?” He really wanted to know.

  “Yeah. Yeah!” I piped up, not wanting them to think I was about to drop a bomb on them—well, nothing out of control, at least. “We’re definitely good, a tight unit. Got a lot going on. We’re finally settled in the house from her working her magic, making it feel like a home.”

  All the time I’m talking, Chéri’s sitting stiff and looking to not being able to breathe, waiting for my next word. She was literally sitting on the edge of her seat. It was almost comical. She wanted to know wh
y I was here.

  “I just wanted to come and kick it about Jade—”

  “What did she do now?” Chéri asked with her face frowned and nose in the air, almost like she was angry.

  I paused.

  What the he—

  I chuckled, brushing off the chill in her tone. “She’s getting married.” I tried to take on a friendly tone. I wanted no trouble with queen pit bull, but her tone was reckless already.

  “Oh,” George nodded slowly then looked over to his wife with the perfect posture. “Okay.”

  “We settled on a date.”

  “Well, I wasn’t told that!” Chéri made known with her chin in the air, this time looking stubborn.

  God, help me…

  I’d already prayed the night before and on the way over here. I asked God to guide my lips and tongue and let only peace and humility come from them. I hated family drama.

  I combed my beard with my fingers. “Yeah. I know. That’s basically why I’m here. I know you two haven’t been speaking, and it’s never been my thing to get in the middle of two women, especially strong minded ones like you and your daughter. But I’ll do anything to make my wi—” I licked my lips, catching myself. “My lady happy. One of the things I know she needs is her moms.”

  Unbelievably, Chéri’s eyes lit up. “How so?”

  So, Jade’s need to be needed got a source, huhn?

  “Well…” I licked my lips again, thinking. “Just being there and giving positive energy is one way. But she even mentioned the spot we chose to have the reception at being something you two spoke about in the past.” With stretched eyes, I shook my head. “But thank God we got over that hurdle—”

  “And where’s that?” Chéri couldn’t contain herself.

  Wow…

  I scratched below my bottom lip.

  “LaChateau—”

  “I—in Midtown Manhattan?” Those green eyes sparkled with familiarity.

  Good…

  “Yeah.” I chuckled again, my eyes going to the brass statue in the corner. “Jade told me you dig the place. She thought it would make you happy the reception’s going to be there.”

  Her chin went into the air again. But nothing more.

  My eyes shot over to George, who was looking at her. He was always looking at her, allowing her to overshadow his presence.

  “Well, like I was saying: we got over that hurdle. But another one is the wedding dress. Jade said you had one in mind.”

  “Yes, I do. I’ve been between two, though this was years ago before…” She angled her neck and her eyes fell. “Before Kyree. I was going to let her be the tie-breaker.”

  “I know it’s not my place to say this. Again, it’s not my nature to get in the middle of women no matter who it is. But things have changed. I’m taking on a lifetime with Jade. I wanna spend the rest of my days with her and I’ll do anything to give her the best. And right now I think the best for my lady is for her and her moms to be cool again.” I sat up in my seat, taking a deep breath to get ready for this. “The dilemma is, she’s pregnant.” Chéri sucked up all the air in the room.

  “Well, how is she going to find a gown in that condition?” I wasn’t sure who she was asking because her eyes raced every which way, probably at the speed of her brain at this point. Then her eyes were on me. “Oh! I’m so sorry. So sorry about this, Trent! You know, I had an idea something like this would happen. I tried talking to Jade over and over again!”

  “It’s okay!” My hand pushed out in the air, palm asking her to pump the brakes. The woman looked like she was hyperventilating. I was fighting to keep my cool at this point. What did she really think of her daughter? “You can calm down. I take full responsibility. I love my unborn child. I love Jade. I’m glad she’s going to be the mother of my first child—all of them. I’m good on it.” I tried for a smile to calm her. I almost laughed at her, I was kind of disgusted by her reaction.

  “It’s okay. We’re good. I just understand how this poses a problem for her, looking for a gown. Because if she wasn’t, I’m a hundred percent sure she would go with one of the ones you liked. But now she’s got a change of plans. Now, we all know Jade is resourceful. She can figure it all out on her own—one of the smartest people I know. I’m just thinking the dress dilemma would be a good place to end this beef. Now would be a good time for you to reach out to her to help her out with that. Help her find a dress that’ll match her beauty.” I made my smile even bigger to disarm her.

  The room went quiet for a minute.

  “Well, that’s a lot of work. And lots of explanation. People are going to wonder how this came about. And they may even question if she took advantage of you!” She spoke with her eyes to her feet and her palms turned toward the ceiling. “And I just—it’s going to be—I…” She tripped over her words, so worked up. Then those gorgeous green eyes were on me again. The little chin pushed high again, too. “Well, if Jade needs me again, she must be the one to make it right.”

  Chéri jumped up to stand on her little legs and marched out of the room, being led by that damn chin.

  I sat frozen in my seat.

  What in the world just happened?

  My eyes were glued to the door my motherin-law just made a dramatic exit from. She stayed on zero to sixty. I was now convinced. Was this a waste of time? A mistake?

  She at least coming to the wedding?

  “I know what you’re thinking,” George’s voice reminded me he was still in the room. I turned to him, still crazy confused by what had just gone down. “I’ve been here with these two going at it since Jade was an itty-bitty thing.” He chuckled, but in a way that told me he understood this wasn’t a laughing matter. “And it’s not easy. You probably thought you were going to come here and announce this blessed pregnancy. And like any normal mother, she was going to get excited, forget about their fight back in February, and run to be at her daughter’s side.” George shook his head, losing all humor in his face. “But not Chéri.”

  “That’s what I don’t get. I thought this would be an easier route than with Jade, because she’s dealing with so much: the pregnancy and trying to plan a…” My hands shot in the air as I searched for words to best describe what I felt in front of this big time lawyer, who I finally had something in common with. “…celebrity wedding. Thought this was the best way.”

  “No.” George’s face was unsmiling for once. Now, he looked…tired.

  I sat up in my seat, burying my face in my palms, feeling exhausted my damn self. I was confused, tired, and hungry. Nothing sounded better than being home. But this had been on my heart basically since we found out about the pregnancy. I’d finally gotten the time to speak to Ms. McDowell and it didn’t work. I felt powerless, now, too.

  What am I gonna do now?

  “It’s getting hot in here, Trent.” My head shot up to George. He pushed himself from the couch to stand. A scowl now on his face. “Follow me.”

  My face folded, wondering what he meant. But I followed him out of the living room where he grabbed a coat from the closet in the foyer. We stepped out of the front door, and George led me from the circular driveway, over to the side of the house on a narrow walkway.

  After a short time in the stroll, he finally spoke.

  “Chéri’s problem with Jade is Chéri. It’s taken me years to articulate this to someone, but she damaged that little girl. She put her through all those mouse obstacle courses, promising her unconditional love and perfection through Chéri’s eyes upon perfect completion. When Jade stopped performing, Chéri washed her hands of her.”

  I turned to look at him for the first time. My chest tightened at that visual. George kept his eyes on the clear pathway before us, one without the snow that was on the grass. He continued, in his own little world.

  “From the day I met her, Jade was a sweet child—very bright—always outshining her peers. There was never a class, team, or group she was a part of where she didn’t stick out. It’s just who she is. So,
it was no surprise when she attracted you and fit so comfortably in your arms.” George finally looked over to me. “It’s because she was born a star in her own right. So, if anything, Chéri pushed that girl so hard, she almost broke her. So much so, she sent her into the wrong hands with that Ryder kid.”

  He stopped out of nowhere and faced me. I soon stopped, too.

  “Now, I’m going to tell you this, but if you repeat it, I’ll swear under oath it never came from me.” He chuckled to soften the blow. George was definitely a lawyer. Who said things like that? “Jade’s father is the reason why Chéri pushed that girl so hard.” I felt my forehead wrinkle. “Chéri grew up dirt poor down in South Jersey: Bridgeton. Dirt poor. Don’t let all this grandeur fool ya.” His hand swept to reference his massive property. “Pardon my French, but Chéri ain’t have shit when I met her. She ain’t have shit.”

  I switched weight on my hips, not expecting that.

  “She was an effortlessly beautiful girl. Exotic features. She could play the part of class and elegance, and I fell in love. It didn’t take much for me. She had this little girl, who was gorgeous, too. But I used my resources…did some digging around and discovered Jade’s father never picked up after her was because Chéri was never meant to be a permanent fixture in his life. He came from a line of doctors, wealthy family for about three-four generations. He was on his way to Princeton. One summer, they hooked up in Philly…had an affair that lasted a while. There was no commitment, just a setup of fun. Well, at least for him.”

  George laughed, eyes cast out into the snowy lawn. “My Chéri wanted more. She somehow got pregnant with Jade and thought that was going to keep the man. It didn’t.” George’s big shoulders shrugged. “The guy basically said, ‘fuck you and the baby’. She later told me he said she wasn’t on his level, how she came from the slums of Bridgeton while he was from Bernardsville. He told her she would never look good on his arm. He could never have this kid, because the kid had to come from another bloodline of wealth.” Reading my shocked expression, George nodded, telling me he agreed.