Page 19 of The Plus One

“How long have you thought I was beautiful?”

I knew exactly where this conversation was going, and I probably should’ve stopped it. Instead, I leaned forward to look at her and give her my eyes. “Honesty, since I met you.”

Her face changed just slightly. “What?”

I shrugged, "you asked.”

“I know what I asked. I just…” She paused. “Since you met me?”

“Yep.”

“But I was with Markel.”

“I had eyes while you were with Markel.”

“Ace.”

“What?”

“You know what I mean.”

I did. I rubbed my hand over my beard. “Kema, thinking you fine and acting on it are two different things.”

“So you wanted me?”

There it was. Straight to it. I looked at her for a long second. I could’ve lied. Probably would’ve been smarter. But I’d already spent four years pretending this woman didn’t do anything to me. I was tired of lying to myself. “Yeah.”

Her lips parted. I continued before she could misunderstand me. “But you were Kel’s woman.”

“So?”

“So there wasn’t shit for me to do about it.”

“Did you hate seeing us together?”

I laughed. “Why you asking questions you don’t want the answers to?”

“Maybe I want the answers.”

I stared at her. She stared right back. “Yeah,” I finally admitted. “Sometimes.” Her eyes widened. “But that was my problem,” I added. “Not yours. Not his. Mine. So I kept that shit to myself.”

“Wow.”

“What?”

“I would’ve never known.”

“You weren’t supposed to.”

She looked down at her plate, then back at me. “And now?”

I knew exactly what she meant. Still made her say it. “Now what?”

“I’m not his woman anymore.”

“No.”

“So what’s stopping you now?”