When the Bough Breaks

Chapter 26

BRITTNEY POV.

As I sit at the table, I feel someone walking near me. I look to the side of me and I see Dontrell.

"That alcohol?", he asked.

"No", I replied.

Dontrell sits down.

"Don't follow me", I said.

"I didn't follow you. I didn't know you were here", he said.

I sniff a little. "Why'd you come over here?", I asked.

"Because we need to talk...I think that well...we can be together but only under one condition", he said.

I look at him waiting for him to finish.

"...you gotta know that I will not hurt you. A relationship has arguments here and there and I may get mad or you may get mad. It's okay to get upset with me and express your feelings and it's okay for me to do the same but I never...and I mean would never put my hands on you. Never", he said.

I nod.

"I get that you have PTSD and I understand that you will react to certain things in certain ways but you gotta tell yourself I would never do that...what you said to me earlier, how you looked at me...I- it hurt", he said.

I look down.

"I'm not that kind of man", he said. "I don't hurt, I protect. I'm going to protect you and that little one."

I look up at him then stop making eye Dontrell. "Dontrell, I have—"

"Trell?", said a guy talking over me, that is currently walking over. "Long time no see"

"Hey, What's up.", said Dontrell as he dapped the guy up.

The guy looks at me. "Am I interrupting something?", He asked Dontrell.

"Nah, I think we were finished. We're finished right, bae?", asked Dontrell.

I smile when I hear that word. "Yea. Yes we're finished", I said.

"Well can I steal him for a minute. I wanna talk to him about some big boy business", said the guy.

"Mack, what you wanna talk about?", asked Dontrell. "Always wanna talk about something."

Dontrell stood up.

"I'll be back bae", said Dontrell.

Dontrell walked away with Mack.

I was going to tell him about me lying about being pregnant but...I couldn't.

I watched Dontrell talk to Mack. I didn't watch him to be nosey. I watched him to admire him. I loved him... at times I felt like I loved more than I have ever loved Carter. I loved the way Dontrell made me feel. It wasn't even just the things he did. He didn't even have to say anything, his presence is just something that I love.

I look down at my phone because it's vibrating. It was the same number that called me before. I answer the phone.

An automated voice starts talking saying that I have a call from a prison and asks me if I want to accept the chargers.

"Y- yes", I said.

"Yo?", said Carter.

I make a face. I never really heard Carter talk like that.

"Hello?", I said softly.

"Long time no see. I've been calling you.", said Carter. "You know when I get out, I got a few words for you"

My heart starts facing.

"Stop calling me", I said.

"Why? You with that nigga?", he asked. "When I get out, we won't have to worry about him either."

"Carter, you're sentenced to 25 to life", I said. "You'll never get out."

"So you think baby...but you know I got something up my sleeve", said Carter.

"Carter, just leave me alone please. Stop calling me", I pleaded. "Just stop!"

Everybody in the bar looks at me because of how loud I was.

Dontrell walks over and take the phone.

"Who is this?", asked Dontrell.

"How about you put Brittney back on the phone", said Carter.

"Ay doesn't she have a restraining order against yo ass? You wanna add some more chargers to your name? Don't call this fucking number again, or next time I aint gonna be there to play with yo ass", said Dontrell before hanging up.

I watch Dontrell's demeanor change. He was so upset. That's how I knew he really did care about me...and I'm sitting here lying to him.

"Let's get you a new number alright?", he said in a firm voice because he was still mad.

"Alright", I said quickly.

"because this nigga just don't know when to stop. I'm tired of his shit.", said Dontrell before he hands me my phone and walks back to Mack.

I continue to look at him as he walks away.

I look at my phone for a moment then place it on the table.

TO BE CONTINUED...