Never Meant to (Book one of series)

Bonus Chapter Part Two

Trouble

It was stupid to be here. Ace brings me a plate of some leftover food he had last night. Then sits in the couch and turns on the tv. The entire time I'm eating I don't turn my eyes away from him.

It's pathetic. Being here, lingering around like some stray cat. It's like when I try to leave he doesn't really want me too, but that's not fair.

Something happens on tv and he smiles, then I smile. He shifts his attention to me. "How is the ribs?"

"Good, I taught you well." I wipe my mouth with the paper towel.

"Taught me? You couldn't touch me on that grill."

"Ace be fuckin fa real. Yo ass couldn't cook noodles." We started cracking up.

"Got me fucked up."

"I look at my phone. I need to go then, it's late. Gotta be at work early." I stand up and he takes my plate for me. I follow him into the kitchen to wash my hands.

"Are you sure you was able to get everything?" See, doesn't want me to leave. Strange, when he had all of me.

"If not just toss it." I shake most of the water off my hands but he rips a couple sheets of paper towels and hand them to me.

"Thanks." I dry off my hands.

He just nods, leaning his back against the Island.

"What's up Ba-Ace, I meant Ace. Something on yo mind?"

"No, just trying to let this whole situation sink in."

I walk closer to him. "Me too. Not like I have a choice."

"Do we stop calling and texting?"

"I think we should." It hurts but I can't just be friends.

"Can we at least check in?" He reached for my hand and I'm hesitant but I open my hand so our fingers can interlace.

"How we going to move on if we worried about what one another doing? You chose him Ace." I pull his face towards me. "You gotta live with that."

"I know and I'm not saying I regret it, I just still do love you and would like to check in here and there."

I push off the Island to stand in front of him, looking down into his eyes. "Ace do you get that you broke my heart? It's difficult even standing in front of you right now. I was sure I hated you but," I cup his face. "You make that shit impossible."

"I know I hurt you."

"I can tell you right now, nothing good will come from y'all being together but that's what you want. You folded, just from being away from me for one day...I had to hear you and him-" I take a deep breath. "I heard y'all fuckin."

He lowers his eyes. "You right, my ass don't deserve to be able to contact you."

"No, you don't." I step back. "I really loved you."

"I know."

"No, you don't." I feel my emotions kicking in. "There's not a corner of this earth I wouldn't have travel for you. I would have ripped my own heart out my chest if it meant you being happy."

Tears roll down his cheeks. "Trouble,"

"But you knew that." I smile as my lips tremble, my heart rate is speeding up. The tears want badly to escape. "Just like you knew no matter what you did to me, I would always want you. You played me Ace."

"No, I did want you. I really did but with Zhi it's just-"

"Pain. A fucking joke, because we all know he doesn't take anything or anybody seriously but you still want him. But that's my problem, always putting niggas on pedestals, while I stay on the ground."