Something New | Taraji x Fantasia

Tell me the Truth: Day 2 (Night)

Taraji POV

I thanked our kitchen staff after they brought out dessert and quite frankly I was content with the meal and didn't want to be rude to the staff. The dessert is set in front of me, but my focus is on the waves hitting the shore. The sound was soothing. I close my eyes and I smell the salt from the seawater.

"Thank you for dinner, it was good." I place my napkin on the table.

"Look at me, baby." Fantasia requested.

Looking into her eyes, her eyes are already looking me over. The desire behind her eyes is evident but I can't find the peace in this situation. I can't help but feel like I have been opening up myself to her and she's withholding. I don't know if it's out of fear or intentional but I can't be the only one giving in this relationship. The luster is slowly disappearing and I'm exhausted.

"I'm looking at you," my statement coming out harsher than I intended.

"Why can't we just have a good night?" She questions me reaching for my hand, I allow it.

"I don't feel like having this conversation again until you're ready to tell me the truth." I remove my hand from hers and cross my arms.

"The truth about what Taraji, Penda, come on." She exasperates my name and pushes her chair out to face me. Her hand moves under my chair pulling the chair so we are face to face.

"Let's lay it out right here so we can enjoy the rest of our trip." She pleads even though I already stated my stipulation.

"Are you ready to tell the truth?" I quizzically replied. 

"Whatever you want us to talk about, I will lay it down right here. Ask away." I follow up on the heels of her last statement.

"When did you start communicating with him again?" The intensity behind my eyes demanded her attention. Just as she proposed to lay it all out, it was exactly what I expected, no more bullshit.

"Taraji, we were not communicating..." she grabs her phone off the table showing me the messages before their meeting. I grab her phone scrolling through the messages.

"What made you change your mind?" I questioned still looking through the messages, her hand gripped my thigh, squeezing it gently and grabbing my chin turning it up from her phone.

"If we are going to talk, I need you to look at me." She intently looks into my eyes individually before focusing on my face, I nod.

"We were together for 8 years, baby. Underneath all the drama he stirred in my life leading up until the divorce and after. I loved him, the keyword "loved". My mind did not change. He caused a lot of trouble, I won't ever deny that. I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him the truth. I've moved on, I'm in love with you, and me and him can never be what we were before. As you can see from our messages, they are one-sided. I didn't respond until it was around our anniversary. He knew it as well and I really wanted to put it to rest, so I could move on. Did I go about it the right way? No and I can admit that I was selfish in my decision. I could not control this man and I did not know he would kiss me. It was careless, me meeting him and hurting you. My actions were selfish and it hurt you. Baby, I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry." I watch her hand move underneath the table and grab something. My eyes shift from her to the object in her hand.

A box. A ring box. My eyes are covered in haze blinking helps clear them.

"What is that Tasia?" I stare at her and then back at the box.

"If I had it my way, I would want to marry you. However, I want this to be my commitment to us and what we have created. You have changed my world Taraji, in ways I would have never expected. I don't ever want to hurt you again."