Deceitful | Book 3

| T E N |

P R E S E N T

"Baby, what I'm about to tell you, it could either make us or break us and I really want you to understand why I did what I did. I want you to understand that nothing that I did was intended to hurt you." I coached myself as I attempted to tell her everything. Pacing myself as best as I could. But the shit wasn't working. I was nervous as hell that I was going to lose her.

"Bruce, what are you talking about?" She asked me. I could see as anger had filled her eyes and the shit was discouraging. Damn what the fuck did I really do to this woman.

"Tereny, I love you with all of my heart. I promise you this." I tell her as I grab her hand. She hesitated for a little bit but remained calm as I stated in her eyes.

"Bruce, I love you too..."

I sighed and shook my head, not wanting to tell her, but I knew I had to put truth into my relationship. She might not like what I have to say, but it will be enough weight lifted off of my shoulders to change a lot. If it's the good way, or the bad way.

"Baby, you know blood is thicker than water. And you know I would do anything to help out my sister because I love her. She was there for me when no one else was. Just seeing her get her heart broken over and over by this dude that I looked up to, it just did something to me." I tell her, still continuing to pace myself with a bit of fear. "And whatever Cheri would ask me to do, I did it only because I felt obligated. And I'm sure, had it been you and Chavez, you'd do anything to help him. Right?" I ask.

"It depends on what he needs for me to do." She said to me, calmly. I sighed and nodded.

"Baby, Cheri was more hurt than anything and all she really wanted was to fight for her husband. You knew that. Even I did. And I'm not saying that what she did was right, but she did it through pain." Tereny took a deep breath as if she knew what was about to come from my mouth. "Had these things not have happened, I don't think you and I would be together." I admit to her.

I do honestly believe that if I wouldn't have done my part, there wouldn't be a Bruce and Tereny. I don't think I would have gotten a chance to know her like I do now. Not only was I doing things out of love for my sister, but I ended up falling in love with a beautiful woman. A woman that I would have never seen myself with had I not gotten a chance to know her. And I'm thankful every day that I wake up that I got a chance to see Tereny for who she really is. A smart, beautiful, plus size, black woman who deserves the world. And maybe she does deserve more than me, but I don't wanna let her go. I love her too much. And I'd do anything for her.

"And the things that were happening to you around the time you and Cheri were fighting over Martray..." I paused. "I was the one who flattened your tires. I was the one who was texting you from that unknown number. I was the-"

"Wait!" Tereny said as she pulled her hand from my grip. "That was you?!" She screamed.

"Baby, I'm sorry." I tell her. "I didn't realize how bad you were hurt by the situation yourself. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this. I was just doing it out of love for my sister."

"And you had me fooled like you were the one who was saving me!" Tereny screamed as she put Britten down. Britten started to whine from not being in his mother's arms. "You had me believing that you really wanted to be with me?! And you didn't?!" Tereny screamed.

"Tereny, that part is untrue!" I stood to my feet and she pushed me away.

"Get the fuck away from me, Bruce!" Tereny shouted. "And let me guess. That moment Cheri was here when I was here at the house...you set that up too? It was all a setup, wasn't it?" Tereny shouted.