Watch & Learn: Book II

Chapter Twenty-Two: Selfish [Part II]

Teddy

"In all honesty... I don't think I'm willing to compromise. I love her but I don't think her and I were ready for any of this. Crystal and I have different wants in life. We don't need to be together." I told them as both of their jaws dropped.

"You know what Teddy, I'm done with this conversation." Candace said before turning her attention back to the food that she was cooking. "You're officially dumbass of the year."

"Look, I'm just being honest. I didn't say I was gonna divorce her but that's just my thought on it." I shrugged in defense. "Like you said, Crystal has goals and dreams so without me, that can be fulfilled."

"Or you can just be a real husband and support her. It's not hard at all." Candace retorted before putting some food in the oven. "You just want to be single. You'll use anything as an excuse to not do what you're supposed to do in your marriage. She doesn't want anymore kids and now all of a sudden you don't think you two need to be together. You're so selfish. The moment Crystal wants to show attention to something else other than you, you start talking and acting crazy. Leave then Teddy since that's what you want so bad."

"Imma be straight up with you bro." Rome intruded as he took a seat beside me. "You're not gonna find anybody who'll hold you down better than Crystal. Even after all that you two have been through together, she still stayed. I feel like you're so used to having a bunch of meaningless females around that you don't know what to do with a good one. Trust me, I was the same way at one point. Don't hurt her though. I know she's the one for you. She's the only one who truly knows you. I wouldn't be saying none of this if I didn't believe that Crystal is the one for you."

"I want you two to hear me out please." I started. "I've been doing a lot of thinking after my conversation with Crystal earlier. She says she wants to focus on herself and her career. That's really fine with me, I support that completely. The problem is that her career would require a lot of traveling, as does mine. Both spouses can't be traveling all of the time because that would mean that we wouldn't have time to see each other or even have time for family. That's not cool to me. I have love for her and I always will. I support her career and what she does but marriage will really be unrealistic for us. Our loyalty will be tested. Our patience will be tested. Our commitment will be tested. I'm not saying that she won't be able to do it but I'm honestly not sure about myself. I hate to admit it but that's how I'm feeling."

"Some people aren't built for it and if you don't think that you are then I can't try to convince you. Do what you feel will be best for you." Rome told me as I nodded my head.

"I'm about to head back to the house. I'll see y'all later." I told them before getting up and walking out of the house.

The entire ride home, I kept thinking about what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. Crystal means a lot to me but I can't see myself hurting her. I'd rather us coparent and keep a tight bond than to stay together and possibly risk hurting each other in some way. Getting out of the car, I locked the doors before heading inside of the house. Hearing commotion come from upstairs, I knew that Crystal was probably up there. After heading up the stairs and going inside of the bedroom, I found Crystal in the closet trying to reach a shoe box from the top shelf.

"I got it." I told her before reaching the get the box for her.

"Thank you." Crystal lightly smiled before taking the box out of my hand.