The Only Exception

16

Jo

My eyes were fixed on the floor as I stood in my kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee with Gil asking me a swarm of questions. "You upset about William?" I shook my head. "You upset about something with politics?" Once again, I shook my head. "Your parents?" That earned him the same shake from last time until he nodded. "That means it's Letoya. What happened?"

I lowered the coffee cup slowly, remembering how many tears I'd shed when I walked back into my office yesterday. My anger and resentment towards myself and my family hit overload as I began yanking every picture down. Gil found me on the ground of my office and brought me home. He spent the night and this morning he wanted to figure out what the hell happened.

Sighing, I looked up at Gil. "She left."

"Left? She voided the contract? Why?"

"She found out about William." I mumbled. "I wasn't there when she found out, I don't even know how she did, but when I got to the office... she was gone."

Gil spoke softly as he pieced it together. "You like her more than you should... You broke the rules of your own damn contract cause none of the other bitches you were tangled up with ever had you in here this dang on depressed."

"She's different and I always thought that after William and I freed ourselves from this fake engagement that I would be single. Everyone loves single black moguls. Then in walked her and my perspective has changed completely. I really want to be with her. More than a contract. More than a platonic relationship. I want something real for once and I want it with her."

My friend nodded. "So what are you gonna do to achieve this want?"

I shrugged. "I don't know Gil. I can't even get her to answer the phone or my texts."

"Not an excuse. If you want something with her, you need to be honest and it needs to be face to face. Nothing else. Maybe you should—."

The ringing of my doorbell cut him off and I knew I wasn't expecting any visitors. Walking to my door, I looked out the peephole and saw Letoya standing there. My eyes went to the mirror to my left as I adjusted my bun before I opened the door.

My breathing hitched at the sight of her.

She didn't even meet eye contact with me as she fumbled with her car keys in her hand. "Jesus I didn't think this through..." She mumbled softly before sighing and speaking up. "I just came to give you your car back."

I shook my head. "I brought it for you. It's yours."

Letoya scoffed softly. "Take the damn keys Jo." She put them in my hand before walking away.

My feet followed her out into the cold, my body only bearing a undershirt and some shorts and slippers. I was freezing, but she wasn't just going to leave. Not again.