Page 22 of Nothing Like Your Ex

“So that means the majority of my clientele is here. My team is here, and so is my life!” she snapped.

“C’mon, Kwinn. You can do interior design anywhere.”

“Well, that’s not how my business works. You’d know that if you gave a fuck about it or me, but let’s not focus on that.”

Jabari scoffed, hating to hear the truth. “Look, I ain’t about to argue with you. You’re making this more complicated than it gotta be.”

“No, I’m not. I’m actually thinking about myself for once.”

Jabari glanced her way, annoyed that he was still driving and having this conversation. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m not uprooting my entire life for a man who hasn’t been present in a relationship we’ve been in for who knows how long.”

“So, what you gon’ do? Stay here?”

“I sure am,” Kwinn answered without hesitation.

Speechless by the way she was acting, Jabari said nothing. The last thing he expected from Kwinn was for her to want to stay in KC.

“I have too much established here to just pack everything up,” Kwinn added when he didn’t respond.

Jabari cleared his throat. “So, that’s it?”

“No. Maybe we can try long distance.”

Her suggestion disgusted him, making his top lip curl. “Long distance?”

“Yes. People do it all the time.”

“Hell no,” Jabari said vehemently.

“Why not? We haven’t even given it a try.”

“Because that ain’t how relationships work. That ain’t how our shit is supposed to go,” Jabari said, making Kwinn chuckle.

She didn’t mean to but hearing him be so passionate about the long-distance thing was pretty comical, considering the in-distance one wasn’t working quite well either.

“It’s still a relationship if both people actually make an effort,” Kwinn said.

He glanced at her. “And you think distance is what we need right now?”

“I think it’s worth trying before I throw away everything I’ve built.” Kwinn shrugged, still not budging. “I know you can understand where I’m coming from.”

“I do… I’m trying to at least. But where is all this coming from?” Jabari asked just as her phone rang.

Glancing at the screen, Kwinn saw it was one of her homegirls hitting her up. Sasha was another WAG and someone she’d formed a relationship with over the years.

Grateful for the interruption, Kwinn answered her call. “Hey, girl.”

“Hey, babe! How have you been?” Sasha asked.

“I’ve been good. How are you? How’s the new house in Miami treating you?”

“Girl, it’s absolutely beautiful. The kids love it, and I do too, but it needs your touch.”

Kwinn smiled. “You should’ve called me. You know I don’t mind catching a flight, especially if we’re going shopping.”

“That’s actually why I’m calling. Something kept telling me to reach out to you, but we’ve been so busy with the move and all. Chris loves it here.”