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“Yeah,” I answered, forcing those thoughts aside. “Just thinking about how much stuff I gotta move.”

“Man, you’on gotta do shit. I’ll get somebody to do that shit while you’re at work,” he assured me.

“My lease ain’t up for another couple months,” I explained.

“I’ll pay that shit so you won’t have to worry about it.”

He kissed my forehead and turned his attention back to the television while I settled against his chest. I loved Tae, and moving in with him was exactly what I wanted. I just hated that I was keeping this from him.

A few minutes later, my phone rang on the nightstand. One look at the unsaved number had me declining the call.

“Who that?” Tae asked.

“Nobody,” I replied.

Not even a minute later, another notification came through.

Stop ignoring me, Gabriana. We need to talk.

I cleared it, but when I looked up, Tae was watching me.

“Gabi, who the fuck keeps blowing your phone up?” He questioned.

“It’s nobody, Tae. I just don’t feel like being bothered,” I answered.

He sat up and looked at me.

“Look, don’t make me knock your head between this fucking headboard and mattress behind no sneaky pussy shit,” he warned. “You still leaking my nut, and somebody’s blowing your phone up while you’re acting like you can’t tell me who the fuck it is.”

“Nigga, are you tryna call me a hoe?” I snapped.

“Nah… I’m not, but you’re displaying hoe behavior,” he countered. “I’on do that sneaky pussy shit, Gabi, and you know that.”

Taking a deep breath, I had to reel my attitude back in. Tae hadn’t done anything and he wasn’t wrong in what he was feeling.

“I just don’t wanna be bothered tonight… that’s all,” I lied.

“Aight, then. Just don’t have me finding out no bullshit later,” he replied, picking up the remote.

I shook my head and settled back against the pillows. Tae didn’t say anything else, but I knew he wasn’t satisfied with my answer.

Kentrell and I had gotten married eight years ago, right before he went to prison. There was never any love between us. He’d convinced me to marry him to keep me from testifying against him, and I’d been young and foolish enough to agree. Once he was locked up, I moved on with my life, never bothering to file for divorce.

He wasn’t supposed to be getting out for another two years, but now that he was free, the nigga wouldn’t leave me alone. I hadn’t told Tae about the marriage because I’d never expected our relationship to become this serious. Now I’d agreed to move in with him, knowing damn well I was still legally somebody else’s wife.

I glanced at Tae, who was watching television like nothing had happened. He had every reason to be suspicious, and knowing his temper, finding out I was married wasn’t going to go over well.

With Kentrell refusing to leave me alone, I knew I needed to tell Tae the truth before this shit got out of control.

Chapter Eight

Khatori

“Joni, move,” I whined as I tried to wiggle out of my husband’s grasp. I was failing miserably, but I had to say strong.

“Why you tryna deny me, mama?” He asked as he hovered over me.

“We have a doctor’s appointment, remember?”