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“Don’t you mean the shit you yelled to the whole gotdamn town last night?” she asked him as tears began to cloud her vision. “Hell, even if I had ever even thought about giving you another chance, you fucked that shit up with the way you blasted me last night.”

“Yea,” He shifted his weight to one leg as he mentally beat himself up for what he did. “I fucked up. I apologize, Bleu. You know I would never do shit to intentionally hurt you. I⁠—”

“But you did, Trent,” Bleu cried, then angrily wiped at her tears. “You intentionally hurt me. You exposed one of my deepest, darkest secrets to the world. What the fuck is wrong with you, Trent? Shit, it ain’t like you don’t know what I’ve been through because you were there. You had front-row seats to my pain and humiliation for years. Why do this to me? Why keep adding salt to my wounds? Huh? And just so you know, I got that abortion because your fucking evil-ass mother said that if I tried to carry our baby to term, she would make sure that neither the baby nor I would survive. The only reason I didn't tell my people was because our families had enough bad blood between us. So you fucking owe me. I deserve to be happy.”

Trent stood there in shock for a few minutes, rubbing the back of his head as he processed what she said. Bleu could tell the very second that the news broke his heart, which is why she never told him. “Did my mother really say that to you, Bleu?” he asked, pain and sadness now blanketing his face.

“Yes,” She nodded as she closed her eyes to the painful memories. “She did. She’d been trailing me when I went to the Pleasureville Medical Center that day and approached me just as I left the doctor's office. She said she could tell I was getting fat and that she knew that I was carrying your child. She then went on to tell me that she would make sure that neither of us would survive the next few months if I didn’t immediately terminate the pregnancy.”

“Gotdamn it, Bleu, why would you just now tell me this?” he asked as she began to pace. His frustration was growing with every step. “I could’ve talked to her and gotten her to see reason. “I could’ve explained to her how happy I was with you, how I wanted to be with you and marry you.”

She sighed as she nodded, then said, “No, you couldn’t, Trent. Jillian didn’t and still doesn’t like me. And I didn’t tell you because you love your mother. You’re a momma’s boy through and through. You adore the ground she walks on, and I never wanted to come in between y’all’s relationship. Regardless of how she treats me, your mother loves you and Cassie with all her heart. I never got to experience that because my mother didn’t love me enough not to leave me behind. As much as it hurt, whatever Jillian’s reason was for threatening me, I believed it was to protect you from whatever she thought I’d do to you.”

“You still should’ve told me, Bleu. You still should’ve fucking told me,” Yelling, Trent approached her. His remorseful orbs met hers. “You should’ve told me. His tone was much lower the second time as he went back to pacing.” He looked so torn and broken.

“Maybe I should have, but I didn’t think it would’ve made any difference. The only thing your mother would accept was me leaving you alone. Which I eventually did. We were doomed from the start, Trent. And I’m sorry that I kept allowing us to have sex off and on for so long after we’d broken up because I think it only gave you hope when I knew we were never getting back together. I care about you, and I’ll always remember the good times we had, but we weren’t meant to be. Please don’t stand in the way of my happiness. I’m sorry if I sound selfish, but⁠—”

“No, you’re right,” Nodding, he approached her, pulled her hands into his, and placed a kiss on the back of each of them. “You’re right about everything. And I won’t stand in the way. You do deserve to be happy, and as much as I have always wanted to be the man to provide you with more happiness than your hands can hold in this lifetime and the next, I’m gonna take my broken heart and step aside. Just promise me that you won’t let that nigga disrespect or mistreat you.”

“Of course,” she smiled, “You know I ain’t taking no bullshit. A nigga gonna come correct with me, or he’s gonna get put down.”

“That’s wassup; stay that way, and you bet not ever change.” Trent released her hands and slid his into his pockets.

“Please,” Bleu chuckled, “There is absolutely no reason to mess with perfection.”

“True,” Trent nodded as he flashed her that beautiful smile of his. “Take care, Bleu Belle. Experiencing you has been a pleasure I’ll never forget.”

“Same Trent. Have a good life.”

“You too.” With a small smile, Trent placed a kiss on her forehead and whispered goodbye before he descended the porch stairs and headed for his ride.

Bleu waved as he drove away before she headed back inside. Though she was happy and relieved that he finally got the picture, she sent up a quick prayer for Trent to find love before she went on about her day. After making a few important phone calls, Bleu got ready for work. The sound of her stomach growling as she slipped into her shoes immediately caused her to wonder what happened with Trey and her breakfast.

The man had completely spoiled her with the way he’d been catering to her. Bleu never knew just how much she needed and appreciated how he doted on her and encouraged her soft girl era. Trey was making it hard for her not to fall for him.

A grin settled on her lips as she looped her purse and work bag over her arm and headed out the door. Stepping out onto the porch, her smile widened when she noticed a clear lunch tote with her breakfast, a smoothie in her favorite purple tumbler on one of her porch chairs, and a note taped to the side.

Had an emergency at work. Had to run. See you later.

After making a mental note to text him as soon as she’d settled in at work, Bleu hopped into her ride and headed to work with “I’ll Kill You” by Summer Walker and Jhene Aiko, setting the mood for her day. Bleu’s two favorite singers had her thinking more and more about just coming clean about how she was feeling for Trey. Right now she was so open and just ready to love. She was nervous as fuck and feared walkin’ around with another broken heart, but if she was going to step out on faith and jump while holding anyone’s hand, Trey was definitely that man.

Fifteen minutes later, Bleu was heading into work and making her way to her office as she greeted her staff and customers. After breakfast, Bleu added a few tasks to her secretary Collette’s daily to-do list. She spent nearly three hours finalizing the Pleasureville Gazette, then entered the new inventory into the system and contacted authors for the big literary event. Once she was done with all that, she headed out onto the floor to help with the afternoon rush when she realized Trey had never returned her call.

Which was unusual since they had practically been inseparable these last few weeks. After calling him and receiving no answer, Bleu sent him a text before she tossed her phone into her desk drawer and made her way to the floor. Bleu was the kind of boss who got down and dirty right with her employees. She didn’t believe in just barking orders all day and standing over people while they worked. She led by example and trusted her employees to do their jobs until they gave her a reason not to. She immediately began putting away inventory and organizing the shelves when a woman walked in and approached her.

“Excuse me,” the thick redbone with long bundles and bangs asked. “I wonder if you could help me find a few books?”

“Sure,” Bleu flashed her a warm smile as she moved over from blocking the middle of the aisle. “What is it that you need help finding?”

“Anything by authors Nastee, Shon, Monica Walters. And do you have special gift bags or anything for special occasions? I’m in town to surprise an old friend. Well, an ex-boyfriend, really,” She shrugged with a small smile. “And he loves to read and has so many favorite black authors that I can’t even keep up. He prefers autographed copies, but since this is last minute, I’m trying to surprise him and make the moment extra special. Trey is a really good man who deserves random acts of love like this, so I just want to go all out for him. You understand, don't you, or do you think I’m crazy?”

“Oh, uh, yes, I understand,” Bleu said, trying not to react to the shit she’d just heard. She prayed her pain didn’t show through her smile, just how hurt she was at hearing the news that another woman was here to claim the man she wanted. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re very brave to go after the man you want. I truly hope everything works out and that he appreciates your efforts. We have several books by the authors you want, and we do offer special gift bags and gift wrapping for an additional fee. Follow me right this way, and we’ll get you those books.”

“Great, thanks so much for all of your help; I’m Madison, by the way,” The woman offered up her name as she followed Bleu onto the elevator and up to the adult fiction book section. “I just hope I’m making the right decision and that he hasn’t found anybody new. He doesn’t know I’m coming. I’m terrified too, but if you don’t step out on faith and jump, what’s the use of living, right?”

“Exactly, you’re so right,” Bleu agreed with a wide smile even though she was cringing on the inside. This shit was torture unlike any she’d ever felt before. “Okay, so here we are, Madison. You'll find everything you’re looking for right here in this area.” Bleu explained, pointing toward the wall behind her. “If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of the other associates for help.”

“I’ll make sure I do that. Thanks again for helping me,” Madison gushed with an infectious smile.