Christian's POV

A few days after that stupid dinner, I was in my kitchen making lunch and my doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I wiped my hands off with a towel and went to the door. I could see there was a man standing there but no one else and like I said, I wasn't expecting any company so I cautiously walked to the door.

When I got there, I slowly cracked the door open to see who it was, and to my surprise it was Drake.

"How do you know where I live?" I ask, answering the door.

"I know everything. What's up?" He says

"Fuck you mean, what's up?" I open my door all the way.

He laughs. "I just mean what's up? What's going on?"

"What are you here for?" I ask, irritated. I know this man ain't coming to my house just to say what's up. He's weird.

"I just came to talk. Can I come in?" He doesn't even give me a chance to answer his question before he steps foot in my house.

"I didn't say you can come in."

"Would you rather your house be photographed and me standing outside for the world to see? You're gonna have a lot more people showing up ringing your doorbell and asking questions."

"Whatever." I close the door behind him.

"This is nice." he says looking around. "Kinda small..." he turns around and looks at me. "But a lot of things are smaller in person."

"What do you need to talk about?"

He walks into my living room and takes a seat in the middle of my sofa. He stretches his arms out along the back like he's at home. He starts looking around.

"What is it?" I ask. I'm getting irritated as hell.

"How's things going with my wife?" He asks. "She has super powers on her knees don't she?" He laughs.

"Say some bullshit like that again about her. You won't make it out of here alive. Don't disrespect your wife like that."

"She's yours too." He laughs

"Don't disrespect her like that again. I think you got things a little twisted. I don't hang out with her like you think I do. We don't have some romantic relationship, nor are we seeing each other. We're not having sex. We're not going on dates. We barely talk on the phone. It's not like that."

"Yeah, right." He says

"She tried to tell you that when we were at dinner, but you refused to let her talk." I say. "And speaking of that day, I want to talk about that..."

He scuffs. "What the hell do you have to say to me about my wife?"

"I didn't  like how you treated her at the dinner. You embarrassed the shit out of her while you two were out in public. You can't keep that shit behind closed doors? I'm not saying you can do it at all, but doing that shit in front of me was a bad move. That is my friend and she's been my friend since childhood and I don't appreciate you treating her like that."

"Really? What are you going to do? Beat me up? I can do what I want to do, say what I want to say, and she ain't gone do anything about it." He says

"Wow. You're trying to fight a divorce and this is the bullshit you're spitting right now? I'll be sure to relay the message. And yeah, I'll beat yo ass. Just because I'm a neurologist doesn't mean I don't get down like that. I'm from Chicago."

He laughs, "You ain't gon do shit, and she ain't going through with it."

"You think so? You know, I got somebody for you. And if you know so much about her past, you know she got somebody for you too. I don't think you should keep trying your luck. You're in denial, talking about she's not gonna go through with the divorce. I think she's further along than you think she is." I say

"I know what I have to do to keep prolonging this. Don't worry about me.  Anyway, I'm bored." He says looking around again, like he's looking for something. I see his eyes settle on Shawnie's Tiffany & Co. bracelet.

"I want to be clear with you. You're not as in as you think you are. You got too much confidence for somebody that's hanging on by a thread. All I have to do is tell her that I want to be back with her and she'll kick your ass to the curb a second."

He laughs, "Sure."

"You wanna try it?" I challenge him.

"I think you should choose better words. I know my wife and I don't think she'll like you saying something like that." He says

"I know her way better than you would ever know her. Let's not forget, she married you because you reminded her of me. You walking around here like you hold all the fucking cards, but in reality, I can shut all of this shit down. You know it, I know it, and she knows it. Your time is already limited, I can cut that shit off right now." I say

"That's cute. You got your little muscles, bulking up and shit." he laughs and shakes his head. "Aight. I'll see you in another couple of weeks." He says

"For what?"

"I'm doing bi weekly visits when I'm available. I have to keep this under control." He says

"No the fuck you not. You ain't about to be popping up over at my house like I'm your fucking girlfriend. You are not welcome here and if you come to my house again, I'm calling the police."

He laughs, "We'll see. Have a good night, Mr. Middlebrooks."

He doesn't say anything else, he just leaves the house. I stand at the door as he drives off, and I just shake my head. I hear something behind me and I turn around.

"He knows you're here." I say

"I don't think so. He wouldn't have left."

"He didn't come here to get you. He came here to scope out the place and to see what my reaction was gonna be. He knows you're here. This motherfucker is very calculated, and I am very surprised you haven't noticed that yet. He doesn't just move to be moving. He moves with a purpose. All of these games that he's playing with you, he knows exactly what he's going to get. He looked directly at your Tiffany bracelet on the end table over there and said nothing." I explain

"Shit. He bought that for me when we first got together. It has custom emeralds in it. Damnit."

"You need to make some hard decisions and you need to do it fast. I know he's gonna come back here. That bitch is gonna get his ass beat if he steps foot in my house again. Nah, if he rang my doorbell, I'm beating his ass on sight." I say

"You can't do that." She says

"I have no respect for that motherfucker. None. And if you think you're gonna stand over there and tell me that I need to respect him because he's your husband, you can get out too." I say instantly pissed off.

"Whoa! I'm not saying that Christian. I'm just saying that you saying little things like that, especially publicly, have a big impact when you're dealing with someone like him. I'm not saying you need to respect him. What fucking reason would you have to? I don't care about that part. I just want you to be cautious when dealing with him." She explains

"I swear we had this conversation when we were in college about Marcel. I could be wrong, but it's eerily similar. You're in the same fucking situation. Do you not see that?"

"There are similarities." She says

"No, this is the same situation, you're just dealing with somebody that's a whole lot bigger and better than Marcel was. I'm not walking away this time. I don't give a fuck who he is. I'm not walking away from you because I did that the first time, and that was a mistake. That motherfucker thinks it's okay for him to just walk into my house like he owns this bitch. I'm not scared of him and I don't want you to be either, but you need to be on high alert."

"I'm just trying to ride this out. I'll be able to be away from him and not have to deal with him all the time. I want to divorce him. Once I do all of the divorce stuff, we'll have a custody agreement in place, and if he breaks that he'll have to deal with it legally. I'm just trying to keep him as calm as possible. I'm trying to stay as reasonable as possible and if he's doing bullshit, I'm just trying to let it go as best as I can because once I get everything legalized, everything will be cool. At least if everything is legally done the right way he can't try to fight it. Right now, he can fight everything so I just want to make sure everything goes as planned. He's fucking with me on purpose and you know he's fucking with you just to get under your skin. He wants you to do something. That's how Aubrey is, he antagonizes you until you react, and then he will publicly embarrass you and make you look like shit."

"I understand but I don't like this shit. I don't like that you have to deal with this shit all over again. It's kinda breaking my heart. I just want to take you out of all of this." I say

"I don't like it either but what am I gonna do? I'm here."

"Yeah, I know.  But you got me this time around and I'm not going anywhere." I say

"I'm happy you're here." She smiles. "But don't be making comments like you did earlier. I didn't like that."

"He was kissing me off. I'm sorry." I say and I step closer to her.

"Please, no, Christian." She holds her  hands out, trying to keep me at arms length.

I laugh, "What?"

"You be trying to tempt me on purpose. We're friends and I want to keep it that way. I don't wanna make any mistakes."

"I just want a hug." I laugh

"Nope."

"Aight." I drop my arms.

"Did you forget about your fiancé?" She asks

"Nah..."

"Have you even talked to her today? I haven't seen you on your phone not one time, and I've been over here for a few hours."

"No, I haven't. I'm fucking up." I laugh. "I'll shoot her a text in a minute. She should be getting off work soon."

"Well, damn. Nothing is going on between us but you're damn sure making it seem like it is. Go call your damn fiancé. If it was me, I would be popping up on your ass." She says

I just laugh it off. Truth is, I care about Shawnie a lot and no, I'm not necessarily trying to get back with her but I keep entertaining the idea in my head. I think I would love to finish what we started. I would love to see what we could actually be, but I know if things are meant to be then they will be.

I love Shelby, but if I'm being honest and laying everything out on the table right now, I love Shawnie a lot more than I've ever loved any woman in my life. Maybe I'm just stuck on the fantasy of what we had and yeah I could be living in the past, but it seems that we both have been holding on to each other because we feel like it's unfinished. But if she wants to keep things friendly, we can do that. I'm just happy to have her back in my life again.

"Yeah that's because you're crazy jealous now. You didn't used to be like that. You could care less. And you damn sure wouldn't be dealing with this shit?

"I know—It's just been a lot of shit that's happened. I don't know. I—."

"You're a lot stronger than this and the person that I used to know would not have taken this shit. I'm gonna need you to find that confidence that you used to have. The girl that didn't take no shit from nobody, because this person standing in front of me is not that woman. You know I know the real you. Not this celebrity. The you before all of this." I say

"I know—I just—I don't know."

"Well talk to me. Let's figure this out." I take her hand and walk her over to the sofa so we can sit down.

"It seems like after my mom, I just lost everything. I originally got with Marcel because he had more time for me, but that was just the wrong decision. And I know, I know I'm going through this all over again. I made the wrong decision again. But to be honest with you, I don't feel like I made the wrong decision when it came to Chris as well. That wasn't the best situation either. I just keep making the wrong decisions when it comes to a man and I don't know how to fix it. It's like I get with a good guy, but it seems like someone better comes along and I am changing my mind on everything I said I would do. I should've just stayed with you and none of this would've happened. But I take responsibility and accountability for everything. It was all me from the beginning because I wanted more attention."

"Basically, it seems like you're punishing yourself from what you did to me." I say, "I don't know why but I need you to let that go. You're not in love with him, you're in love with the idea of him. We both know that. I'm gonna play my part but end that shit. You have me now and I might not be romantically, but I'm back in your life. That should fill some type of void in you." I say

"I can't just end it like that, there is a process. That's my husband."

"I'M your husband." I say and she just looks at me.........then she smiles.

"Exactly. And Chris is cool but what's up with him too...Shawnie, come on.."

"I know. Chris wasn't even the type of guy that I would go for. I didn't even like him like that at first. You know my type." She says

"Yeah, me." I laugh

"Yes you. I love him to death now but he knew what happened in the beginning of us getting together. You guys are all my type looks wise. Other than the physical part, you're so smart, Christian. I loved that about you. I love someone that I can learn from. It's such a turn on. I love someone who likes to stay home with me. You know I never like to go out like that. Anytime I went out is because Cassidy or Mercedes basically begged me to go. I love someone who wants to go on simple little romantic dates. I like simple shit. I've never liked all of the attention that I have gotten since I've met Chris. I hate it. I've always said I wanted a simple life. When you and I planned to move here and start our careers and start a family, that was the idea I had in my head. That was engraved in my head. So when I got with Chris, all of that changed, I was constantly trying to make it happen. But everything that I wanted, like ever, went directly out of the window. Nothing I wanted for myself was what I had. Now, I'm not even able to get that at all because I had a kid with this man. I had another kid with someone of the same status if not more. I'll never be able to live the life I want to live."

"You can have it. You just need to take a step back and assess the situation. Go back to Chicago, live there in your bubble... you'll get back to what you want." I say

"That's what I've been doing here in San Diego. I love being away from everything and everyone. People know me, but they're not invasive. I love to just be out and do the simple things. It makes me happy." She says. I can tell that the situation really bothered her but it also seems like she's finding her way again. I've only been back in her life for a week, but I know my girl.

"Yeah, but don't take the Chicago comment too seriously. I don't want you to move back there because I'm here, and although we're keeping things friendly, I do have it in the back of my mind that maybe something might happen. I'm not banking on it, but my mind keeps telling me that I need to see this through. So I'm just letting you know now, I'm gonna wanna help myself sooner or later." I laugh

She hits me on my arm.

"I'm serious. I would make some serious sacrifices for your happiness. I will sacrifice everything for you. I know it sounds crazy but I really would." I say

She smiles. "I need time, and a lot of it. I don't wanna jump into anything. I have years of shit that I need to heal from that. You being one of them." She says

"I can help you with that."

"Yeah, I know but I gotta friendzone you for right now. It's not that I don't have the same thoughts because I do, but I just think it's healthier for me to just be by myself and focus on my kids for a while. I got a lot of shit that's about to go down with this divorce, and I don't want to give him any ammo. He already thinks I'm going behind his back and cheating on him with everybody. I just don't wanna add to it." She says

"I get that, but you're procrastinating as well. I don't know why you're holding onto something that you've already made your mind up on but I hope that you can get through everything and get everything you want because I don't like to see you like this."

"Just like I told Chris, just let me do this.."

"Okay, but I still feel how I feel." I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. "Shawnie?"

She looks at me.

"Leave him." I say

"Christian, what did I just say?" She gets irritated.

"I know but I feel we will be together in the future. Gather the strength and do it." I say

She stares at me for a few seconds.

"Christian, I can't keep chasing this childhood fantasy. You and I won't work. We're only friends. Okay?" She snaps

"Um...childhood? We were in college. Where did this come from?" I ask shocked and confused.

We hear a knock on the door.

"Hold on." I get up to answer my door. I see I'm popular today. Everyone is coming over.

I get to the door and I see a woman, with blonde hair. Shit, it's Shelby. She's about to kill me. I haven't talked to her all day and it wasn't intentional. It was just that my attention was someplace else...On Shawnie.

I slowly open the door. "Why haven't I talked to you all day? What the fuck is going on?" She says, accent super thick. She gets like that when she's mad. "I got off work and came here. Are your hands broken? You can't pick up the phone? Why haven't you called?" She says, stepping into my house.

"Why did you ring the doorbell when you had keys?" I look at her confused. And I had to say something to play it off.

"What. The fuck. Are. You. Doing." She starts walking towards the living room.

"Listen, I just got back in contact with—."

She stops in her tracks. "Shawnie." She finishes my sentence. She turns to me. "I'm not doing this." She says then takes off her ring.

"Huh?" I look at her confused. "Why are you giving me your ring back? Did I miss something?"

She turns to walk away.

"Wait!" Shawnie says

Shelby turns around to look at her. "What? You wanna rub it in my face that you stole my fiancé?"

"It's not like that, Shel." I say

"No, we're only friends." Shawnie says

"For now." She says, then laughs but I know she's not laughing because this is funny. "I can't compete with you. You're—. I don't even know, I won't play this game though."

"No—Shelby, stop." Shawnie says. "You have this all wrong."

"No! You stop. You know who came into the hospital today?" She asks

"Who?"

"Drake. He came looking for me. ME!"

"What? He went to the hospital? What did he say?" I ask

"He told me how you were messing around with her and that you guys have an agreement."

"What?" Shawnie laughs. "No. Shelby, I promise we're just friends. Aubrey is just making up things because he's upset with me. Please, put your ring back on."

"No, cuz what the hell did I walk into?" She asks

"Nothing. We were sitting on the sofa talking, fully clothed. Shelby calm down." I say looking at her like she's crazy. "Shelby, you don't act like this. What is really going on?"

"I know you're not telling me to calm down? You're here with the love of your life. You haven't talked to me all day and you're telling me to come down? So I should just be completely cool with this like Drake is right? Are you serious?"

Shawnie walks over to us, she takes Shelby's engagement out of my hand and puts it back on her finger. "Look at me. He loves you. Please don't make an emotional decision like this because my husband is upset with me. There is nothing going on between us. We were simply talking. We were talking about my marriage. Please. I'll leave. Just don't leave him." She eyes me, telling me to keep things this way.

Crazy how I can still read her eyes.

She steps back and gathers her things. Grabbing her bracelet, purse, keys and phone, then she leaves without saying anything else.

Shawnie's POV

After I left Christian's house I got in a car and I drove down the street. I was in the truck so it wasn't anything flashy and I just pulled into a restaurant parking lot and parked. I sent Joe a quick text telling him I was on my way home, and then I just sat there for a few seconds reflecting on what just happened

I cannot believe this shit just happened. It seems like every time I talk to somebody. I'm just automatically wrong for doing so. I tried to keep everything between Christian and I friendly. I don't wanna get back with him. I'm completely happy with being friends with him. I don't want to mess up his relationship. I would say she seems nice but I really can't make that call. She probably hates me now and will never be friends. I just don't want to mess up anything he has going on in his life.

Aubrey has stepped way out of line. The last couple of interactions I've had with him. Going to the hospital was unacceptable. He could've got that woman fired. I can't believe he did that. I'm gonna call him and go off.

I pick up my phone and I call him. He answers after the fourth rain. I'm sure he was just staring at the screen, making me wait on purpose.

"Hello?" He answers

"YOU WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE HIS FIANCÉ?" I yell into the phone.

He laughs. "Did you think this would be easy? I'm not going to willingly give you to someone else like that."

"Aubrey, don't start shit like this. They didn't do anything to you." I say. "You could've gotten her fired."

"I don't give a fuck about them people. Fuck them. I need you to come home." He says

"No." I say.

"Well, sit and wait for my next move."

"Why can't you just let me have this time." I ask

"Because you're fucking around on me with him. You've been sitting in San Diego all that time. For what? You ain't doing nothing down there, but living your best life while I'm up here, taking care of our son, in a place that I don't wanna be. I wanna go home to Canada. I don't want to be in California anymore."

"No, I'm not coming home. I am taking a break from you because I need to." I say irritated.

"Why were you over there earlier?"

"Because we were talking." I say

"Did you have sex with him?"

"No."

"If you giving my pussy away..."

I cut him off, "Are you seriously having this conversation with me right now? You have been fucking around on me for I don't know how long."

"I haven't been fucking anybody. Do I get my dick sucked? Yes. I'm not out here fucking everybody. You're the only woman I care about. You're the only one that got me all his stocking her ass. I don't give a fuck about none of these holes. You're the only one I want to be with." He says

"You say that like it's a good thing. I know you're having sex with other women. It may not be a bunch of them but I know you are. And having your dick sucked by anyone other than me is still cheating. Goodbye, Aubrey."

I end the call.

There is something seriously wrong with him.

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