Page 100 of A King’s Obsession

“The final ones you sent me. Relax. Ain’t nobody putting a chair somewhere you didn’t want it.” I leaned back, letting her check for herself.

She opened the folder anyway, and I waited while she checked. My wife liked knowing what was happening with her business. Giving her one less thing to do didn’t mean I got to skip telling her.

“He needs my colors,” she said, still looking at the screen.

“That’s what I need from you. Final colors and finishes. You can talk to him yourself before they start.” I watched her scroll through the folder, making sure she was satisfied before I said anything else.

She looked at me for a moment, then closed the laptop.

“Thank you.” Her voice softened, and she gave me a small smile.

I tapped my cheek. “Can I get what I came in here for now?” I leaned toward her, waiting for the kiss she'd denied me at the door.

“You so fucking needy.” She rolled her eyes, but she was already leaning closer.

She leaned over and kissed me anyway. I pulled her closer, letting her settle against my side while I rubbed her stomach.

“Rest tonight,” I told her, pressing a kiss against her temple. “The shop moving. You ain’t gotta finish everything from this couch.”

“Tell your baby that.” She rested her head against my shoulder, finally looking like she might relax.

I smiled, but my phone buzzed in my pocket before I could answer.

E again.

I looked down at Ashlynn. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn’t asleep.

“He better tell her, Malachi,” she murmured, keeping her head against my shoulder.

“I know, man.” I glanced at the phone, already dreading whatever E had to say next.

This nigga better figure his shit out before my wife tells Jru the whole fucking truth herself.

Chapter 21

I came to Westhaven looking for a better life. Somehow, I'd managed to fuck around and end up worse off than I was in Rosemont.

At least back home, I knew what kind of bullshit to expect.

I lay in the middle of a king-sized hotel bed, staring at the ceiling like it had the answers to all my problems. The curtains were pulled shut, but sunlight still managed to sneak through the cracks. My head was pounding, my eyes felt swollen, and the same clothes I'd worn yesterday were twisted around my body.

I'd cried so much last night that I didn't think I had another tear left in me.

My phone had been off since I checked into the hotel. I didn't want to hear from anybody, especially Ezra's lying, married ass.

Married.

That word had been beating my ass since yesterday.

Almost two hundred dollars for one night in a hotel forty minutes outside Westhaven. I'd driven this far hoping Ezra wouldn't think to look for me out here. Knowing his crazy ass, he'd probably have somebody searching every hotel in the city.

Well, good luck, nigga.

I dragged myself out of bed and went into the bathroom. After washing my face, I stood there gripping the sink, staring at my reflection.

"Girl, you look like somebody dug your ass up."

My eyes were puffy, my lips were dry, and my bonnet was halfway off my damn head.