Page 15 of Lemon Drop

I tilted my head to one side. “Hmm. Interesting. I missed the conversation where we discussed that.”

“I tried.”

“When?”

“Every time I asked you to come home a little earlier or when we had plans and the job called. Every damn weekend you spent handling something at that firm.”

I flinched, then shook my head. “Don’t you do that. You work as much as I do. Don’t you blame your cheating on me!”

But he’d seen my little involuntary movement. He stepped closer, thinking he’d found a hint of guilt.

“I was lonely, Topaz. I was in a relationship with a woman who never had time for me.”

I had to hand it to him; he was skilled. He had to be to say those words in a way that didn’t sound like a grown man whining. I held up a hand, keeping space between us as he advanced on me.

“You act like you weren’t working seventy-hour weeks, Adam. You could have just ended it.”

“Why, when I love you?”

The words felt like an insult. I scowled up at him. “You do not get to stand your trifling ass here after I saw your mouth on another woman and lie like you love me.”

“It was just a kiss.”

I slashed a hand in front of my throat. “That’s all I saw. Ain’t no telling what I missed.”

His expression was sorrowful as he reached for me. “I made a mistake.”

“Nah, baby, that’s not a mistake. A mistake is the way you always missing your exits off the freeway. You been seeing her for months,” I reminded him as I shrank against the building, away from his touch.

“I know, and I’m sorry. If you let me explain⁠—”

The door opened behind him. I expected Kiana or Demon to be checking on me. Instead, Saadiq stepped outside. His jacket was buttoned, his dark eyes unreadable as he studied us. His attention settled on me, taking in every inch of my face.

“You okay?” he asked, voice low.

I straightened. “Yeah. You can go back to your dinner.”

I didn’t mean to snap at him, not really. But I already knew what Adam had been hinting at, and despite myself, I was feeling a little guilty and a little resentful of the man who took up so much of my time.

Adam clearly had his own resentment. He snorted as all trace of sadness left his face, replaced with anger. “Of course,” he muttered.

“What the hell that mean?” I demanded.

A bitter chuckle spilled from him. “Why even invite me if you were bringing him? You a fucking hypocrite, Topaz.”

Saadiq’s eyes narrowed. “Watch how you talk to her.”

“I’m talking to my woman,” Adam seethed.

“I’m not your anything,” I corrected.

He ignored that, his attention focused on Saadiq's presence. “He always comes first, huh, Paz? His business. His personal life. Whatever the hell he wants from you on any given day.”

“That’s not true. Even if it were, it wouldn’t excuse what you did,” I spat.

“You sure about that?” Adam challenged. “You want to act all betrayed, but you been having an emotional affair with this nigga our whole relationship.”

The heat of a blush burned my face. “Adam! That is not true,” I reiterated, my voice weak to my own ears as Saadiq eyed me.