“There it is.”
“I’m not blaming you.”
“You’re getting close.”
“I was lonely.”
“Then tell me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Many times.”
“You told me you wanted more dates. I planned dates.”
“That’s not the same.”
“You told me I worked too much. I turned down Saturday work.”
“After months.”
Darius nodded.
“Okay.”
He forced himself to calm down.
“Maybe I was a bad partner in some ways.”
Simone looked surprised.
“I will own that.”
He pointed between them.
“But our problems belonged to both of us.”
Then toward her phone.
“Devon belonged to you.”
Simone lowered her head.
Darius continued.
“So what exactly did Devon think?”
She hesitated.
“That we were staying together until the lease and wedding finances were sorted.”
Darius stared at her in disbelief.
“This is my house.”
“I know.”
“You told another man I was basically your ex-roommate?”
“Not exactly.”
“What exactly?”
Simone closed her eyes.
“That our engagement was ending.”
Darius stood again.
“I need you to leave.”
She looked up.
“Darius.”
“Tonight.”
“Please.”
“I cannot look at you right now.”
“This is my home too.”
Darius stopped.
Legally, she was right about residency.
Emotionally, he could not handle the argument.
“Fine.”
He grabbed his keys.
Simone stood.
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can we finish talking?”
Darius looked at her.
“You’ve had six months of conversations I wasn’t invited to.”
Her face crumpled.
“I need one night where I don’t have to hear your version.”
He walked toward the door.
Simone followed.
“Darius.”
His hand reached the knob.
“I’m sorry.”
He stopped.
For one second, she thought he might turn around.
He did.
His eyes were wet.
That hurt her more than anger would have.
“I asked you for one thing.”
She knew exactly what he meant.
Years earlier.
Chinese food.
Living room floor.
If you want somebody else, tell me.
Simone whispered, “I know.”
Darius opened the door.
“You promised.”
Then he left.
He stayed with Nia that night.
His sister opened the door, saw his face and said nothing.
She simply stepped aside.
Darius entered.
Her husband, Terrence, was watching basketball.
He looked up.
“What happened?”
Nia shook her head at him.
Terrence immediately turned off the television.
Darius sat at their dining table.
For several minutes, he couldn’t speak.
Then he told them.
Nia cried before he did.
Terrence became angry enough for both of them.
“Who is this dude?”
Darius shook his head.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“It absolutely matters.”
“No.”
Darius looked toward him.
“I’m not fighting somebody over a woman who made her own decisions.”
Terrence leaned back.
Darius continued.
“He didn’t make vows to me.”
“You weren’t married yet.”
“You know what I mean.”