Unconditional

Chapter 15

I snatched the door open ready to cuss out whoever was on the other side but then I saw that it was Rashad which I though was odd. I haven't seen or spoken to him since Brandi's baby shower. We stood there for a while and he didn't say anything, he just stared at my rather large baby bump.

"Can I help you?" I asked as he just stood there staring at my belly.

"Just stopping by to give you the deeds and paperwork to the building your buying from me. I just had to wait until the check cleared."

I chuckled, not able to believe this, "seriously? you must really own a lot here."

"I told you that own some places. Some open spaces, more businesses than anything."

"Cool, well where are the papers?"

"In my car."

"Well why didn't you bring them to the doorstep, I can't stand forever, as a matter-of-fact, I'm suppose to be off my feet."

"Well let me take you out to lunch, I want to discuss business."

"What business? You don't have to discuss anything about handing me the papers that I'm entitled to."

"Chill out feisty, For promotional purposes, advertisement, that kind of thing."

"What don't you do?"

He smirked, "are we on? I really would like to get you off your feet now."

"What if I already had another company in mind for that?"

"Then it wouldn't hurt to just discuss some numbers."

I thought for a minute then though what the hell, I'm hungry anyway.

"Hold on, let me put on my shoes."

I invited him in being polite. I wobbled my way upstairs and slid on my flat booties. On my way back down I started to cramp a little. I grabbed on to the rail, & took a deep breath.

"Are you okay?" Rashad asked moving towards me away from the doorway.

"Yeah, just cramping a little."

"You sure?" He looked a little unsure.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go."

The ride was silent and unusually long. It was about an hour and we ended up in Cherry Hill, at Bahama Breeze.

We were seated immediately, I'm guessing it had something to do with me being heavily pregnant. But once I had a chance to take a glance at the menu I was ready to break down. Mostly everything thing was seafood and I couldn't have it. But that was okay because I seen some other food choice that I could have on the menu.

"Welcome to Bahama Breeze, I'm Briona, I'll be your waitress today. Are you to ready to order?" The young woman announced with a bright smile.

"Uh, yeah I'll have the Chicken with Cilantro-Crema and an iced tea," I said closing my menu and handing it over to her.

"And I'll have the Jerked Shrimp Pasta and Pinot Grigio please, thank you," He smiled handing over his menu.

After the waitress left it seems as if Rashad was really about his business today. Was it mean that all I really came to do was eat? I don't know but Rashad was making me some offers that I couldn't refuse. He was offering to give me a commercial on t.v., advertise it in all the big magazine and newspapers. He told me that it would be wise if I made some kind of deal to attract the costumers eye then I could go to my regular prices. It was a great package but get this.... He wanted to do all of this for me. Yeah, Free. He said it was an early present, for the baby shower.

"Wow, that's generous. But that would be asking for too much, I don't know if I can take that."

"Please, it's really a gift. I can afford it, It would barely seem like anythings missing from my bank account."

"I don't know."

"Come on. It'll get you ahead of the game quick. Please, just trust me, it'll be nothing out of your wallet."

"I'll text you later on tonight and let you know," I told him as the waitress appoached us.

"Okay."

The waitress placed out orders in front of us and asked us did we want any dessert.

I ordered Warm Chocolate Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Rashad ordered Dulce de Leche Cheesecake. From there on out it was regular conversation.

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Arriving back at home I knew Chris was pissed. He was sitting on the porch staring at me. He looked normal on the outside but I knew Chris too well.

"Thanks for the lunch and the offer. I'll text you."

Before I even got out of the car Chris went inside the house. Rashad waited until I got inside before pulling off.

When I walked in he wasn't downstairs. So I heaved myself up all those damned stairs and walked in to the bedroom. I was so out of breath it wasn't funny.

"You know I felt bad by the way I walked out on you, so I came back, and you were gone," he said sitting in the La-Z-Boy with his hands folded in front of him, staring down.

"You could've called my phone," I stated.

"I did, you didn't answer."

I pulled out my phone and saw that there was surely five missed calls. All from him.

"I so sorry. I had it on vibrate and it was in my pocketbook." I don't know why I just said that, I sound so guilty.

"Is that who you want? Because for the life of me, I just can't seem to get it right. I'm trying so hard but it's never enough. Is it because I'm not him? That's who you want? Huh?"

"No! If I wanted him I wouldn't have left him alone. I spend all my nights with you and most of my days when you aren't at work. If I want to wash my hands of you I would've told you so. You just go assuming."

"Because you're always smiling with him but you don't with me. How can I not think you don't want someone who seems to make you happy?"

"I smile with you, so don't try that."

"Yeah when I'm not talking about us being together because when I do you always shut down and get frustrated. Would you be happier as my child's mother and us to remain friends or do you want me gone? You know, just doing my job as a father?"

"You really need to cut it out serious," I said kicking of my shoes off.

"See, always avoid my question," he shook his head.

"Oh, like you didn't avoid my questions when I use to ask you but when I saw that it made you uncomfortable I just left it alone but continued to be your best friend."

"Oh, okay. Now I get it," He said standing up all of a sudden, "Well I'll be back later on tonight."

"Where are you going now?"

"I'm going to chill with my other friends. Okay, BEST FRIEND?" But he didn't wait for my response. He stormed out.

I could feel a lump in my throat as I watched him leave me. But when he I heard the front door slam I cried. Hearing his tires screech as he pulled of made me heave. I was going to throw up. I think drove him away for good.