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“So now you’re too busy to talk to me? Since when?”

Carla sighed and carried her eyes back to her girls, then cleared her throat, giving Lennox her full attention. “I’m seeing someone now.”

Lennox’s facial expression didn’t change, but his voice did, dropping an octave. “You’re seeing someone?”

“I’m in a relationship, Lennox. I won’t be taking your calls anymore.”

Lennox placed a hand on his chest, watching Carla drink her Sex on the Beach. “Damn. You’re punishing me, aren’t you?”

Her brows furrowed. “How did you manage to make this about you?”

“Tell me it’s not.”

“It’s not. I love him.” She batted her eyes, and even saying it in front of Lennox made her blush.

His forehead creased, eyes dipping, scowling. “Girl, you ain’t in love with whoever he is. It was only, what, a few weeks ago when I spoke to you on the phone? You didn’t bring it up then.”

Carla sighed. “Look. I know you’re having a hard time processing this; which, I don’t know why considering we were not and are not together. Still, I was only dating then. Now, I’m in a relationship. Can we move on from this? You’ll have no trouble finding someone else to call, I’m sure.”

“See.” Lennox pointed. “I knew it. That’s what I’m talking about right there.”

Carla rolled her eyes. “Lennox, you have to let this go. What is your problem?”

“I thought we were moving in a positive direction with our relationship.”

Carla was taken aback. “Our relationship?”

He exhaled roughly. “We were rebuilding our friendship, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, that was going somewhere else. I wanted to regain your trust so we could be together again.”

Her eyes faltered, and she shook her head slowly and sipped her drink.

“No. That was never in my plans, and I suppose if you had made known what your intentions were, I could’ve told you that up front and saved you the time. I have no desire to be with you again. We had our time. It’s over. I was seriously only cool with being cordial with you because…” She shrugged. “Why not? Life is too short to hold onto grudges.”

Her words sliced through him. Lennox locked his jaw, then blew out another harsh breath. Glancing around the club, his mind ticked.

“So that’s it then,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m afraid so.” She tossed back the rest of the drink. “Thanks for the drink. I told you not to buy it.” Carla turned to walk away, and Lennox grabbed her arm. She looked back.

“Let’s have a proper goodbye.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “Excuse me?”

He chuckled. “I’m not talking about anything sexual.” He paused. “Unless you are.”

“If you don’t get on with it, I’ll be gone in two seconds.”

“Okay, okay, hold your horses, mama.”

He reached in his inside pocket and produced a joint. Carla scoffed.

“What the fuck is up with everyone pulling a joint out on me tonight? Am I this easy to lure?”

Lennox frowned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”