Page 70 of The Impact (Parachutes #3)

He’d gone a year and a half without sex—until Tahli awoke the beast. Once she did, it needed to be fed. Vin loved to fuck. He was skilled at it. Besides, Bianca had a beast, too. And it had been dying to meet his.

The sound of the doorbell as Bianca deepthroated him made Vin grunt. A slap to Bianca’s apple ass signaled her to get up. Leaning over, Vin checked the camera from his phone.

“Jesus, Tahli! Can I get my back blown out in peace?” Bianca shouted, glimpsing the screen as well, and making Vin chuckle. With the patio doors open, she better hope Tahli didn’t overhear her. Bianca had met her but still didn’t know her.

“I think her spidery senses can tell when you’re fucking me,” Bianca quipped, propping her fine naked ass up on an elbow, as Vin pulled boxers over his nudity. He slid into his Versace robe, heading for the door.

“I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be here,” she promised.

Vin double-stepped down the stairs and pulled the door open.

“What’s wrong? The kids cool?”

“The kids are fine,” Tahli glared. It was past noon, and she wore plaid pajama pants, no makeup, holding a little sky-blue book. Still shitting on everything breathing in her natural state.

“Is that her car?”

Vin peeped Bianca’s Pathfinder but didn’t feel a response was needed.

“What were you doing?” Tahli tightened her lenses. Vin swiped his mouth before wiggling his branded fingers.

“Engaged,” he mouthed. When Tahli blinked her misting eyes away, he lost the humor.

“What’s wrong?” He waited on a reason to go crush Drew’s skull in. Break his fingers or his face. Or both.

“I have to show you something.” Emotion vibrated her words and Vin’s face went long. He nodded, opening the door wider.

“Come in, Tahli.”

He followed her to the couch, and they both sat.

“What’s going on?”

Tahli sniffled, running her hands through her locs. Her puffy eyes moved around the room before she picked up the small book she’d laid next to her.

“Read this.” She held it out to him. “Lexie’s dad came to see me,” she revealed after Vin opened it.

He blew an audible gust from his lips, peeling back the first page.

If Tahli Can

If Tahli can do it, then so can I.

You have no idea how many things I accomplished with this in mind.

I couldn’t let you know because your head would turn into a balloon and float off your body.

But I always admired you, my friend.

If Tahli can make the varsity cheer team her sophomore year, then so can I. Even if she did quit two days after they accepted her.

If Tahli can score a 1500 on the SATs, then so can I. Oops…no I can’t. But I tried.

If Tahli can get into Rutgers, then so can I. I did it. Thanks to you.

If Tahli can persevere, if Tahli can get over heartache, if Tahli can control her destiny and keep these niggas in their place, then so can I.

You’ve been my blueprint.

So in the scariest time of my life, I can’t help but say to myself…

If Tahli can keep her baby and still go on to be a diva…then so can I.

Tahli had to know when he reached the end by how stagnant he was.

“Turn to the next page,” she uttered, barely audible. Vin obliged.

To My Baby

I’m so scared. If I never get a chance to tell you, I love you. Your father does, too. He’s silly and he’s immature, but he’s funny and he’s going to love you so much. Your father is a good man named Jay.

Vin shut his eyes for reprieve. Scrubbed his closed lids before reading more.

I told Chris he wasn’t your father and what he said next scared me.

He promised that we were dead. Me and you, my baby.

I know he’s capable and that’s what worries me.

When he gets mad, I see the devil up close.

Don’t worry, though. I’m going to do everything I can to protect you.

I got us in this mess, and I’ll get us out.

I won’t put Jay in danger. I won’t bother my parents by disappointing them.

I won’t disrupt Tahli with her new life and baby.

I won’t worry Paige or rile up Abby, she’s already getting higher than a kite. I’ll deal with this.

But if for any reason I fail, even if this reaches you in the sky, please know, my baby.

I loved you. I loved more than myself. I’m capable of it.

And Jay, if you happen to read this, and I’m not here anymore…

Know that I loved your silly ass too. A whole, whole lot.

Like you said, we can do this. We can raise this baby together. I just hope we get to.

Vin closed the book with one hand, letting it slip to the floor from his numb fingers. He rubbed his lips, tears stinging his eyes. Jay, a father. What kind of father would Jay have been? The world would never know, and shit like that wasn’t fair.

“I wasn’t there for her, Vin,” Tahli broke down in sobs. “I could’ve helped her!”

“I don’t know about that, Tah,” Vin replied lifelessly. “When people are in those positions, everything seems bleak. They convince themselves they’re alone because the person manipulates them into believing that.” Bianca’s pillow-talks about her ex-husband had given Vin a broader understanding.

“Nobody knew what was happening. Damn sure didn’t know what was coming. I can say the same thing. If I wouldn’t have been slapping Jay’s hand, keeping him on punishment…I could have somehow prevented this.” Vin shook his sulked face. “But we can’t do that. Don’t put that shit on you, baby love.”

She leaned into him enough for Vin to hug her. Stroke her head. Kiss her on her soft hair.

“It’s okay. I’m here.” He held her close until the tremors of her body went lighter, then finally stopped.

He almost thought he imagined it until she did it twice. A gentle kiss to his cheek. Then another. Vin gulped as Tahli brought the peck closer to his lips. She slapped him right after.

“I can fucking smell her, Vin!” She hopped up.

“I’m sorry,” he appeased.

“I smell her on you!” Tahli screamed, not herself. Hadn’t been herself in a while. He carried the blame for it.

She clutched her body, damp eyes rolling up to the ceiling, scaring him.

“Hey, what’s going on, and how can I fix it?”

She only clamped her lids to his question, and Vin guided her by the shoulders back to the sofa. Pulled up an ottoman in front of her to sit facing her. The second Tahli’s eyes slumped between his cocked legs, he felt the air.

Vin adjusted his boxers, realizing he was exposed. His dick had fallen lower than the hem of his underwear. He draped fabric from his robe to swathe it.

“My bad.”

Tahli curved her head toward the wall, disgusted thoughts all in her frown.

“What’s wrong with me?” She grumbled through tight teeth. Vin tapped her pajama-pant-covered knee.

“Nothing’s wrong with you. There’s only something wrong with me. I thought we established that,” he snickered to make her smile. She didn’t. Only seared her watery eyes into his before rolling them away.

“Talk to me, baby love. You know you can talk to me. Is this still about the journal?”

Vin watched her fight to swallow. Watched her leg bounce. So far, he was failing. His attempts to ease her coming up short.

“It’s not about the book. Or…maybe it is,” she yanked on her fingers. “Maybe it’s that…I was so hurt and distraught when I read it. Then I come here…and I see you, and…” Tahli tossed her hand, balling her mouth as if forcing the words back.

“Everything just gets better. Like that,” she snapped trembling fingers. “Like finding out Milo was autistic and crying in the bathroom, and you just come in and say everything is gonna be okay and just like that,” she snapped again, “It’s okay. And it makes no. Fucking. Sense, Dalvin.”

He lowered his head, stare on the hardwood floors decorated with oriental rugs. They were a little dull. He’d let housekeeping know.

“Because you did the fucking unthinkable. You cheated, then you lied. You deceived me. But I still…I still can’t hate you enough.

Like, what’s wrong with me? I…I make excuses for you and in some weird way, I understand your actions like I’m in your fucking mind.

.. It makes no sense,” her lower lip quivered.

“I can’t trust you, yet I feel the safest with you.

So, what’s wrong with me?” She asked again, and Vin rolled his tongue in his cheek.

“Lilly…that English professor I have lunch with sometimes…”

“The one with the fucked-up feet?”

“Yes, the one that had the bunion surgery, Vin. Stay focused. Anyway…she got divorced. She was sad at first, but after a few months, she was better than ever. Dating. Meeting guys that made her ex look like a zero. She bought a new car. Got a boob job…and you know I’ve been wanting a reduction–”

“Please don’t do that,” he muttered, brushing a hand over his near-bald head.

“Stay focused,” she snapped again. “Anyway…she’s thriving. Glowing. Lost like 50 pounds. You know the 15 pounds I lost last year? I gained it back plus 10 more. I’m fatter than before my divorce.”

“Tahli, fucking please,” Vin snickered. “You look so fucking good, baby. I had wet dreams for days after Kemi’s party, seeing you in that dress.”

She pouted. “Lilly said when she got divorced, she felt like she’d been freed from the anchor she was tied to. And she could finally float to the top and breathe.”

Vin inhaled that. Wasn’t sure how her hands got inside of his, but they were there.

“But…I think my problem is…I was already breathing,” she whispered. “Ever since this happened, it’s like the anchor is pulling me further down. I can’t forgive you and I can’t move on. What’s wrong with me? I hate you, but I don’t hate you enough. It makes no sense.”