Page 9 of The Phyre that Burns

“She’s not. God wouldn’t tease me like that. Besides, what man would let his woman take a job that required her to be away from home for six months?”

“True.”

“And most mothers wouldn’t want to leave their kids for that long.”

“Good point. When do you plan to propose?”

“God will let me know when the time is right.”

“Well, I’m rooting for you, bruh. I’m tired of looking at your lonely ass.”

“Whatever. Take your philandering ass back to your office. Lunch time is over.”

“Aye, that’s not true. I’m fully committed to both of my women.” He chuckled because he knew how crazy that sounded. “I’ll hit you up later.”

Lennon left my office, and I replied to a few emails before my next appointment. The afternoon flew by because my schedulewas jam-packed. When I left the office and hopped in my truck, I received a call from my mother.

My relationship with my father was non-existent, but my mother and I had a semblance of one. I felt like she usually operated on his behalf, so I never knew when I could trust her.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hello, Son. How are you?”

“I’m great. You?”

“If you came around more, I’d be better, but I’m okay.”

“Let’s not do this, Ma.”

“Do what? I’ll never stop wanting you and your father to make amends so our family can get back to the way things were.”

“I’m cool on Pops. He’s the one who has a problem with me.”

“Well, you never did apologize to him for what happened all those years ago.”

I scoffed. “And I never will. If that’s what y’all are waiting for, please find something else to do.”

“Phyre, please?—”

“Did you want anything else, Ma? I’m getting another call.”

She sighed. “Your father will be out of town for business next week. You should come over. I’ll invite Phoenix and Kevin.”

“I can do that. Let me know what day and if I can bring anything.”

“You know I have everything covered. Just bring yourself, and I’ll be happy.”

“All right, Ma. I’ll see you then. Love you.”

“I love you too, Son.”

I quickly ended the call and blew out a breath. It was wild how talking to my mother for five minutes was so taxing. I understood that she wanted her family to be whole again, but I didn’t have much faith that it would ever happen. My father was a stubborn man, and clearly, I’d inherited that trait from him.

When I arrived home, I washed my hands at the kitchen sink and went to my fridge. I had my meals delivered by a chef every three days because cooking wasn’t my ministry. Most of the meals could be warmed in the microwave, but sometimes I had to use the stove top or the oven. After reading the instructions, I put the meal in the microwave for the required amount of time and impatiently waited.

Ever since I found out Ginae would be working with me, I’d been feeling anxious. There hadn’t been a day since she kicked me out of her studio apartment that she didn’t cross my mind. I was almost afraid of what I’d do when I saw her again.

The microwave beeped, and I removed my food before getting a drink from the fridge and sitting at my breakfast bar. As I prepared to mindlessly scroll social media while I ate, my sister called.