Free Just Can't Let Go by Mary B. Morrison Page B

me up for failure.
    To end this session, I told her, “I’ll work it out.”
    Maybe it was the way Ebony held me in her arms after sex. Or the way she made me feel needed all the time. Her orgasmic gourmet dishes were the best. She could heat up the bedroom, but Ebony had never cooked me a meal.
    All the things Ebony did to pleasure me, I wish Dev made time to tend to me this way. I rolled onto my back, still had on my shirt. Ebony slid on top of me. She still had on her robe. We embraced each other. I kissed her. Already in hot water, I’d get up in a few. Ebony’s hug was healing.
    â€œI need you . . .” played on my phone.
    Stretching my arm, I felt for my cell, read Dev’s text, Call me now. The prior six messages read the same.
    I flipped Ebony onto her back. “I’ve got to go, babe.”
    I took a three-minute shower, put on my pants, grabbed a fresh shirt out of Ebony’s closet. I had extra everything here. Clothes, underwear, shoes, ties, deodorant, lotions, body wash, were all at Ebony’s house. She’d put me up on buy two of each outfit, leave one at her place. Said women noticed everything and Dev would definitely know if I’d ever come home looking or smelling different.
    Stepping into my shoes, Ebony said, “Babe, come here.”
    â€œI can’t. I gotta go. Come lock the door.”
    â€œJust come here for a sec,” she insisted.
    I stood by the side of the bed.
    â€œSince you’re going to manage me, you’re going to need this,” she said, handing me a key.
    â€œFor real?” Aw, shit. The only other woman who had given me complete access to her without my asking was Dev.
    Ebony nodded, then rolled over. “Lock the door.”
    Before I left, I told her, “I love you.”
    â€œI love you, too, my babe.”

CHAPTER 8
    Alexis
    I wasn’t sure if I was about to deliver good or bad news.
    There was no way I could please them all. Sympathy, empathy by any means was what I needed. I had to live with my decisions. I was in this conspiracy alone. Me. Myself. And I.
    To show up at Spencer’s without calling. To pull out Charlotte’s hair. To put myself in a position where another woman hated me so much she could’ve killed me. The time had come to face my demons. Wasn’t certain how those closest to me would treat me after they heard what I was about to say.
    Charlotte was right. I was a ho. Not the kind she’d thought. I’d never spread my thighs or licked a pussy without a purpose. I was a control whore. Pathological liar. I was mentally, physically, and financially abusive. I was my father’s daughter. I was guilty of being those things because of him. My mother.
    God made me special. If no one else would forgive me for my sin, He would.
    He was the only one who knew my secret. I was never pregnant.
    I’d been upstairs in my loft waiting to confess to everyone who was downstairs. A few more people needed to arrive.
    Getting to know my dad for myself was necessary if there was any chance of changing my manipulative behavior. I texted my dad, Come over to my house now. I need you .
    He replied right away, What’s your address ? Three months after having met Conner, I’d never told him where I lived. Didn’t want to betray Spencer. Yeah, my brother took me to emergency but before Charlotte kicked me in my stomach, he’d sided with her. It was time for me to confront everyone. A sharp pain jabbed me in the stomach, causing my teeth to clench.
    Rolling onto my back, I texted my location to him along with the gate code and where to park. Had only seen him once the day we’d met at my mom’s. We’d texted a few times afterward. He might as well come over, too, so I didn’t have to give the same speech twice. He hadn’t done shit for Spencer or me. Figured he could make it up to his unborn grandchild by financially supporting us. Had to admit. I wanted to