Free Walk a Straight Line by Michelle Lindo-Rice

love that Michael found himself thinking about Gina. He and Gina could have something like that all the way. All he needed to do was get his act together.
    In his bed that night, Michael promised himself that he’d have a serious talk with Karen and make sure she understood that they were through. As soon as they were back in New York, she would be out of his home and out of his life. For good.
    The next morning, Michael strode into Karen’s bedroom. Rough and not caring, he jerked her awake from her sound sleep. “Get dressed,” he commanded. “You’re going back to New York today. And I expect you packed and gone when I return.” He’d had his secretary purchase Karen a ticket.
    Karen wiped her eyes to clear them, and when she lifted the covers, he registered that she was naked. Probably hoped he would’ve joined her the night before. But Michael was past all that. She had played her last card. With a made-up mind, he folded his arms and turned around.
    â€œMikey.”
    He did not respond.
    â€œMikey,” she called to him again.
    He didn’t turn around to look at her. He knew who he wanted, but he wasn’t foolhardy to push fate.
    Michael ignored her and walked toward the bathroom. He sensed when she walked behind him. He wasn’t sure if she’d put clothes on, but he wasn’t about to find out. A visual of her delectable physique flashed across his mind. He steeled himself. Clenching his fists, he told himself, You’re better than this.
    When she touched him, he flinched, but didn’t turn around. “I meant what I said, Karen. I am not falling for the same old ploy again.” She grabbed onto the back of his arms, but still he didn’t comply.
    Her hands felt wet. Tears? Sure enough, he heard the telltale sniffle. Oh boy. A woman’s tears had always been his undoing. He felt himself caving. No, he told himself, do not give in.
    Seconds passed. Sweat beaded his chin. Just as he reached his threshold, Karen removed her hands and left. Michael jumped at the sound of the door slamming. He took both his hands and clasped them like he was about to pray.
    Then he looked upward and whispered a heartfelt, “Thank you, Lord.” Just one second more and he would have folded. He and Karen would be tangling in the sheets this very instant. Michael gave Gina a call and squelched his disappointment when the call went to voice mail. “If there aren’t any delays, I’ll be back Monday night,” he informed her. “I’m coming straight from the airport to your house. Baby, your face is the first I want to see.”

Chapter Nine
    Pick up the phone, please.
    Colleen tapped the heel of her shoe on the tile floor while she listened to the phone ring. It would serve her right to get voice mail, but she was hoping she didn’t.
    â€œWell, it’s about time,” Gina said, without preamble. “I didn’t think it would take you this long to call. When you ignored my texts, I decided to give you some space.”
    â€œI don’t know why it took me this long,” Colleen admitted.
    â€œI know why. It’s Terence,” Gina complained through the line. “I feel like you’re allowing him to come between us. I know you’re married, and you’re all into church now and all that, but I’ve been your friend forever, Collie. Forever.”
    A tense silence followed, and the sound of static filled the line. This was the first time in over a decade that the two friends had been at odds like this with each other. It was as if they were strangers.
    Colleen couldn’t abide it. “Gigi,” she began, with the endearment, “Terence isn’t . . .” She paused, because denial would be a blatant lie. “I mean, I’m just going through an adjustment and being newly married is major work, but there’s no crack in the bond of our friendship—it’s too strong to break.