Free Consequences by Sasha Campbell Page B

shopping this weekend?” Tristan suggested while he scrolled through his text messages.
    â€œOooh! That sounds like fun. We haven’t done that in forever.” I stopped walking, then looked up at him, grinning. “Just as long as we go to the Cheesecake Factory.”
    â€œYou’re on.” He gave me a high five.
    â€œAnd you have to show me where you bought those shoes.” I pointed down at the pumps on his feet.
    â€œYou like? Lorenzo bought them for me last weekend at the flea market. Oooh, Nikki! These Mexicans had a bad pair of leather boots that I gotta have.”
    I was still trying to digest Lorenzo going out in public with Tristan to the flea market. Maybe I didn’t know that man as well as I thought. Or maybe Tristan was making more of the relationship than it really was. Like I said, I just hated to see him get hurt again. He is a good person with a funny, flaming personality, and if anyone deserved someone special in his life, it is Tristan.
    I noticed Tristan kept looking over my shoulder.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Damn, don’t tell me Tammy’s out in the lot waiting for you?” I teased.
    He rolled his eyes. “Girl, no, but, uh . . . isn’t that Donovan’s SUV over there?”
    My head whipped around; then I felt my heart do a little flip. Sure enough, at the end of the lot was a gray Escalade. I made out enough of his license plate to know it was him. The question was what the hell was he doing here? His headlights were dim, yet I could make out his image in the front seat.
    â€œUhhh . . . Tristan, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œYou sure?” Even after I nodded, he looked skeptical at leaving me. “Aw’ight, but you be careful.”
    My cheeks were hot and I was so embarrassed. I forced a smile, then walked across the lot and over to my husband’s vehicle. He was sitting behind the wheel, seat reclined, and the engine running. “What are you doing here?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.
    Donovan tossed me a blank look. “What? I can’t come and check on my wife?” he said like I should feel guilty about something. I couldn’t believe that he was just sitting in the parking lot like there was nothing wrong with him popping up at my job after midnight.
    My eyes strayed to the back seat where Aiden was sound asleep in his car seat. “Why isn’t Aiden in bed?”
    â€œWhy you tripping?” He looked at me like he couldn’t understand what I was angry about. “I told you I came to check on you.”
    I was stunned. “Check on me for what?” Lord knows, I wasn’t sure how much more of this behavior I could take.
    â€œWhat were you and Tristan talking about?” he demanded, and looked like he wanted to kill somebody. That person being me. Seriously, what the hell was going on with my husband?
    â€œWe were talking about going shopping and out to eat this Saturday while Aiden’s with Mama,” I said all nonchalant like there was nothing weird about my husband sitting in a parked car questioning my whereabouts.
    His eyes locked with mine. “You sure that faggot isn’t covering for you?”
    â€œWhat?” I heaved a sigh. I hated when he used that word.
    â€œI think you’re tryna leave me.” He sounded disgusted.
    â€œWhat?” I was trying to be patient because my heart hurt for this man, but he was starting to trip. “Nobody’s trying to leave you.”
    Donovan looked at me through narrowed eyes, letting his suspicions get the better of him, and actually looked insulted. “Tell me the truth, Nikki. You’re tryna leave me, aren’t you?” Some of his anger disappeared, but not all of it. I wasn’t sure where all this insecurity was coming from, but it was getting old.
    â€œNo, baby. I’m not trying to leave you.” I shook my head, then leaned inside the window and kissed him on the lips with all