The Takedown by Nia Forrester

Author:Nia Forrester [Forrester, Nia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stiletto Press
Published: 2017-08-30T05:00:00+00:00

“I feel like you’re not … responding to this arrangement,” Claire said. “Do you want to see something different?”

“What? No. Sorry. That’s not it at all. It’s fine. I guess I just got lost in thought there for a second.” Makayla shook her head and looked down at the mock-up on the kitchen center island in front of her.

Claire had been running through table arrangement options for the reception, and all she was thinking about was whether there would even be a reception at all. It had been two days since her and Jamal’s little confrontation at Devin’s place and they still hadn’t talked.

He had worked late both the following evenings, and this morning had tersely informed her before he left the apartment that he had business in Atlanta and would be gone until the weekend.

‘You’re leaving today?’ she’d asked, sitting up in bed, her eyes still bleary, and her mind cloudy with sleep.

‘Yeah,’ he said. His tone was short, and his expression grim.

Makayla wasn’t used to a home without Jamal’s smiles, his affection, and his attention. And she sure as hell wasn’t prepared for him to go on a trip out of town with them still in such a negative place.

But after telling her his plans, he’d simply turned to leave. And then, as if he knew it looked bad or something, he turned back to kiss her quickly on the top of her head. It was so obviously not a gesture he wanted to extend, that it had to be one he felt was required by the Cohabitating Fiancée Etiquette Handbook.

‘Will you call me when you get there?’ she asked as he left their bedroom, an already-packed duffel in his hand.

‘Don’t I always?’ he called back.

“Is everything okay?” Claire asked. She put a hand atop Makayla’s and her voice was so gentle, it almost made her Makayla want to spill all her worries in a mass of tears and sobs.

“Tired. Stressed. But nothing that won’t pass,” she said.

“Wedding jitters?”

Forcing a smile, Makayla shook her head. “Not jitters. Not exactly.”

“So, wedding planning stress then,” Claire said matter-of-factly. “I once worked with a couple that broke up three times during the planning process. The last time was the night before the wedding. Thank god, they got it together before the actual ceremony.”

“I never said Jamal and I were breaking up,” Makayla said, not meeting Claire’s gaze.

“Oh god, no! I wasn’t suggesting …” Claire put a hand to her chest, as though she was literally clutching her pearls. Then she shoved a strand of her dark hair behind an ear.

“No, it’s fine. I just … I would never … we’re not breaking up. I just wish he had more time, that’s all.”

“Well, he’s kind of a big deal, so I’m sure there’s always people jockeying for his time.”

“Yeah,” Makayla said, toying with two of her locs, wanting to change the subject.

“And you said he’s away?”

“Yup. In Atlanta.”

“What’s in Atlanta?” Claire asked. She had begun gathering up her samples, having picked up on Makayla’s lack of interest.

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