“What did Dr. Bradshaw say?”

I exited the salon with my purse clutched underneath my arm in a rush to get some privacy before speaking to Fredrick. I’d ignored his call several times. I had no intention of having the conversation that needed to be had in front of Laney and the crew.

“Fredrick, I need to meet with you first thing in the morning.”

“What about?”

“About my career at the Houston Report.”

Fredrick fell silent. I let him take the time he needed to suck that in.

“Come by my office after lunch.”

I didn’t stop walking until I reached my Honda. The alarm chirped as I opened the door. Rearranging the phone, my movements paused as I caught wind of a familiar figure off in the distance. The cell phone slid from my ear as my hand gave way to the gravity holding it upright. I could hear Fredrick calling my name, but his voice sounded further and further away as I continued to stare off in disbelief at what I was seeing.

“Desiree…” came a voice behind me, one that I could never forget.

Casting a glance over my shoulder revealed another surprise. Today was just becoming stranger as the hour went on.

“I thought that was you,” he said.

I turned full circle, coming face to face with a man I thought I’d never see again. “Good afternoon Cameron. Long time.” My voice was even, revealing nothing although my nerves were now frazzled. A smile dashed across his handsome face and memories of late night dinners, movie dates, and heavy debates marched across my mind.

“Desiree!” My eyes snapped to the phone, and I pulled the device back to my ear.

“I’m sorry Fredrick, Im’ma have to call you back,” I said already hanging up.

“You’re on the phone, ah, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

Sure he didn’t.

His eyes roamed over me; an approving assessment. I studied him just the same, noting the new film of hair that clouded his jaw, trimming nicely around his face. His dark brown skin oozed out of his gray t-shirt and the toned arms I’d become accustomed to held a tighter bulge, giving me the impression that his days at the gym remained continuous.

“You’re just as beautiful as the first day I met you,” he said.

I folded my arms in a defiant stand. “You don’t look too bad yourself. What brings you to this side of town?”

He rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “I get my hair cut across the street now.” He pointed to the barbershop.

“What a coincidence it is that we’ve crossed paths,” I said wondering if he’d been stalking me.

“Or could it be something else,” he offered.

I arched a brow. “I’m not sure what else it could be.”

His dazzling smile was back. “I tried contacting you a few times, but your number isn’t the same.”

“And why exactly would you be contacting me, again?”

The grin slowly evaporated from his face. “Desiree, I know our relationship ended on a sour note, but I’d like the chance to redeem myself.”

I bit down on my teeth and stared at him, my thoughts; running a million miles a second. They say never to go backward, and Cameron’s betrayal made me inconsolable for weeks. It almost took therapy for me to get over him. I’d met Cameron in the second year of my stay in Houston. It was after I’d nailed my first newsworthy piece that ended up on the front pages of every major newspaper in Houston and even crossed headlines on CNN. I was elated, and my need to celebrate with someone special landed me right in Cameron’s lap. Although I can be headstrong at times, Cameron managed to breach my tough exterior. All it took was some wining and dining, and I thought I had a winner.

But I didn’t trust him completely. I was scared, still am. I knew deep down my father’s disappearance had everything to do with why I was single most of my adult life. But Cameron changed that. His smooth words and promises of forever clogged my mind. I’d given in and let down every defense I owned. Boy, was I a fool. Our relationship lasted blissfully for about two years. At least that’s what I thought. It was our third anniversary when my life changed dramatically. I was leaving his apartment on my way to work when a brunette in a Jeep Cherokee pulled to the curb as I strolled down his walkway.

I stopped walking as she exited her vehicle and approached.

“You must be Desiree,” she said.

“I’m sorry to say I don’t know who you are,” I was already feeling my gut tighten.

“I’m Gina. Could you tell our boyfriend to stop ignoring my calls? I need money to go shopping for our son.”

My eyes widened. “Our boyfriend? Your son?”

“That’s what I said.” She’d put her hand to her lips. “Oh, you didn’t know? We’re having a boy.” Tangela rubbed her protruding belly and bile rose in my throat. Before I had a chance to say anything, Cameron swung open the door storming out like a raging bull.

“You are crazy as hell coming to my house like this!”

“I told you I would, and you tried me. There’s no use keeping us a secret any longer. We’ve got a love child on the way, and I expect to be taken care of throughout the next eighteen years, Cameron!”

Their heated words and harsh expletives shot back and forth. As for me, I’d left this world, on a plane to the next galaxy. My life shattered, and I was seconds from a breakdown. I whipped around on Cameron, laying a firm palm across his face. Needless to say, he followed me all the way to the car, trying to explain and prove his innocence. But I knew it in my heart. Cameron was a lying, cheating, filthy excuse for a man, and even knowing all of this, I still stood there staring at him, wondering what our life would’ve been if that had never happened.

“A sour note is putting it mildly don’t you think,” I said.

“You never gave me the chance to defend myself.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then what’s there to defend?”

“Desiree,” he moved in closer and my arms tightened across my chest. “It was a mistake. It only happened once. She was never pregnant by me. Her tactics were just a lousy way to get you to leave me and get me to be with her.”

“Worked like a charm,” I said. I glanced at my watch. “I’ve gotta go, have a nice life, Cameron.”

I turned. “Desiree, wait.” A warm hand touched my shoulder halting my advancement. I kept my back to him as he spoke.

“Please, just give me a chance.” His arms circled my waist pulling me in slowly. “I miss you,” he said.

I shut my eyes and let out a breath. It was true; I missed him, too; more than I probably should. Could you fault a girl?

“Have dinner with me.”

My rebuttal wasn’t coming fast enough. I opened my eyes. “Why?”

He turned me to look at him. “I meant everything I said about wanting you in my life forever. That hasn’t changed. Your absence, if anything, has made me a better man. I don’t want to be without you girl. I don’t—”

I moved while I still had any ounce of willpower. “I’ve gotta go.” His grip tightened, and this time I turned to glare at him. His fingers loosened, and I tugged to free myself of his remaining latch. My legs felt like they were sinking as I closed the short distance to my car. With the door still open, I held on to it needing to support myself and get a grip. I cast another glance in the distance only to find an empty sidewalk and parking meter. The image of the familiar face I’d seen minutes before was gone. With my back to Cameron, I slid inside reaching out to close the door.

“I still love you.”

Instantly, I froze, my hand closed around my door handle. Cameron thought his words were pleasant. But they pulled every emotion I’d ever felt with him to the forefront. A flurry of happiness, love, sadness, and pain ricocheted through me. I dropped my hand and sat forward. Getting back out of the car, I marched back to him nostrils flaring.

“What do you want from me, Cameron?” His eyes softened, and he moved towards me. “Don’t touch me, okay!” I held my hands up. “You don’t get to walk back into my life after everything you put me through!”

“Baby,” he reached out, and I smacked him. I pivoted practically running back to my car. This time when I got in, I buckled my seatbelt and pulled off without sparing a look back.

Tears created a cloud in my vision. I shot down the street trying to get as far away from him as possible.

Focus.

Pulling out my cell, I scrolled through for Julian’s number and hit send. I wiped my eyes and thought about what I needed to do. It was time to end this assignment and look forward to what my future held.