Unhidden

Chapter Eleven-Andre

I was still pissed.

That was the truth.

Jamal standing between my legs, wrapping his arms around me and calling me his handsome firefighter wasn’t going to magically erase the newspaper sitting on my counter.

It wasn’t.

I looked at him.

He looked almost too innocent.

Almost.

“You’re lucky,” I said.

He smiled.

“Lucky?”

“Very lucky.”

“Because?”

“Because I love you.”

His smile softened.

“I know.”

I shook my head.

“You really know how to get under my skin.”

“I know that too.”

I laughed despite myself.

I hated when he did that.

I hated when I was trying to stay angry and he somehow made me smile.

But I wasn’t letting him off that easily.

“Tell me about the party.”

His smile disappeared slightly.

“The party?”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Blessing’s birthday.”

“I know whose birthday it was.”

“Okay.”

“Start from the beginning.”

He sighed.

“It was just a birthday party.”

“Jamal.”

“Okay.”

He took a breath.

“There were a lot of people.”

“I figured.”

“Cameras.”

“I figured that too.”

“Businesspeople. Friends. Her family. Celebrities. A lot of people.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

He looked down.

“I knew you’d get jealous.”

I stared at him.

“At least you’re honest.”

“I didn’t want you worrying.”

“You made me worry more.”

“I know.”

I shook my head.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Because I knew exactly what would happen.”

“What?”

“You’d ask who was there.”

“Of course I would.”

“And you’d ask why I was taking pictures with Blessing.”

“Because you’re taking pictures with another woman.”

“She was celebrating her birthday.”

“I understand that.”

“She was happy.”

“I understand that too.”

He looked at me.

“She hugged me because she was excited. That’s all.”

I looked away.

The picture was still in my mind.

Her arms around him.

His smile.

The headline.

Next multimillion-dollar power couple.

I hated that phrase.

I hated it more than I wanted to admit.

“You should’ve told me.”

“I know.”

“You don’t get to decide what I can handle.”

“I know.”

“And you definitely don’t get to hide things from me because you’re worried about how I’ll react.”

He nodded.

“I know.”

I looked at him.

“Then why do you keep doing it?”

He didn’t answer.

That silence told me more than words could.

Because it wasn’t just the party.

It was everything.

The secrecy.

The disappearing.

The hidden relationship.

The carefully chosen words.

The constant fear.

Sometimes I felt like I was dating a man who was always halfway out the door.

I sighed.

“Jamal.”

He looked at me.

“I don’t need you to tell the whole world about me tomorrow.”

His eyes softened.

“I know.”

“I don’t need you to suddenly tell your father.”

He looked down.

“I know.”

“I just need you to stop making me feel like I’m something you have to hide from every single person.”

His face changed.

“I don’t hide you because I’m ashamed of you.”

“I know.”

“I love you.”

“I know.”

“I swear.”

I nodded.

“I know.”

He stepped closer.

“Then believe me.”

I looked at him.

“I do believe you.”

I meant it.

That was the problem.

I believed him.

I believed he loved me.

I believed the feelings were real.

I believed that when he was with me, he wanted to be with me.

But love wasn’t the only thing we needed.

We needed time.

We needed honesty.

We needed a life that wasn’t built around stolen hours.

I looked at him.

“You know what hurts?”

“What?”

“That I had to find out from a newspaper.”

His face fell.

“I know.”

“I didn’t even know where you were.”

“I know.”

“I called you.”

“I know.”

“And you told me you couldn’t talk because it was noisy.”

“I know.”

“And then I find you on the front page the next morning.”

He closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

I took a breath.

“I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Me neither.”

“I just want you to understand why I’m angry.”

“I do.”

He reached for my hand.

I let him take it.

His thumb brushed over my knuckles.

“I should have told you.”

“Yes.”

“I was wrong.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t do that again.”

I looked at him.

“Don’t promise something you can’t keep.”

“I mean it.”

I studied his face.

He looked sincere.

And I wanted to believe him.

So I pulled him closer.

He wrapped his arms around me.

I rested my forehead against his.

“I’m still mad.”

“I know.”

“Very mad.”

“I know.”

“But I’m tired.”

He smiled faintly.

“You worked forty-eight hours.”

“Exactly.”

“And you haven’t slept properly.”

“Exactly.”

“So…”

He kissed my cheek.

“Maybe you should eat.”

I looked at him.

“You’re changing the subject.”

“No.”

“You are.”

“Maybe.”

I laughed.

He smiled.

God.

I loved this man.

Even when he drove me insane.

Especially when he drove me insane.

I pulled him closer.

“You’re staying today.”

He blinked.

“Today?”

“Yes.”

“I was going to—”

“No.”

He laughed.

“Dre.”

“You’ve already caused enough trouble.”

He smiled.

“So I’m grounded?”

“Something like that.”

He laughed again.

I kissed his forehead.

“You’re staying.”

He nodded.

“Okay.”

I finally relaxed.

For the first time since seeing that newspaper, my chest didn’t feel so tight.

Jamal was here.

With me.

And for today, that was enough.

I glanced at the newspaper again.

Then back at him.

“One thing.”

“What?”

“If I ever see another headline calling you and another woman a power couple…”

He raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“I don’t care how expensive that newspaper is.”

He laughed.

“What are you going to do?”

I smiled.

“I’m throwing it in the trash.”

He burst out laughing.

And just like that, the tension finally broke.

I pulled him into my arms.

He held me tightly.

And for a moment, there was no Carter Group.

No cameras.

No Blessing.

No newspaper.

No family expectations.

Just me and Jamal.

Exactly where I wanted us to be.