Forbidden Love with the Marine(52)

“If you believe I could ever be embarrassed by you then you don’t know anything about me,” Makayla said, eyes flashing as he hit a nerve. “You’re a well decorated former Special Ops who served his country faithfully and I’d be proud to think I ever had you in my life.”

“But it still wasn’t good enough to keep me there, was it?” Blade murmured calmly, retrieving the ring and placing it safely back in his pocket.

“I’ve told you my reason, Blade,” she said on a ragged sigh.

“Well I don’t believe you,” he replied in that same calm tone. “But it doesn’t even matter. Not anymore. Are you ready to leave?”

Makayla could only nod dumbly. Her legs felt shaky as she realized what she’d done and that she couldn’t take it back. And yet many times during the silent, tense drive back she opened her mouth to do just that – tell Blade she’d made a mistake. That she was crazy and would never leave him because of some stupid promotion overseas.

But deep inside she told herself she’d done the right thing and couldn’t back out now. She needed to save her strength for the long night of painful tears which would be the first of many in the lonely weeks to come.





Chapter Twenty-Four


Makayla heard the doorbell ring and was reluctant to go answer it. She figured it was any of her friends or even her sister Evelyn, as always eager to drag her out to some club or party in the hope of lightening her dreary outlook over the past several weeks.

Staying at the apartment was getting gloomier especially now that Gina was away more often planning her Bahamas wedding. Makayla was glad when Gina finally picked her younger sister Veronica as a bridesmaid because Makayla knew she was in too much of a sorry state to be anyone’s maid of honor for the wedding taking place in two weeks time.

The bell kept ringing incessantly and Makayla finally had no choice but to drag herself off of the sofa where she’d been watching re-runs of her favorite series just to keep herself from tearing out her own hair.

She tugged open the front door with a scowl which disappeared into a surprised look at the strange woman standing there. It was a beautiful brunette who looked just a few years older than Makayla. She was dressed casually in jeans and a brightly colored blouse. Makayla was sure they’d never met before.

“You must be Makayla,” the woman said with a tentative smile, and something about her voice reminded Makayla of someone. “I’m Jessica.”

The name clicked with the voice and Makayla’s eyes widened. Jessica, here? Oh Jesus! Now what?

“Is there a problem? Because Blade isn’t here. We broke up,” Makayla said mechanically.

The woman’s smile turned wry. “I know. Can I please come in?”

Makayla reluctantly stepped back to allow the woman into the apartment. She was half-curious, half-dreading whatever Jessica thought they needed to talk about.

Jessica gracefully declined Makayla’s offer of refreshment or even a seat as she stood in the middle of the living room. Jessica clasped her hands in front of her as she faced the puzzled Makayla.

“I won’t take up much of your time. Jamie’s due for pick-up at the day care center but I just thought I had to see you and set some things straight.”

“Okay,” Makayla said blankly, her mind still in a whirl.


Jessica let out a deep breath. “Look, I think I know why you left Blade. He told me about your new promotion and everything but I’m thinking there’s more to your reason for turning down Blade’s proposal.”

Makayla felt like the ground should just open up and swallow her. She’d never have believed Blade would tell Jessica anything about what went on between them.

“Nice to know I’m a riveting topic of conversation,” Makayla said with thinning lips.

“It’s not what you think. I managed to get it all out of him when he told me you two were not together now. Blade is very much a man of duty and I’m ashamed to say I’ve tried to take advantage of that. Most times, I’ve failed.”

Jessica looked rueful. “Look, I won’t lie and say I didn’t want Blade. I tried to keep him on a leash but that didn’t work. I was gutted when he fell for you because then I knew he’d never ask me again to be his wife so that he could legally become Jamie’s father.”

“Wait...Blade asked you to marry him?” Makayla looked shocked.

“It was long ago, when I told him Jamie was his. And even when he found out Jamie wasn’t his, he stood by his offer. I was the one who said ‘no’ just to punish him. You could say I’ve acted really bitter.”

Makayla tried to keep her expression neutral though she was inwardly agreeing to that statement.

Jessica continued, “Anyway, to get to my point; soon after refusing him, I realized my mistake. As you can imagine I’ve been trying my best to get him to see that I’ve changed my mind. I wanted us to get married and be a family. But then...he fell in love with you.”

“Well, I’m not in the way anymore, am I? You have Blade all to yourself now because he has nothing stopping him from getting married to you,” Makayla muttered, unable to hide her bitterness.

Jessica regarded her shrewdly. “I knew it. You left him so that he could be with me and Jamie, right?”

Makayla couldn’t help but shrug, unable to deny it now. “What does it matter? You’ve got what you wanted. Blade’s all yours. I couldn’t stand him being torn apart by his duty to you and his love for me. But don’t take me out to be some saint, because I’m not. I just wanted what’s best for Jamie.”