Page 66 of A Major Love

“Cute? Baby, I was fifteen in those pics and well into my fine stage.”

She shook her head and said, “On that note, it’s time to go.”

“It’smy understanding that you two have been avoiding a very hard conversation. Are you sure you’re ready?” Dr. Simone asked.

Major and I were seated beside each other on the couch, facing the TV. We looked at each other, and he nodded his head for me to go first. I released a deep breath and calmed my nerves because I knew this conversation would be a hard one.

“I’m ready to say all the hard things so we can put it behind us.”

“Good. I’m here to listen and, if needed, guide you through the hard parts. You can start when you’re ready,” Dr. Simone said.

“The night everything came to a head, I sat in the car, hurt, confused, and angry as hell, listening to the conversation between Major and Dontrell. When I met Major, the unfortunate situation involving Freya and Dontrell had already occurred. By the time we were close enough for him to feel comfortable sharing the details, years had passed. I’d seen pictures of Dontrell online when I searched the story for more details, and he looked nothing like Jordan, so I had no idea I was dealing with the same person.”

“There was no way you could’ve known, Dynastie, but how does that make you feel?” Dr. Simone asked.

“Words can’t describe how sick I feel knowing I was intimate with the man who brought so much devastation to a family I hold near and dear to my heart. It literally makes me nauseous to think about.”

“Are your feelings about this causing you to feel differently about Major?”

I looked at him, and his eyes were already on me.

“No. I love Major more than I thought possible. It’s just . . .”

“Take your time,” Dr. Simone encouraged.

I tried to forget what he said that night and how he looked at me, but every so often, during the quiet moments, when we were in the same room but not talking, or when I caught him looking at me, I assumed he was thinking the worst.

“That night, he said something—” I began before Dr. Simone stopped me.

“Talk to Major.”

“That night, what you said continues to haunt me because it’s true. He was the enemy, and I was in a full-blown relationship with him. Most of the time, I can push it to the back of my mind, but sometimes, I don’t know how you can stand to touch me.”

He took my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on my fingers.

“I can’t lie, baby. Knowing you were . . . in a relationship with him fucked with me for a minute, but Dr. Simone has helped me understand a few things. You were a victim who was in a relationship with someone who pretended to have your best interest at heart, not my enemy.

If you had known who he was and still entertained him, our story would’ve ended that night. I can’t blame you or be upset with you for something that was completely out of your control. Had I handled things the right way years ago, none of this would’ve happened. I waited too long to right my wrongs with you, Lovie, and I meant it when I said there’s nothing you could ever do that would cause me to let you go again.”

Of course, I was crying. It was a miracle I had any tears left with all the crying I’d been doing lately.

“Thank you for that, baby. You don’t know how much I needed to hear those words.”

He moved from the couch to the floor and maneuvered himself between my legs. Usually, when he did this, especially when I was wearing a sundress with no panties underneath like I was right now, he buried his face between my thighs.

“Umm, Major, what are you doing?”

“Lovie, my love for you ain’t itty bitty, this shit is major, and I’d be the luckiest, happiest, and most blessed man in the world if you would do me the honor of being my wife.”

He pulled a box from his shorts pocket and presented it to me. I was crying so hard that everything in front of me was a blur, except that big-ass diamond ring.

“Oh my God, baby. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He slipped the ring onto my finger and cupped my face. As soon as our lips connected, cheers and applause erupted, scaring the living daylights out of me. I wrapped my arms around Major’s neck as I turned around to see who was behind me.

Clearly, I needed to work on being more observant because when we came downstairs, we were the only ones in the house. How in the world our families were gathered behind us was beyond me.

“What, who, how, when did y’all get here?” I asked, still in shock.