Page 98 of A King’s Obsession

“Call me,” E said through the phone, his voice serious now.

“I got you, bro.”

I ended the call and headed inside.

Ashlynn sat on the couch with a blanket across her legs, eating crackers. Her laptop was open beside her, and the second she looked up, I knew this wasn’t gonna be quick.

I leaned down to kiss her.

She turned her head and put her palm against my face.

“Nah. You need to get to talking.” Her eyes narrowed as she pushed my face away, making it clear I wasn't getting out of this conversation with a kiss.

I straightened up. Damn. Couldn’t even get a courtesy kiss.

“All right. What you wanna know?” I asked, watching her set the crackers aside like she was preparing to interrogate my ass.

“For starters, I heard you on the phone with E. He slipped marriage papers in with that restaurant agreement and had her sign them without telling her what they were.” She set the crackers down, fixing me with a stare that told me lying would be a terrible idea. “Tell me I heard wrong.”

I sat in the chair across from her.

“You heard right.” There wasn't any point in trying to dress that shit up.

She stared at me, then shook her head. “So she thinks this nigga got some wife hiding somewhere, and the whole time she’s the fucking wife?”

“Yeah.” I nodded once, already bracing myself.

“Malachi!” she screamed so fucking loud it echoed through the whole damn house.

“I didn’t tell him to do that shit, Ashlynn.” I leaned forward, holding my hands out before she could start blaming me for his crazy ass. “I told him to go get his girl. Thought he was gonna pursue her. He went and did all that on his own.”

She picked at the corner of the blanket, her mouth tight. “And Simone?” Her eyes lifted to mine again, and I could tell we weren't done with the interrogation.

“She did some work for us when we were getting the club together. Something happened between them one time. Before Jru.” I rubbed my jaw, trying to remember the last time I'd even heard her name. “Far as I know, he hadn’t talked to her since.”

“Then why she comfortable walking upstairs taking her motherfucking clothes off?” Ashlynn demanded, throwing one hand up in disbelief.

“You gotta ask her that. He told her to leave.” I shrugged, because I damn sure couldn't explain what was going through that woman's head.

“He got loose ends walking around that club while he’s doing all this shit with my friend.” Her eyes narrowed at me, and I knew that look meant the conversation was about to become personal. “And I know one thing. You better not have some random-ass bitch walking up on you in lingerie.”

I leaned forward. “What the fuck that got to do with me?” I asked, genuinely offended that E's situation had somehow turned into a warning for my ass.

“I’m making myself clear. You wanted a wife. You wanted a baby. You got me over here married, pregnant and sick as fuck.” She pointed toward herself, her voice rising again. “Don’t play with me, Malachi. I already told you I ain’t doing that multiple-wife shit.”

“And I told you I ain’t asking you to.” I held her gaze, making sure she understood me. “Nobody walking up on me like that. I’m not E, and you ain’t gotta argue with me over some shit he did.”

She looked away, rubbing a hand across her forehead. I waited instead of adding anything else. Ashlynn could fuss all night if I kept giving her something to answer.

“I feel like a bad fucking friend,” she said finally, her voice losing some of its edge.

Her voice had changed enough that I moved to the couch beside her.

“Why?” I asked, settling close enough to reach for her hand.

“Because I know, Malachi. I already hid the pregnancy and our marriage from her. I finally told her tonight, and we’re good.” She looked down at her hands, shaking her head. “But she sat right here crying, thinking she gave herself to somebody else’s husband, and I didn’t tell her.”

I looked at her. “She knows about us now?”