Give Me The Reason 2: A Love Story Read online

  “Baby, are you okay?” Jason asked, quickly jumping out of the bed. When he reached the bathroom, Natasha was bent over the toilet puking her guts out. Consumed with worry, he rushed to her side and began to rub her back.

  Once she was finished, Natasha slowly rose from the toilet and leaned against the cold porcelain sink. Jason wiped her face with a cool wet wash towel. Avoiding eye contact with Jason, she took the wash towel from him, covered her face with it and inhaled deeply.

  “Thank you, baby,” she said into the face towel. First thing in the morning she was going to the nearest drugstore to purchase a pregnancy test. Oh how she wished she could call Delaney to help her figure all of this mess out. Natasha could always count on her best friend to be in her corner no matter the occasion. Dana, her mother, would only cast the blame on Natasha. Honestly, she was to blame for being selfish and seeking love outside of her marriage, when all she really had to do was reach out to her husband. Instead, she sought solace in the arms of another man who clearly had no interest in her other than her pussy.

  Jason felt an overwhelming uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. He could sense his wife’s nervousness, but he wasn’t quite sure where it was coming from. Jason took Natasha by the arm and guided her back into their bed. He lay quietly beside her trying to quiet the voices in his head. Natasha was behaving strangely and he had no idea what it could be other than the dilemma with Delaney. Still something in his gut was telling him something else was going on.

  Chapter Three

  Tyson walked through the front door of his house completely exhausted and sleep deprived. He’d been at the hospital by Delaney’s bedside for days. Ashanti had been blowing up his phone and he’d purposely ignored all of her calls and text messages. None of her texts mentioned that she was going into labor, so he knew everything was okay. She was the least of his concerns and he’d hoped that she would return to Florida to be with her family. However, luck was not on his side. No sooner than he stepped through the doorway, Ashanti waddled her way towards him wearing a scowl on her face.

  “Really, Ty? I’ve been calling you like crazy and you simply ignore me. How do you know if I was calling to tell you I was going into labor?” she yelled. Ashanti shifted her weight on her right leg, while waving her hands wildly in the air. By the look on Tyson’s handsome face, she could tell he wasn’t in the mood to argue with her.

  Tyson stared blankly at her. He could see her mouth moving, but he hadn’t heard a word that she said. Briskly walking past her, he placed his keys on the kitchen table before coming back out to flop down on the sofa. All he could think about was Delaney and how they would have been enjoying themselves in the mountains at that very moment had he been honest with her from the start. If only he would have told her about Ashanti, none of this would have ever happened. Never in a million years did he think Ashanti would show up at his house claiming to be pregnant with his child. As far as he knew, she was back with her ex never to be heard from again.

  “Don’t you dare ignore me, Tyson Jones! I am the mother of your child and I deserve a little more respect. Just because your so called girlfriend was in an accident, doesn’t give you the right to treat me like shit,” she said, following closely behind him. Ashanti didn’t give two fucks whether Delaney came out of the coma or not. She wanted her man back and she didn’t plan on giving up without a fight. Yeah she messed up in the past, but Tyson treated her better than any man she’d ever been with in her life and she wanted him back in the worst way.

  Tyson sighed deeply and reached for the remote control. He powered on the T.V. and turned up the volume to drown out Ashanti’s annoying voice. After kicking off his all white J’s, he lay back on the sofa and folded his hands behind his head.

  Ashanti placed her left hand on her back and leaned over to pick the remote control off of the end table. She angrily powered off the television and glared at Tyson. If he thinks he is going to keep giving me the silent treatment he has another thing coming!

  “Man, what the fuck!” he roared, clearly irritated. Tyson reached for the remote, but Ashanti was too quick. She slung the remote across the living room before he had a chance to grab it out of her hand.

  Ashanti hovered over Tyson with a scowl on her face and her hands propped up on her swollen belly.

  “Listen, you may as well get used to me being around. We have a child that will be here any day now. I know I fucked up, Ty, but I’m sure that we can find a way to get through all of this. I’m sorry for leaving the way I did, and I’m willing to do anything to make it up to you.” Tears escaped her eyes as her voice softened. She would give anything to have him back in her life.

  Refusing to look at her, Tyson closed his eyes and prayed that she would disappear. Ashanti had to be out of her rabbit ass mind if she thought for one second that he would even consider giving their relationship another chance. Unfortunately, when he opened his eyes she was still standing over him. Tyson sat up and ran his hands over his face in frustration.

  “Listen, Ma, the jury is still out on whether the child you’re carrying is mine or not. Like I said before, if the baby is mine then I will do what I need to do as a father to take care of my seed. But as far as you and I go, that ain’t happening. My heart belongs to Delaney and even if she never takes me back, I still won’t be with you. So you need to take heed to my words and dead any thoughts of us getting back together. It just ain’t happening.” The piercing stare he was giving her made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. Ashanti had never seen Tyson behave so coldly before.

  Ashanti was crushed. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he meant every word, but still that wasn’t enough for her to give up. Once the baby was born, surely he would have a change of heart. The baby she was carrying was her only hope of getting Tyson back and she was going to use it to her advantage.

  “Ok, fine. Have it your way. Ty, but I know that you still love me, you’re just angry about the way things went down with us. I am truly sorry, and just so you know I never stopped loving you.” Ashanti bowed her head before turning around and heading upstairs to lie down. Her heart was broken and she despised herself for hurting the one man who was actually good to her. The decision to go back to her ex-boyfriend, Derek, turned out to be the worst mistake she’d ever made in her life. If it took every breath in her body, she was going to get Tyson back. If and when Delaney awakened from her coma, she’d better be prepared for a fight.

  Shortly after arriving back in Florida, she discovered that he was nothing but a big liar. Derek, her ex-boyfriend, told Ashanti that he owned several sports bars and he was making bank. He promised her a life of luxury. They’d spent hours on the telephone talking about the trips they were going to take and how much fun they were going to have living the good life. Derek even promised to place her in control of all of his finances, since she had a business degree in finance.

  Ashanti was so excited and couldn’t wait to get back to him. Little did she know it was all a lie. This nigga was still living with his mama and the sports bars he claimed he owned were really his homeboy’s spots and Derek wasn’t even a partner. She was devastated and felt like the biggest fool alive. Needless to say, she felt foolish and didn’t want to come back to Tyson holding her ass in her hands. She decided to move in with her mother for a little while until she could figure out her next move. Unbeknownst to Ashanti, Drake Porter arrived in town shortly after she’d gotten there. She ran into Drake while out having dinner with her sister about two weeks after arriving back in her hometown.

  “Girl, what are you going to do now that you left Atlanta and came back home on some bullshit?” her sister, Tia, questioned. Tia took a sip of Sangria shaking her head. Ashanti and Tia looked a lot alike. Both sisters had a honey brown complexion with hazel eyes and long black hair. However, Tia was slightly taller than Ashanti and a little thicker in the hips.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know I can’t stay with mama for too long.” She sighed a
nd shoved a mouthful of her grilled chicken Caesar salad in her mouth. Just then she glanced up and saw a familiar face. “It can’t be,” Ashanti said slightly above a whisper. Tia frowned and shot her sister a questionable look. Ashanti had a devious sparkle in her eyes and Tia knew she was up to no good.

  “What are you over there rambling about?” Tia asked looking around trying to figure out what sucker her sister had zeroed in on.

  “I think I know him. Yes, I do know him. It’s Drake, Tyson’s best friend!” she damn near squealed. The wheels starting turning in her head as she stood up and smoothed her dress down.

  “Uhhh, where are you going?” Tia frowned. Ashanti hadn’t changed a bit. She was always on the prowl and scheming on her next come up. Even with a business degree, she refused to work. She’d rather find a man to take care of her so she could spend her time shopping and traveling.

  “I can’t just act like I don’t see Drake, now that would be rude. I will be right back. I’m just going to go over and speak to him really quick.” She flashed a devilish smile before prancing over to the bar. Tia turned around to see exactly who this Drake person was. Damn! He is fine, she thought to herself before turning back around, taking another sip of Sangria.

  Ashanti switched her way on over to the bar to put her plan into motion. She knew Drake was paid and he didn’t have a problem spending money on women. She was in desperate need of money, since her dumb ass ex-boyfriend was a broke nigga. Living with her mother was not working, and the little money she came with was slowly dwindling away. Asking Tyson to send her some money was definitely out of the question, so Drake was the next best thing.

  The peach halter dress she had on fit her toned body like a glove. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair and put on her best smile.

  “Drake, is that you?” she beamed. Drake slightly turned in his seat to see who was calling his name as if they knew him. He was in town on business and didn’t really know anyone in Florida like that. He was shocked to see his homeboy Tyson’s ex-girl Ashanti standing there smiling brightly.

  “Hey, sexy! Long time no see.” He flashed a sexy smile at her. Damn lil’ mama is fine as fuck, he thought to himself.

  Ashanti hopped up on the bar stool beside him and licked her glossy lips. Drake watched as she slowly ran her tongue along her full luscious lips.

  “Soooo what are you doing in my neck of the woods?” she questioned, batting her long eyelashes. It wasn’t going to take much to cause Drake to fall under her spell, and once she put her sex game down she would have him eating out her hands. A fleeting moment of guilt washed over her, but she quickly dismissed it. What Tyson didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, besides they were no longer together. No harm, no foul.

  “I’m here on business,” Drake said taking a sip of Dusse. He couldn’t help but take in her beauty and voluptuous body as his eyes hungrily roamed over her from head to toe.

  Ashanti could feel the sexual vibes he was giving her, which would only make it easier for her to put her plan in motion.

  “How long are you going to be in town?” She flipped her hair over her left shoulder and smiled brightly. Clearly she was shamelessly flirting with her ex’s best friend.

  Drake was a little shocked by her forwardness. In all the time that he’d known Ashanti, she had never shown any interest in him. He assumed it was because she was the loyal type chick, but he was now seeing another side of her.

  “I will be in town for two more days. Why, what’s up?” If he had it his way, he was going to have her legs high in the air calling him Daddy before midnight.

  Ashanti crossed her legs and leaned forward, causing her overflowing cleavage to bulge out of her dress even more.

  “Well, I was thinking we could hook up and I could show you around. I mean only if you want to,” She flirted.

  Drake swallowed hard as he tried to keep his eyes off of her heavily endowed chest. He chuckled and threw the rest of his drink back. She was up to something, but he just wasn’t sure what it was. “Sure, why don’t you put your number in my phone and I will hit you up later.”

  After saving her name and number in his phone, she stood up and hugged him tightly, making sure to press her breasts up against his chest.

  “Call sooner than later,” she whispered in his ear before turning around and heading back over to join her sister at their table.

  Ashanti laid in Tyson’s bed trying to figure out how she was going to get herself out of the mess that she’d gotten into. Once Tyson found out that the baby she was carrying wasn’t his, she was going to lose him forever. Tears cascaded down her face. The more she wiped them away the more they rained down even harder. Drake didn’t even know the baby she was carrying was really his. He was nothing more than a play thing, someone to keep her pockets fat and tighten her up from time to time. They had slept together that same night she ran into him at the restaurant and all through the weekend. He broke her off some cash and had even sent her money whenever she called him after they’d hooked up. To make matters worse, Drake had started visiting her in Florida for a little while and then suddenly he stopped calling her.

  “Are you asleep?” she heard Tyson say behind her. She quickly wiped her face and turned around. He stood there looking as handsome as ever in a pair of baby blue basketball shorts and a white wife beater. Ashanti couldn’t help but stare at his dick print.

  The solemn look on his tired face made her heart ache. She wanted nothing more than to pull him into her arms and make love to him. But she knew it was too soon to make a move like that. Besides she was nine months pregnant and was due to have this baby any day now.

  “No, I’m just laying here thinking about our baby and what a messy situation he is coming into.” She rubbed her protruding belly. What she said was partially true, the situation was definitely messy. Tomorrow she planned on meeting up with Drake to tell him about the baby. Hopefully he could come up with a plan to make sure the DNA test came back with Tyson as the father. Drake had connections in Atlanta, not to mention his parents were heavy in the healthcare industry, both owning several medical practices all over the city. Surely there was a way to change the father’s name on the paternity test.

  Tyson’s eyes lit up when she mentioned that the baby was a boy. He always wanted a son, but just not under these circumstances. He suppressed the smile that was forming on his face and cleared his throat.

  “Listen, I wanted to apologize for the way I spoke to you earlier. This whole thing with Delaney has my head all messed up right now. I meant every word that I said, but I didn’t have to talk to you with way I did.” The sincerity in his eyes melted her heart. Damn Ty was a good man, one of the best men she’d ever met. How could she have been so stupid to have fucked up such a good thing?

  Ashanti smiled lovingly at him. “I appreciate you saying that and I accept your apology, Ty. But we still need to talk about this baby and how we plan to raise him. I mean once you’ve had a chance to clear your head, that is.”

  He smiled weakly before turning around and walking out of his bedroom. Since Ashanti seemed to have taken over his room, he decided he would sleep in the guest bedroom. Sleeping in the same bed with Ashanti was definitely out of the question. That would only give her false hope for something that was never going to happen.

  After taking a much needed shower, Tyson went downstairs to make sure all of the doors were locked before heading back upstairs. He was exhausted and finally felt like he could fall asleep, something he hadn’t done in the last two days. Thoughts of Delaney filled his mind as he rested his head on the pillow. He said a silent prayer for the woman that he loved and begged God to allow her to awaken from the coma. He promised to make things right if given another chance. Even if it took the rest of his life, he was going to win back her heart and trust, whatever the cost.

  Chapter Four

  It had been two long weeks since Delaney’s accident and she was still in a coma. Natasha was going out of her mind with worry. This had
to be one of the worse times of her life. Natasha figured she would take a quick shower and head up to the hospital to sit with her best friend. There was so much she needed to talk to Delaney about. She glanced over to see Jason sleeping peacefully beside her, which caused a slow smile to form on her face. He’d been by her side since the day she told him about Delaney being in a car accident. Taking a leave of absence from his job was going to take a toll on their finances, but Jason assured her that he had everything under control.

  Worry quickly took over once the thought of her impending pregnancy crossed her mind, as it had with every waking moment since she’d taken the over-the-counter pregnancy test. Natasha managed to keep the pregnancy a secret from her husband. There was no way she could tell Jason that she was pregnant, for fear that he would suspect the baby wasn’t his. Natasha didn’t know what she was going to do. How could she have been so stupid? The thought of losing Jason was damn near unbearable. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes as she considered having to tell Jason that she was possibly pregnant with another man’s baby. In two more days her doctor’s appointment would be here and hopefully she would know more information afterwards.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” Jason yawned, wiping sleep from his eyes. Natasha was truly a vision to see. Her beauty still took his breath away after all of the years that they’d been together. The last two weeks being at home with his wife had been some of the best times of his life. He hadn’t told Natasha yet, but he wasn’t planning on going back on the road. After he’d spoken with the head man at his home office and explained that he needed to be home more due to personal issues, his boss told him about a job opening that would allow him to be home every day. It was a no brainer, so Jason applied for the job and was waiting to hear back from the corporate office. Instead of long distance driving, he would only be required to drive locally as a liquor distributor. The money was a little less than he was making now, but he would find a way to make ends meet.