•{ELIJAH}•

Jada laid on the bed past out. The doctor said she was fine. She just needed food to fill up her belly.

How could have I been so stupid?

I mean I was furious with myself. I watched her the whole entire time and I saw what she was doing. I warned and tried my best to get her to stop. Seeing her like this scared me. I've lost so many loved ones, I don't think I can lose another.

I held onto her cold small hands, warming them up. I made sure to cover her up with some blankets. The whole fucking room was basically below zero.

God, I'm trying to think happy thoughts in my head but I can't. Not when I feel this guilt and angry. Jada is the woman of my dreams and to see her get hurt — hurt me.

I think I'm falling in l-

"Mr.King, How are you feeling?"

I cough, clearing my dry throat. "I'm a little off the edge. I'm trying to recuperate." He smiles, lifting up his glasses. He tries to walks towards Jada, only to be blocked by the several balloons I've brought. "Sorry, I've went overboard."

I just wanted her to wake up to something positive.

"It's fine." He begins checking her vitals. He sighs and steps away from the fragile woman.

"She's fine. Nothing is wrong. She'll be able to go home. I would say tomorrow. Please just check on her from time to time. Make sure she doesn't go through this again." I was gonna make sure of it. I wouldn't let this woman out of my sight.

The doctor excuses himself and leaves. My hands grasp her hands, leaving small kisses upon them. "Elijah." My eyes began to water as her sadden brown eyes looked into mine. All I wanted to do was comfort her.

"Jada." I pecked her cocoa scent lips. Thank the heavens for Kadence. She made sure to always clean her face and moisture it as well.

I took her soft chubby cheeks into my hands.

"Baby, What happened?"

She groaned as her eyes began to water. From her expression, I knew she had recollected yesterday's incident.

"What did I do?"

She whimpers gripping my hand. I kissed it, calming her down. "It is fine. I had a talk with Naomi. She said your fine. She's seen things like that before." Jada breathes out and slowly falls into the hospital bed. She moves over and taps the spot beside her. I lay down, pulling her into my arms. I made sure to be extra gentle, she felt like a glass doll that could break in my arms.

"Jada, please don't do that ever again. Please. If you ever have something going on in your mind, don't keep it to yourself." She nods and pecks my lips. Instead of pulling away, my lips lingers against her lips.

𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑

Jada strolled around the kitchen with Miya. My daughter clung onto her hand as Jada searched the pitcher filled with almond milk. She promised to make Miya cookies. She felt bad for missing out time with Miya. So, why not make her favorite dessert in the world.

After the incident, I kept an eye on Jada. She was probably annoyed but it was important to me.

My mother was gonna be here in.....

Just when I thought I had time to myself and my girls. I walked to the front door, bracing for the nonsense that would come.

What I saw was unexpected. I knew hell would break loose. "Hey, mom. Paige." She smiles at me devilishly. Her wandering eyes take in my tall frame as I kiss my mothers cheek.

Jada comes to the door with Miya in her arms. Paige's face drops when she eyes my woman.

"Hey, Mrs. King."

My mother says hello, not even making eye contact. Jada becomes quiet when she sees Paige. I didn't even bother to tell her to say hello. Paige didn't even say a thing too.

I invited both of them inside my home. Jada sets Miya down, which Miya takes as an opportunity to run towards my mother and her mother. Jada clings onto my arm, using my body for comfort. I held onto her, rubbing her sides.

"Paige, what are you doing here?"

She picks up Miya and faces me. "I was in town and your mother invited me." Just what I thought. She's done this before. Next thing she's gonna do is talk about how good our relationship was.

"Good. Thanks mom." Before placing their shoes away, they come to the kitchen. My mother pulls out a container filled with gyoza and white rice. She always comes with food, even when I've eaten already. Which I'm not complaining about.

My mother goes to grab plates from the cabinet. "I'm gonna help," Jada suggested. My mother sighs and moves out of the way. Jada climbs onto the counter, pulling down five plates. Jada almost slips, causing me to grip onto her legs. She giggles to herself as I lifted her off the counter. "Please be careful baby."

I pecked her head as she walks towards the table. She places them in front of the seats as my mother places the food on each plate.

I sat between Jada and Miya. We began to eat when my mother commenced a conversation.

Here we go.

"So, Jada I heard what happened. Are you ok?"

I see Jada breath in and freeze up. She pulls back her freshly done locs. I rub her side and she shivers under my touch. "Umm, I'm fine. I'm good."

Instead of discontinuing this conversation about the incident, my mom adds fuel to the fire.

"What happened?"

Jada puts an end to her craving which creates uncontrollable anger in me.

"haha." (Mother in Japanese)

"I think it's important to know. Especially if you care about Miya." Why would she bring Miya into this. She doesn't even understand what's going on.

"Miya can't even understand the situation." Jada begins to sink into her chair.

"For all we know.... it could be drugs," Paige grumbled, feeding Miya some rice.

"Why are you even in this conversation?"

Paige rolls her eyes and continues to feed our daughter. My eyes follow my mother, who just stood up from her seat. "Is it drugs?"

I turn to see tears fall from Jada's eyes.

"People in the magazines are saying it's drugs. Was it?!"

Jada shakes her profusely, wiping her tears away. "I didn't take drugs. I'm sorry, Mrs.King. I would never take drugs. I just didn't eat for a few days and I passed out." Jada stands and avoids eye contact with the two woman in front of her. She pulls away from my touch and avoids my eyes.

"Excuse me. I'm gonna go to bed early."

Jada leaves, slouching over.

I sigh and pull back my seat. "I think I'm finished for today. Thank you for the food, mother. What you did today was despicable and inexcusable. Paige for a woman who had been through that too, I would think you would be more compassionate." I pause, placing my napkin on the table.

"I think you both should go. Paige, I know you haven't seen your daughter in a couple of weeks. If you wanna have her for a few weeks, you can. Just text or call me when you need supplies."

My mother hollered my name. "You don't know what that young girl does. You're putting too much into this relationship."

"Excuse me. I have a relationship to fix."

I walked into our room to see Jada packing up.

"Baby, come on. Stay for me." She looks up at me with her sadden eyes.

"I-I can't," she stammered.

I take her hands from the suitcase and grip them. I tried to peck her lips but she pulls away before I could even attempt to kiss her plump lips. She sniffles as her head lays against mine.

"What are we doing?"

I pull away, looking into her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

She shakes her head and closes her suitcase.

"We can't do this anymore."

Soon I feel tears form in my eyes and it's a struggle to hide them. I give her a confused look, releasing her.

"Jada, you don't mean that. I know you want this, just as I do."

She places the suitcase down and caresses my face.

"You know I want it but it doesn't mean it's meant to continue. There is too much stuff in this world, stopping us from continuing."

She can't be serious.

"Jada, don't do this."

I grab her suitcase, pulling it from her reach.

"Don't give up on us." She wipes her tear stained cheeks and breaths out.

"Bye."

I watched as she left the room. I rushed after her, scared of letting her go.

"Jada, please."

She smiles lightly, walking out of our home.

I couldn't seem to wrap my head around this.

Why would she give up so early?

I mean I could see a life with her. I lost her now but that didn't mean I was gonna give up so easily. I don't care if my mother or my daughters mother judged. I think I'm falling for her.

————————————————————————

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝗼𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝗼 𝗺𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝗼 𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐚. 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝗼 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝗼𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫.

𝐃𝗼 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝗼𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫?

-𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 ⭐️

𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐌𝐘 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊, 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄.