Fannie cut him off. âJett, donât blame yourself. If I hadnât found out about you and Selma, I might never have realized that I donât actually like you.â
She had once believed Jett was a decent match, encouraged by everyone around her. She had convinced herself they were suitable. But deep down, she didnât feel anything real for him.
Seeing Judie had once stirred jealousy and bitterness in her, but seeing Selma only filled her with the anger of betrayal by someone she trusted.
âNo, Fifi! Donât say things like that just because youâre angry!â Jettâs voice rose with desperation. âItâs my faultâI messed up!â
But Fannie stayed composed, her voice steady. âIâm angry because you two were the people I trusted most, and you betrayed me right under my nose. Thatâs all.â
Her words hit Jett like a cold slap of reality. In that moment, he understood that Fannie never loved him. Even though he had wronged her, Fannie wasnât interested in the âwhyâ or the âhow.â All she cared about was cutting ties completely.
âHow did you find out?â Jett demanded, his tone sharp. âWere you and Bobby next door? What were you doing in the bathroom? Or did you forget that I was your boyfriend?â
Fannie couldnât help but let out a bitter laugh, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. âYou and Selmaâdonât tell me that was your first time? If you had the nerve to do it, why are you so afraid of me finding out?â
âYou didnât answer my question,â Jett shot back, stepping closer. His grip tightened around her wrist. âWhy wonât you answer? You were with Bobby, werenât you?â
Fannie couldnât admit anything. Doing so would shift the blame onto her, as if Jettâs infidelity could somehow be justified by her actions.
âStop dragging other people into this,â Fannie said firmly, yanking her wrist free. âI spared your dignity in front of your parents. From now on, letâs part ways peacefully. I wish you and Selma all the happiness in the world.â
She turned to leave, but Jett couldnât hold back. He grabbed her arm, his frustration boiling over.
âDo you know why I ended up with Selma? Itâs because you are involved with Bobby! Fifi, Iâm a man. No man could stand knowing youâve slept with him. Since you and Bobby arenât innocent, why should what I did with Selma be any different?â
âJett, are you out of your mind? Let go of me!â Fannie snapped, her voice sharp with indignation.
âI wonât!â Jett growled, his grip tightening as he lowered his head, his tone desperate. âFifi, I do like you! I always have! But being with Selma was the only way I could stop thinking of your past with Bobby.â
Fannie let out a bitter laugh, her anger almost eclipsed by how absurd his reasoning was. He claimed to like her, yet he had gone to another womanâs bed. If he couldnât handle her history with Bobby, why hadnât he said so from the start? No one had forced him into this situation but himself.
âJett, nothing you say matters anymore. Weâre done. I donât like you. Weâve already broken up!â
âFifi, Selma and I are over! If you donât believe me, call her! Ask her yourself! We ended things a long time ago!â
.
.
.