The Deed to a Gangsta’s Heart

Chapter 26

26

R emedy

The Next Weekend

Luci hugged me from the side. She was clearly tipsy. I only got hugs from her if she was tipsy and happy, or it was a holiday. I chuckled as I wrapped my arm around her and dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

“You cool, Lu?”

“Mhm. I’m happy. You make my best friend happy. Armor makes me happy. I’m just happy.”

I laughed. “You tipsy too.”

“Maybe a little.” She giggled as I tightened my grip around her.

Me and Callie had met up with her and Armor for dinner and came to Ever’s Pub to meet the rest of the crew for drinks. Since we’d come from the restaurant, we were the first ones to arrive. Armor was grabbing a round of drinks and Callie was at the table giving our orders. Luci had to pee, so I offered to wait at the bathroom for her since there was a line.

Kassadee started up with events throughout the week and the bar had gotten busier than it had been in years. Tonight was their karaoke night, and I knew if the girls sang it would be a show. The drinks they’d had at the restaurant already had them in their element. They’d probably be drunk after just one or two more.

“Can I tell you a secret?” she asked as we scooted up in the line.

“Always.”

“Don’t tell Callie. She’ll yell at me.”

A short burst of laughter escaped me as I nodded. “What did you do, Luci?”

She looked back, as if she expected Callie to magically appear. “My old job back in Memphis reached out to me. They miss me and offered double my salary if I came back. I told them I’d come to talk in person Monday.”

Dropping my arm from around her, I looked at her as confusion filled me. “You got more than Callie to be worried about with that bullshit. Have you told Armor? I don’t want you in the city alone. It’s not safe.”

Her eyes rolled as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I haven’t agreed yet. I’m just going to talk.”

“Obviously you’re interested if you’re taking that drive.”

“Wouldn’t you be? Double the salary, Remedy. I can’t just turn that down.”

“Is that all it’s about? The money? Armor would give you that and more to get you to stay.”

She released a hard sigh as her head shook. “I can’t just let him take care of me, Remedy. We’re not married.”

“No, but this would be a good example of what you can expect if you were married.” She nibbled her cheek as if she was considering my words, so I continued. “I want you to be honest with me, sis. What’s this really about?”

Her eyes shifted as she squeezed her elbow. “I’m scared,” she whispered, eyes watering.

“Of what?” I asked softly, gripping her arms.

“How good I feel with him.” She sniffled. “It hasn’t been long but I’m falling in love with him. It doesn’t feel real.”

“And you’re looking for a way out.” Luci shrugged and avoided my eyes. “Hey.” I cupped her cheeks so she would look into my eyes. “I’ve known Armor at his highest and lowest. His character has never changed. He’s always been a man of honesty and integrity. He’s sincere with what he feels about you. Don’t ruin it out of fear. Go all in. Even if it ends, at least you will have had a good experience with a good man, but I really don’t see it ending.”

“You’re right.”

“I usually am.”

She rolled her eyes and smacked my shoulder. “Thanks, bro. I appreciate you listening to me.”

“Always. Now cancel that meeting before I have to keep Cal and Armor from following you to Memphis to collect you.”

With a chuckle, she nodded her agreement. After thanking me again, she went into the bathroom. Once she was done, we went back to the table.

We enjoyed each other’s company for about half an hour before the rest of the crew arrived. We got a lot of jokes since they weren’t used to seeing me and Armor out publicly with a woman showing affection. I didn’t care. When I wanted to touch or kiss my woman I did, and she was the exact same way.

“Wow. I knew it. ”

My head shifted toward the sound of the voice. Leyla stood over the table with her arms crossed, staring at me and Callie. Callie groaned and adjusted herself against me. Leyla was one of the women I dated in the past, but it wasn’t serious and didn’t go anywhere.

Even though I knew her, I didn’t make the assumption she was talking to me, because I didn’t care what she was talking about. Redirecting my attention to the table, I took a sip of my drink as I tossed my arm around Callie’s shoulders.

“You don’t hear me talking to you?” she asked. “Remedy!” she yelled, shoving my shoulder.

“Don’t touch me,” I demanded, tone even.

“I knew you were with her all along. You swore I was crazy and paranoid. Clearly I was right.”

Sighing, I turned to face her. “I told you we were just friends, and that was the truth. You and I broke up because you were constantly accusing me of cheating and acting jealous any time I was with her. We’re together now, but that has nothing to do with you.”

“That’s bullshit, Remedy! Even if y’all weren’t technically cheating the foundation was laid. She wanted you then and finally has you now. I knew I wasn’t crazy!” Before I could stop her, she grabbed my drink and threw it in Callie’s face.

“Oh hell no!” Luci yelled, pulling Leyla’s hair and tossing her onto the ground.

By the time Armor had pulled Luci off Leyla, Leyla’s forehead was already knotting up. I was so focused on Luci that I didn’t see Callie sneaking from behind me. The knocking sound of her fist connecting to Leyla’s eye had several people yelling out, “Damn!” while I grabbed her. Callie kicked Leyla in the face, causing her to fall back down.

As much as Leyla deserved to get her ass beat for throwing that drink, I didn’t want my woman fighting.

“The fuck is you doing?” I asked through gritted teeth carrying her out of the bar. I didn’t even care about the bill. Germany would take care of it.

“She threw her drink on me.”

“So?”

“So she deserved to get her ass beat.”

“You should have let me handle it. You know I don’t like you fighting.”

She scoffed. “Fuck all that.”

There was no point in going back and forth about it, so I didn’t even respond. The ride home was silent. I hadn’t even gotten the car in the garage good before she was storming off. All I could do was chuckle. She was so sweet and warm, but when she was mad, it was like night and day.

I found her in our bedroom undressing with the shower on.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked, walking over to her.

“No, you didn’t do anything. Are you mad at me?”

“No. I wish things would have played out different, but I can’t fault you for your reaction to disrespect. I like fighting your battles for you, pookie.”

Her stance softened and she walked over to me. Wrapping her arms around me, Callie puckered her lips for a kiss. I gladly gave her one.

“I appreciate you wanting to be my protector, but she was a woman, so it was on me to handle that.”

“And clearly Luci too.”

A smile broke out across her face. “Did you expect anything different? ”

“Actually no, with y’all wild asses.”

She giggled before giving me another kiss. “Take a shower with me. I don’t want her to ruin our night.”

“Say less.”

As I undressed, I thought about how what happened tonight could be a regular occurrence. A lot of women swore something was going on between me and Callie. Hell, she was the reason a lot of my relationships didn’t last long. Maybe they saw something between us we were too blind to see. Either way, I was glad Callie was able to brush the shit off quickly. Hopefully, if any of my exes heard about what happened tonight, it would keep them from approaching us if they saw us in the future.