Chapter 10
Dominic
Ihated it when women wanted to be a fool for a man and then talked that bullshit that all men were dogs.
Seeing Charly at the club last night with my brother, all hugged up under him, pissed me the fuck off.
I started to blow that bitch up, but I decided it wasn’t worth it.
If she wanted to be one of them females who kept running back to a man to get her ass kicked, then I couldn’t stop her.
I wasn’t going to keep trying to persuade her to leave him if that’s where she wanted to be. I just hated that I had beaten his ass over all that bullshit, even if I still didn’t fuck with him because he betrayed me.
I hadn’t gone home after leaving the club because I figured Charly would come straight there. It didn’t take long to find out that I was right. She blew my phone up with texts and calls until I shut it off. She kept asking where I was and why I wasn’t home. She wanted to know if I was okay or not.
I ignored her ass and chilled for the rest of the night with a bottle of Patrón, some takeout from Off The Bone, and Netflix alone in a hotel room. I wasn’t in the mood to argue with her or hear her shit, nor did I feel like being bothered with any other females.
I just wanted to shut the world out. That lasted for a few hours, but when checkout time came, I had a decision to make.
I could stay for another night and spend another four hundred bucks, or I could take my black ass home to where I paid the rent and face the music.
I chose the latter, even with the possibility that Charly might be there.
When I pulled up to the apartment, I saw her car parked in its usual spot.
I debated on whether I should pull off or head inside, but I finally decided I would head inside when I saw her taking the trash out to the dumpster.
I felt like shit because that wasn’t something that I would have ever allowed her to do when I was home.
I was traditional in some ways, thanks to my father.
I didn’t believe a woman needed to worry about shit like taking out the trash, repairing things around the house or the car, or doing the lawn.
Those were things I could handle, but I also didn’t mind getting in the kitchen to cook and clean, either.
I was that type of man who would spoil my woman if I ever found a good woman to settle down with. That was confirmed with Charly being around my house because everything that I did was for her comfort, peace, and protection.
I waited until she headed back up the stairs before I got out of the car.
I was thankful that she hadn’t spotted me because I wasn’t ready to be bombarded with her explanations or questions.
The minutes that it would take me to walk into the building and get to my apartment would give me time to breathe.
“Hey,” she greeted softly after I stepped into my room. She stood in my doorway, drying her hands with a paper towel.
“Wassup.”
“Can we talk, Dom?”
“Charly, your life, your business, I ain’t judging.” I tossed my keys on my dresser and toed my shoes off. I placed them in the closet and grabbed a fresh towel and washcloth to shower with.
“Last night was a misconception.”
“I saw what I saw.”
“No. You saw what your brother wanted you to see.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed as I headed into the bathroom.
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Charly.
You were in a relationship with that man for two years.
I get it. It wasn’t that easy for you to walk away like you thought.
Just be careful and be safe,” I muttered as I set my towel and washcloth on the counter while I turned on the shower.
She hopped up on the counter beside my things and swung her legs.
Gripping the edge of the counter, she shook her head.
“I did walk away, Dom. I’m not going back to him.
It may look that way because of what you saw, but your brother played us.
We were arguing. I don’t know how long you were standing behind us because I didn’t see you until after he turned me around and pointed you out.
You were already headed toward the other side of the club.
I came after you when he finally released me, but I couldn’t find you. I ended my shift early and came here.”
“A’ight.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“What do you want me to say? You were all hugged up with that nigga, and he was gripping your ass and whispering in your ear.”
“About getting me fired, beating my ass, and asking if I was gonna send you after him.”
My jaw clenched along with my fists. I turned back from the shower, zipped and buttoned up my pants, and stalked out of the bathroom.
“Where are you going?” she asked, racing after me.
“To give my brother what he wants.”
“No! You’re not. You cannot always fight my battles, Dom.”
“The fuck I can’t. He used you again to get to me, and I’m sick of his shit.”
She gripped my arms and stared into my eyes. “Please don’t go over there.”
“Move.” I shoved her aside.
“Dom!”
“What, Charly?” I shouted.
She ran her hands up and down her arms. “I can deal with Ramon, but I don’t want you always fighting him on my behalf.
What he did was fucked up, and this isn’t solving anything.
You’re only creating more problems. If you go over there, then who’s to say that he won’t be back at my job?
I can’t have him coming up there constantly starting trouble, and you can’t keep coming up there to rescue or protect me. ”
I sighed. “What do you want from me, Charly?”
“I want you to keep being the man you’ve always been—loyal to your family and friends and standing firm on making your life better. This doesn’t do that. It only serves to tear yourself down. That’s all Ramon wants. He’s always been jealous of you, always wanted what you had.”
“But why? This ain’t no damn competition! He’s my brother. I love that nigga, and I would’ve given him the shirt off my back if he’d asked.”
“I get that, but he doesn’t. He knows that you love him, but something twisted in Ramon’s head makes him feel like he has to come after everything that belongs to you.
He wants to be like you, Dom. Your brother admires how you live life on your own terms and don’t walk according to society’s rigid rules. ”
“I don’t know why. He’s had his whole life mapped out for him since he was eight. He worked with my father to create that shit, and it’s gone accordingly.”
“Except at some point, it became too much for him, and he wanted the freedom that you enjoyed. He envied your ability to move on a whim without having anyone to answer to.”
I dragged my hand down my face. “That’s his fault. He could’ve done that shit too.”
“Except he didn’t want to disappoint your father, who always praised him for his discipline and focus.”
I scoffed and walked back into the bathroom. “The same father who gave me shit for flying by the seat of my pants and being a renegade.”
“Exactly. It seems like Joaquin is the only one who got off the perfect plan. He was able to stick to his plans enough to get what he wanted by racing professionally, and at the same time, he had the freedom just to be himself.”
“Not really.” I dragged my fingers through my beard.
“What do you mean?”
“He never had the freedom everyone thought he did. Joaquin spent hours watching race tapes, practicing, cultivating relationships that would help him get sponsorships, and all that shit. When people saw him out and about, he wasn’t out just living his life; it was all part of his and Dad’s plan too. ”
“And then there’s you.”
“And then there’s me,” I replied, pulling my shirt over my head and tossing it into the clothes hamper.
“Yeah. You’ve always lived by your own rules.”
I scoffed again as I shook my head and unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans. “Nah. I lived a plan that I concocted to follow in my father’s footsteps.”
“He didn’t approve of it,” she stated.
“No. But it didn’t stop me from going that route. I’d be a lot more successful than he was if I hadn’t gotten locked up for that bullshit Ramon pulled. Aye, you mind if I take a shower in peace?”
She raised an eyebrow at me and laughed as she walked to the door. “Oh, so we’re like that now?”
“Yeah,” I replied before she closed the door behind her.
I didn’t need her around right now. The way that my feelings were growing stronger for her with each passing day wouldn’t allow me to keep my composure around her in tempting situations anymore.
If I weren’t careful, I’d fuck around and fuck her. Things had to change one way or another.
Charly and I went to the car wash after I got out of the shower. The sun was out, and there were quite a few people there.
I had just finished rinsing my car when water hit me in the back. I turned around only to find her aiming her hose at me.
“Aww, so you wanna play?” I turned my hose back on her and wet her up while I ran around my car to the other side. She did the same, but not before I tagged her in the ass, back, and hair.
“Not fair! You’re not supposed to get my hair wet,” she shouted.
“I know ya young ass heard that old saying, ‘Don’t start none, won’t be none.’”
“Whatever.” She disappeared, and I crept around to the other side, but her fast ass blasted me again from the back. I turned around and sprayed her with the water before she could move. I hit her in the face and chest, so all she could do was sputter.
Charly held up one hand trying to ward off the water, but she failed miserably. When baby girl fell on her ass, I turned the hose off her.
I ran to her aid as she stood up, laughing her ass off.
“I can’t stand you. Why you always gotta go overboard?” she asked.
“Because you play too much. Always starting some shit that your ass can’t finish. What I tell you ’bout writing checks your ass can’t cash?” My heart felt good because we were back on track to how we’d always been.
Rolling her eyes, she replied, “Boy, whatever.”
“I got yo’ boy.” I noticed several niggas looking in our direction, and I kept looking back at them, mugging them. But when I saw one dude point and cup his hand over his mouth, I turned back to Charly. Her damn shirt was completely see-through, and she wasn’t wearing a bra.
I pulled my T-shirt off and rushed to her.
“What’re you doing, Dom?” she asked as I grabbed her from behind and spun her away. Trying to cover her, my hands grabbed her breasts, and I could feel her nipples hard as bricks, poking me.
I tried to ignore the sensation that shot through me, but my shit bricked up and pressed against her ass.
“Oop!” Charly squealed, trying to wiggle free, but only managing to turn me on more as her ass rubbed against my erection.
“Your ass is giving a free peep show. Cover that shit up. Aye yo! What the fuck are y’all looking at? Get the fuck on!” I shouted to the few men who kept staring as I struggled to pull my wet T-shirt over hers.
When I realized that both shirts still revealed too much, I grabbed her and pressed her against me chest-to-chest. It was hard to ignore the warmth of her breath on my face, the way her eyes widened and then grew heavy with lust, or the groan that released from my throat.
I pulled her with me as I walked backward to my car and grabbed the hoodie inside.
“Put this shit on!” I replied, shoving it at her.
She quickly grabbed it and pulled it over her head, but some punks kept whistling and catcalling. Shoving her toward her car and jerking the driver’s side door open, I pushed Charly inside.
“Aye! Get the fuck on before I shoot this bitch up!” I warned, pulling out my gun and holding it in the air.
Everyone either ducked down behind their cars or jumped inside them and pulled out of the lot. I didn’t give a shit as long as they weren’t looking at Charly.
“I’ll finish this shit. Sit down and don’t get out again,” I ordered and slammed her door closed.
“Fine,” she mumbled.
I grabbed the shammy and dried my car first. Charly was engrossed in her phone while her head bobbed to her music. When I finished my car, I proceeded to dry her car off.
Charly was still pissed at me and determined to make my job difficult. She made kissing faces, stuck her tongue out, and got up and wiggled her ass.
“Keep that shit up!”
“Kiss it,” she shouted through the window and smacked her ass.
My dick jerked in my joggers, and I grabbed it and massaged it. Fuck.
“I’m gon’ spank it,” I warned, and she sat back down.
Charly rolled her eyes and turned her back to me. When I finished, I smacked the hood of her car, and she tore out of there. I hopped in my car and sped out behind her.
Lord knew that girl was gonna be the death of me. I’d have to go home and watch porn or something, because she had me all the way fucked up.