Chapter 10
Paxton
Something or someone was causing her pain. The hurt she held in her eyes said she shouldn’t even be around others at the moment. I knew that feeling all too well.
I walked inside behind her and waited by the door. She had to say her goodbyes. Brendon looked at me giving me the mug of the century, but I wasn’t sweating it. He was a kid that probably didn’t want anyone but his pops in his mother’s presence. I knew how that worked.
Yani needed peace of mind, and I could provide that for the night. All she had to do was trust me. It was clear that she needed to remove herself and allow herself to have the secluded time she needed.
Her friend looked my way several times before she nodded. Yani was in good hands. I planned on caring for her as well as helping her with whatever it was she needed.
She headed my way and intertwined her hand with mine and softly said, “I’m ready.”
Without another word, she ushered me to her whip.
I didn’t say a thing as I extended my hand gesturing for her keys.
She gave them up willingly and took to the passenger side.
She was quiet as a mouse. I pulled my cell out as I got into the driver’s seat and shot a text to Josiaha for him to come and grab my shit.
The game would be ending shortly, and my car would be the only one in the parking lot soon.
There was a bar on the west side of town where I used to go and drown out the world for hours on hours. No one would bother her there. It was approximately fifteen, twenty minutes away from the stadium since that stadium was smack dead in the center of the city.
Her aura had changed. Life had seemed to throw a gray cloud her way and it was hovering. I wasn’t one to judge so I was going to let her drink and vent if that was all she wanted to do.
I headed for the bar, stealing glances every few minutes and what I saw I didn’t like. She sat quietly letting tears run down her face. I was perplexed on what could have happened within the last few weeks that could cause such grave pain.
The only thing I could think of was heartbreak or death.
Those two alone were the definition of excruciating pain that no other person could ever imagine.
Everyone would have their own experience but no one person could ever truly feel the pain of someone else.
I learned that when I lost my fiancé and child in a car accident.
I had dealt with both at the same time and almost threw myself over the edge behind it.
Tonight, I would be her ear, therapist, confidant, or whatever else she needed.
No one was that for me during my time of need so as long as she would allow it, I was staying.
I knew how it felt to want to be alone but also just want a person there.
Not even giving advice per se but just being there. It said a lot.
The drive was quiet besides her sniffling and occasionally blowing her nose. When we arrived, she didn’t even question it. I believe she caught my drift and knew what time it was. I parked then rounded the car to let her out as well. She went to reach for her purse when I stopped her.
“You won’t be needing that. I got you.”
She placed her phone inside and proceeded to put it behind her seat in the floor. She then placed her hand in my extended one and exited the vehicle.
We stayed locked hand in hand as we entered the establishment. No one looked our way except the bar tender who had become a dear friend over the years. I stopped so that we could order.
“Let her know what you’re drinking beautiful.”
“A bottle of 42 if you have it.”
I looked her way quickly. That was my go-to when I first started drowning out the world. I had so much pain on my back that I couldn’t walk or breathe. Forty-two seemed to give me the courage and strength to do so. She was experiencing something that wasn’t going to leave easily.
Beatrice looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I softly nodded.
“Make that two.” I pulled out my card and paid for the bottles.
She handed them over and we headed for the booth in the back. The bar was dimly lit so she was able to relax and unwind at will. Once we sat down, she popped the top and poured up a double shot. She did that repeatedly before sitting there and staring out into the room. She had a lot on her mind.
I joined her by taking a few shots of my own. She wasn’t ready to speak so I grabbed the deck of cards off the table across from us and began to deal out a hand for Tunk. She said nothing as she picked up her hand and joined me. The game went on for a while before she finally found her voice.
“Why do people hurt the ones that care for them the most?”
Yani was going through heartbreak. She wasn’t alright by a longshot. Sometimes heartbreak could make you feel like your world was ending. It all depended on the level of attachment.
“That is something no one will ever have an answer to. People do things off impulse and chaos is created afterward.”
She didn’t respond, instead she shook her head and took another shot. I hated that she was experiencing such pain. She was entirely too beautiful to have someone play on her top like that.
“People ask for all these things and then when they get them, they use and abuse the person giving it to them. Like why not just leave and spare the heartache.”
“People get attached so it becomes hard to admit to their mistakes. As crazy as it may sound, Jody was right about one thing. You tell the truth to the people who’s feelings don’t matter and lie to the one’s who do to keep them from hurting.
It’s not right but no one wants to lose their most valuable player. ”
“Paxton that makes no sense. For one, we are grown and yes, we change but damn, if you know you plan on doing a bitch wrong then get the fuck on.”
Her frustration was seeping through, and the tears started up again. I wanted to take all her pain and carry it on my shoulders all so she could have some peace. Yani gave off such a genuine spirit that I knew whoever did her wrong was going to hate it when she moved on.
“Yani, what happened?” I asked the million-dollar question that was floating over her head.
“That ongoing relationship ended, and I am carrying around a broken heart Paxton. I put my trust in a man and got played like a fuckin’ fool.
Do you know how much of me I gave all for him to treat the next woman with more respect than me?
It hurts, Paxton, knowing that I wasn’t enough for him.
I match people for a living, yet I was getting mistreated by a man that I’ve built a family with.
Ten years… he could’ve spared me this heartbreak! ”
She spoke and the man in me wanted to relieve her of her pain and suffering. I wanted to be the reason for her smiles. Whoever had her, lost out because she wasn’t going back. Not if I could help it.
Another shot was thrown back and from then on, we kept quiet and let the alcohol run its course. There was a hotel a few doors down so if getting fucked up was what she wanted to do, then I was with it.
The more she drunk the less she thought about whatever she was going through. She was running a business, being a mother, and God knows what else. All that other shit was going to take a backseat tonight while she let her hair down.
“Okay. You got me drunk, now what?”
Yani’s eyes were low and hazy. Drunk had indeed found her quickly. The way she damn near chugged the bottle, I knew it was coming sooner than later.
“If you’re ready to lay down, there’s a hotel next door. I can get us separate rooms and we can sleep it off.”
“I’m not ready to sleep shit off. I’d prefer we do something else.”
Yani wasn’t herself and although I would love to take it there with her, I had some type of self respect.
She stood grabbing the unfinished bottle of 42 in one hand and my hand in the other. She led us out of the bar and to her truck. She opened her door and brought me in with her.
In between her legs was where I was stationed. Her flesh quickly found mine and that self control I once had, started to wither away. Her lips were so damn soft and tender.
Before I allowed myself to get lost in her, I abruptly stopped the kiss. She had no idea the strength it took just to be able to back away from her and not get deeper into the situation.
“I can’t do this. Yani this isn’t right.”
She kissed her teeth and snatched me back in by my shirt.
Her lips were back on mine and this time her legs were wrapped around my waist. Both of us were fully clothed, yet I could feel the warmth from her canal seeping through.
Yani and my self-control were in a battle of who would win.
Right now, she was winning by a landslide.
The soft moan that escaped her throat and found its way into mine was the cause of me throwing up a wall and trying my best to hold it up.
“I think you should sleep this off. Just let me take you to the Marriot. It’s a few doors down.”
Yani didn’t want to hear that. I was sure that she was trying any and everything to soothe her heartache, but this was the wrong way. She was indeed a woman I would’ve loved to indulge in but now wasn’t the time.
She fixed herself and I jogged around to the driver’s side. Without us saying anything else to each other, I drove us two buildings over to the Marriot and ushered Yani inside.
The front desk clerk looked alarmed until I asked for two rooms. She handed them over but eyed me the entire time as if I planned on causing harm or some sort to Yani. I understood because of Yani’s drunken state but I was far from him.
We rode the elevators up to our designated floor with Yani kissing on my neck the entire time. No matter how much I tried to pry her off, she wasn’t budging. I had no choice but to grant her, her way. That was until I was able to get her to her room safely.