Chapter 6
My detail was so easy that I almost felt like I was stealing. For my first month of working with Divine, she had dinner waiting for me when I came in. Eventually, I told her to wait until I came in for my shift so we could cook together. I didn’t like her thinking that she had to do things for me.
She explained that all the men in her life thought she was fragile and couldn’t do anything for herself. She liked that I wasn’t like that and let her do something for me. As long as she didn’t mind doing it, I stopped arguing. She could probably get me to do anything she wanted. She was a little spoiled, but I liked it.
As I sat on the front row of the Georgia Tsunami’s basketball game, I thought about the decisions that led me here. Just a few months ago, I was thinking I was about to get a promotion. A heated moment caused me to quit, and now, I was at an NBA game making sure no one hurt a beautiful woman, who happened to be able to make me laugh and smile at the drop of a hat.
“I’m sure you get this a lot, but you’re pretty as fuck.”
Without looking up, I knew the man was talking to Divine. I was salty as fuck before our eyes even connected. Didn’t he see me sitting right here? There was no reason that he didn’t think I was her man. I felt slighted that he had the audacity to approach her with me sitting right next to her. The scowl on my face must have deflated some of that bravery because he back pedaled.
“My bad, bro. I didn’t mean no harm,” he said, holding up his hands in defense.
Divine’s eyes shot to me, and a smile softened her face. “Oh, it’s cool. This is my bodyguard.”
The fuck?
I mean, yeah. I was her bodyguard, but that clown didn’t need to know that. All he needed was ammunition to move the fuck around.
“Oh, word? I’m not gon’ hold you though, ma. Take my number. We should link some time,” he suggested.
Was it crazy that I was salty about her giving that dude her number? His face was vaguely familiar, but I didn’t follow these young dudes. I was pretty sure he called himself being a rapper or something. The unkempt locs and gold grill he sported made him look just like the rest of these cats. He wasn’t right for Divine. There was no need for him to have her number.
“I’ma have to report that to my boss,” I teased. I would never betray her trust like that. Still, I didn’t like it.
She giggled. “Oh, wow. Really? I didn’t take you for a snitch.”
“Yes you did. I’m pretty sure you referred to me as an opp.”
“And you’re determined to earn that title.”
“You good. Just make sure you move smart, Cookie,” I advised.
“Yes, sir.”
Those simple words almost made me burst into flames. I was so crazy about her that sometimes I forgot she wasn’t my girl when we were together. As far as I was concerned, she was mine. I just didn’t know how to deal with that minor detail yet, so I was playing things by ear. Her giving niggas her number wasn’t part of the plan.
Although I was sure the tickets had cost a grip, Divine was more interested in her phone than watching the actual game. Finally dragging her nose out of her phone, she looked over at me.
“Hey, you remember me mentioning a guy named Roger that used to be on my detail? You probably don’t. Anyway, they found him badly beaten. The article I just read said he doesn’t remember anything.”
“How long has it been since he worked for you? Was he there since I got hired?” I quizzed.
“Nah. He had been gone a few months when you came. He was so creepy there’s no telling who finally got to him.”
Divine’s response showed that my response kept her off my trail. He deserved more than a few broken bones for making her feel so uncomfortable in her own home. I’d heard her express not wanting to get him killed by telling Syre how he made her feel. It was the only thing that kept me from sending him to glory. He could thank the angel sitting next to me for his spared life. I couldn’t guarantee that I wouldn’t finish the job. Fuck him and anyone else that dared to fuck with Divine now that I was in the picture.
* * *
After a few months, I was still in awe at the excitement I felt when I was headed to wherever Divine happened to be. I was scheduled to work four twelve-hour shifts a week and to be on call until midnight on the other three days. I loved working four on and three off because it gave me more time to decompress. This time, it was different.
I couldn’t put my finger on the strange feeling that plagued me each week on day number five, but I didn’t like it. My first day off was usually my favorite day of the week. Usually, I treated myself to some much-needed rest. Now, I hated being off for a lack of a better word. I wanted to see Divine, but there was no way to justify it. Instead of enjoying my days off as usual, I found myself thinking about Divine.
It was noon. So, I knew she was at her store, Divine Smoothies. Just for a second, I considered going to her shop for lunch. I didn’t want to raise any red flags by showing up at her job, but the truth was I missed her. I was almost afraid to admit it, knowing what my growing feelings for her might mean in the future. I already knew she was mine. I’d also accepted that sometimes people didn’t get what they wanted.
Instead of following through with my plan to torture myself for the next three days, I grabbed my phone and keys from the table and headed out. There was nothing wrong with going to get a smoothie.
I hadn’t even made it to my car before my phone rang. Seeing Renatta’s name on the screen almost made me stop in my tracks. I could use some good head right now. Instead of bailing on my plan to go see Divine, I answered the phone as I hopped into my ride.
“Hey,” I answered once the phone connected to my car speaker.
“I just left the gym and thought about you,” she said.
“So, you already got a workout in. You don’t need me, huh?” I chuckled.
“I was actually thinking about grabbing some food and coming to see you as a cool down.”
Renatta was a Zumba instructor for the gym near my house. If I went to the gym, I liked to go in the morning or late at night when it wasn’t crowded. I happened to run into her one morning when she was teaching her five AM class. She was as low maintenance as they came. Renatta was recently divorced and just looking for a good time. It was the perfect combination if you asked me.
“I’m on my way out to lunch right now if you want to meet me,” I told her.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I wondered why I said them. I didn’t want a woman I was casually smashing to meet Divine. Something about that didn’t sit right with me. Not that I was cheating on her, but I felt like it was a good idea to keep my two worlds separated.
I didn’t have any business trying to see Divine outside of work hours anyway. There were only a few days before I would be back on duty. I could last that long. What was another three days without her? I guess I was about to find out.
* * *
Any excuse to be around Divine worked for me, so getting paid to do it was just mind blowing. Plus, I got to do one of my favorite things while I was there. Before going inside, I dropped my supplies next to Divine’s back door.
The window was closing on being able to put bulbs in the ground so they would be ready for spring. The lack of color in her back yard didn’t sit right with me, so I planned on rectifying the situation. Using the back door, I let myself inside and went straight to the kitchen.
After placing the container of oatmeal raisin cookies on the kitchen counter and putting the grape juice and cookie dough ice cream in the fridge, I went to find Divine. She looked crazy with a head full of different colored sticks I assumed were used to curl her hair.
“What’s up?”
“Hey, Lee Lee,” she greeted me. A smile brightened her already gorgeous face, causing my heart to skip a beat.
“What’s your favorite flower?” I asked her.
“I used to say roses, but I like peonies better. They’re so pretty. You plan on buying me some flowers or something?”
“Just curious, Divine. I was kind of wondering why you didn’t have any in your yard, though.”
“I’m not a outside kind of girl. I keep it pretty in here but don’t worry about the outside. I might get a gardener to come in or something one day, but I don’t go out there enough to worry about it.”
“With that set up back there, I figured you would be out there all the time.”
“When I moved in, I thought I would too.” She shrugged. “What’s that?”
Looking back at the counter, I answered her question. “I brought you some peppers and tomatoes from my garden.”
“Oh, so you were serious about that?”
“You thought I would lie about growing tomatoes?” I shook my head.
“You would be surprised what people lie about. Thank you so much, Liam,” she squealed with excitement. “I can’t wait to use them.”
“You’re welcome, Cook. I also brought you some cookies, candy, and juice,” I told her.
“You really think I’m in preschool. Don’t you, Lee Lee?” She giggled.
“I’m well aware that you’re a full-grown woman, Divine. The cookies are for your sweet tooth and the juice has antioxidants and stuff that help with cramps.”
“How did you know I was having cramps?” Her brows snapped together in a frown.
“Because you’re about to start your cycle.”
Another frown was accompanied by her stopping in her tracks. The black tights and tank top she wore left little to the imagination and made me want to put my arms around her to see just how soft she was.
“What?”
“It’s for the symptoms. I figured you had pills left, so I didn’t get more.”
“Liam, how the hell did you know that? Have you been going through my phone?” she quizzed, lifting her eyebrows.
I laughed and shook my head. “No. When I started you said you had just started your period. It’s been exactly three months. Remember I brought you chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms, and pineapple juice last month?”
“Damn,” she mumbled. “I’m going to hate to lose you when your girlfriend starts thinking you have a thing for me and makes you quit,” she teased.
“Whatever.” I laughed at her comment knowing there wasn’t a woman gracing the planet that could make me leave her.
“I’m about to get changed. I ordered take out. Your food is in the microwave.”
One thing about this woman, she knew to feed my greedy Taurus ass. I was going to eat no matter what. She disappeared behind her bedroom door, and I headed to the kitchen to retrieve my plate. She had really looked out for me. Apparently, she’d been craving Italian because there was chicken marsala, fettuccine alfredo, and garlic knots on a huge plate. I was about to smash.
I warmed up my food then got comfortable at the island to eat. I was about halfway done eating when Divine emerged from her bedroom. I watched her like a hawk as she pranced around her living room looking good enough to swallow whole in an all-white dress that stopped right below her knees. She looked so good she didn’t need butter, sauce, or nothing on her. I would eat her up just like that.
The sky-high heels she’d put on made her ass sit up like she was a stallion. All of her curves were on display down to way too much cleavage as she continued to move around and take the squiggly sticks she used to curl her hair out.
“Going somewhere?” I finally asked.
“I’m supposed to meet Candice in an hour,” she revealed, finally looking over at me.
“Where y’all going?” I quizzed.
Stopping in front of the floor-length mirror, she smiled in approval at her reflection. She knew she looked good as fuck. No one had to tell her.
“To eat at some new spot she wanted to try. It’s Uptown. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“Uptown where?” I pressed.
“I gotta get the address. Actually, after you finish eating, can you run to that beauty supply store in Ocmulgee Plaza? I need some mousse. I meant to text you before you got here.”
“What the hell is mousse , Divine?” I asked with a frown.
“It’s the stuff that helps my curls to stay. I wanted to put a little more on it, but I ran out.”
“You got a bottle?” I asked, knowing that I would never find it if I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for.
“Yeah, I think so.” She nodded as she strutted back to her bedroom.
Minutes later, she returned with an empty plastic bottle. By the time she came back, I was discarding the trash from the food.
“This is the brand I prefer, but any kind will do in a pinch.”
I walked over and accepted the pink and white bottle, studying the name before looking back at her. I wanted to go to the garden supply store to get what I needed to plant my baby some peonies anyway.
“What’s the name of the store?” I asked, looking up from the bottle.
“Queen Beauty. It has a real big, pink sign. You can’t miss it.”
“I’m not about to be running no errands all damn night, Divine.”
“Thank you, handsome.”
“Don’t try to butter me up, Cookie. You already know you got me wrapped around your little finger,” I cautioned her.
“That’s because you love me, Lee Lee.”
“Girl, hush it up. Don’t start nothing tonight. I’m not messing with you.”
Once I was out of the house, I went to the beauty supply store first. I didn’t waste time going up and down the aisles looking for Divine’s mousse. As soon as I walked in, I walked straight to the counter.
“Hey, my man. Where can I find this?” I asked, holding up the bottle.
“Try right down that way,” he said, pointing in the direction that he wanted me to go.
It took a few minutes, but I was able to find what Divine wanted before leaving to go to get my love’s flowers. Since she already had plans with her girls, I would leave her to it while I did the planting then check in with her once I was done.
I was so familiar with the supply store that I went straight to my intended section. Instead of getting bulbs like I’d planned, I got plants that were already growing. I grabbed both herbaceous and tree peonies since Divine didn’t specify her preference. Once I had everything I needed, I headed back to her house.
I left the flowers in the car before going inside so Divine could finish her hair. As if I were seeing her for the first time, as soon as our eyes connected, my heart went haywire. It never failed that her smile sent shockwaves through my entire body and sent my heart into a frenzy.
“You found it,” she said with a growing smile.
“Don’t look so surprised.” I chuckled.
“Whenever I send my brothers to get something, they never bring back the right thing.”
“I know how to follow directions, and I damn sure know how to read.”
“Well, thank you, Lee,” she said, taking the bottle from my hand.
“You’re welcome, pretty girl. You need to get on it. You don’t want to be late.”
“I’m about to spruce this hair up and head out.”
“I’m going to hang back for a few. Divine, get there in one piece please.”
“I know how to drive, Liam.” She rolled her eyes playfully.
“The jury is still out on that one,” I teased.
“Whatever.”
“What’s the name of the restaurant? You never told me,” I reminded her.
“One something. I’ll send you the address.”
“All right. I’m about to go to the back for a while.”
“I can’t wait for it to warm up enough so I can get out there.”
“By the way you dress with your cheeks hanging all out, I didn’t think you got cold.”
“Whatever. You’ve never seen me with anything hanging out.” She laughed before going back to her bedroom.
Pulling out a stool, I sat down at the island since I didn’t want to get started on the flowers before she left. Only a few minutes passed before she came out looking even better than before if possible.
I shook my head. “Don’t hurt em, D.”
“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t try.” She smirked.
“You’re right.” I agreed.
“Well listen, I’m about to head out. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Send me the address, Divine.”
“I will, father.”
* * *
It took me about an hour to plant the flowers in the back yard. After washing my hands and getting myself together, I pulled my phone out of my back pocket. I shook my head after seeing that Divine still hadn’t sent me the address to where she was. Hitting her contact, I called her with the phone on speaker.
“Your call has been forwarded to an automated—” I hit end before the recording finished its statement.
“No this heifer did not send me straight to voicemail.”
Me:
Send me the address, Cookie.
Picking my keys up from the counter, I headed out aimlessly. I had no idea where the hell I was going other than Uptown. Once I was in my car, I tried calling Divine again. Of course, her little ass didn’t answer yet again. Now, I was thinking of how elusive Divine had been when I asked her where they were going. I was already violating by letting her leave without me.
At this point, she was just playing in my face. I knew damn well I wasn’t crazy, so I wondered why Divine thought I was. I refused to think the worst. Hopefully, my baby wasn’t hurt or in danger while I was trying to play the good friend and let her have the freedom she craved. I couldn’t even begin to consider that something had happened to her, so it was better to believe that she was up to no good.
Something compelled me not to call Syre. I knew he would go ballistic on her and probably fire my ass in the process. He couldn’t help me anyway. I knew better than to call Syre, but I also didn’t want to wait to find Divine just in case something was actually wrong. Scrolling through my contacts, I found the one I was looking for and pressed the call button.
“Yeah?”
“Is this Psalm?” I asked since none of them seemed to know how to answer the phone.
“You called me. Who is this?” the man on the other end quizzed.
“It’s Liam. I need you to track Divine for me.”
“She finally got away from you, huh?” His low chuckle showed that he found it amusing. Maybe that would play in my favor, and I would still have a job tomorrow. “I have a tracker on her cars. Don’t fucking tell her. I’m about to send you the address.”
“Is it possible for you to send me the link so I don’t have to call you next time?”
“What makes you think there will be a next time, my guy? If you can’t keep up with her, it doesn’t sound like you’re cut out for the job.”
“You might be right.” I shook my head, pissed that I let trying to be the nice guy fuck up the sweetest gig I’d ever had.
“I’ll send you the addy.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled just as the round of beeps let me know he had ended the call.
The phone buzzed in my hand letting me know that I had a text message. I opened it and copied the address then pasted it into my GPS. I was a little over twenty minutes away. Traffic was typically ridiculous on a Friday night, and it was no different as I headed Uptown to Divine’s location.
The Eating Spot was a new restaurant that I only knew of because of the numerous commercials and billboards. I hadn’t considered going there, so I definitely didn’t expect to be there under such circumstances.
The parking lot was full, but I didn’t have any trouble finding a parking spot. I let out a huff of hot air as I climbed out of my car. By the time I made it to the door, I was fuming. Not only was Divine playing with me, but she had the nerve to have her phone off. What if something happened? How the hell was she going to call for help?
I almost crushed my phone in my hand when I walked into the restaurant. The first thing I saw was the back of her head. From where I stood it looked like she was laughing her ass off at whatever the hell the big-headed nigga sitting across from her was saying. There was no way he was that damn funny.
“Sir, may I help you?” the hostess asked as I passed her podium.
“No,” I said over my shoulder, continuing to march toward my target.
When I made it to the table, I was so angry I couldn’t speak. Divine looked like she’d seen a ghost as I stood behind her little date eyeing her.
“U-um, hey,” she stammered.
“Something wrong with your phone?” I asked her.
Her date’s head almost did a 180 when he whipped around to look up at me. He was insignificant, so I didn’t bother to give him my attention.
“No.” She laughed nervously. “I actually forgot to send you the address.”
“Who the hell is this, Divine?” her date asked.
“Don’t play with me. I’ve been calling and texting your ass. Why did you turn your phone off?” I asked her.
“I wasn’t trying to avoid you, Liam. I turned my phone off to keep my brothers out of my business.”
“You know we’re better than this, Cookie. Why you playing with me?”
“I’m not playing, Liam,” she said, dropping her shoulders.
“The hell if you aren’t,” I snapped.
“My nigga, what the hell do you want with my girl?” her little friend asked.
Him referring to Divine as his girl almost made me burst into flames. Instead of ramming his steak knife into his shoulder like I wanted to, I dismissed him.
“Don’t worry about who the fuck I am, little one,” I said, giving him his one and only warning.
“Liam, relax.” Divine sighed.
“You’re really telling me to relax after you played me like a chump? I’m pretty sure you just got me fired, and you have the fucking nerve to tell me to relax?”
The way her smile seemed to melt away made me feel bad, but I had to stand my ground. Letting her manipulate me had gotten us into this situation. I shook my head before continuing.
“I’ll be outside.”
Me:
Got her, bro. Thanks again.
Psalm:
Yeah
It takes a lot to surprise me, but that’s exactly what I felt when a second message came through from Psalm with a link attached. When I hit the link it took me to a picture of a map with two red dots. One of them was here and the other was at Divine’s house—her cars. If Psalm was giving me the link to her location, then maybe this wasn’t my last night on the job.
Thirty minutes passed before Divine emerged from the restaurant looking around the parking lot for me before heading to her car. When she pulled out of the parking lot, I followed her. I was so pissed off I didn’t even turn on my radio as I trailed her home.
When we made it back to Divine’s, I parked in my designated spot and hopped out of the car. I followed her little ass, ignoring the fluid sway of her hips in that dress as she headed inside. My face was on fire as I did my sweep through the house.
“Liam, I’m sorry. OK?” Divine said, leaning against the kitchen counter.
The house was clear, so I stepped into the back yard and made sure everything was good there before going back through the living room toward the front door.
“Liam!”
“What is it, Divine?” I barked.
I spun around to face her. Her puppy dog eyes threatened to defuse my anger as she took careful steps in my direction. I had fallen for her wiles for long enough. I wasn’t about to let her play me again.
“Talk to me,” she whined.
“Oh, now you want to talk?” I asked her.
“Yes.” Her voice cracked, and it took everything in me not to rush over and pull her into my arms the way I’d wanted to do since the first time I laid eyes on her.
“Divine, you sat up there and played with me like you’re a fucking child. You keep saying that you want people to treat you like an adult. Well, why don’t you learn to act like one, and maybe they will learn the difference? I told you that you could be real with me. I told you that I wasn’t going to treat you like a fucking little girl. I made the mistake of trusting you and trying to be your friend, and you played me for a fool.
“You had the chance to talk to me, and you lied! I can’t rock with you, Divine. You showed me that I’m nothing but a flunky to you. That’s not on you. I should have listened the first time you told me how you felt. I’m the fool for thinking that we were friends. Now, I’m out of a job for trying to treat you like you claimed you wanted to be treated.”
I really didn’t know if I was more angry that she had a date or the fact that she felt like she had to lie to me about it.
“You don’t have to tell them what happened,” she countered.
I scoffed. “That’s what you got out of everything I just said? How do you think I found you?” I shook my head and turned for the door again.
“They can’t fire you for something I did, Liam. I said I was sorry.”
“Good night, Divine.”
“Liam, wait.”
I knew if I looked at her again, I would fold. Deciding that I had said all I needed to say, I snatched the door open and slammed it behind me. If I still had a job tomorrow, I would know better than to let her manipulate me and play on my weakness again.
My phone buzzed in my hand, and I looked down and saw Divine’s name on the screen. Once I made it to the back yard, I lay back in one of the lounge chairs and looked up at the stars. Unable to fight the urge any longer, I opened the message to see what she had to say for herself.
Divine:
Give me a chance to fix it.