Chapter 7
I wasn’t surprised that Syre was the first thing pushing through the door of Divine Smoothies once I made it there at eight. The shop opened at six during the week, but I had an amazing crew that made sure things ran smoothly whether I was there or not.
They opened for me each morning, so I didn’t have to drag myself in before the crack of dawn to get started. The breakfast rush was insane. By seven things were usually jumping. I came in at eight to give a much-needed reprieve to my best employees.
“What’s up, big head?” Syre asked, leaning on the counter in front of me.
“Hard at work,” I mumbled.
“What’s wrong?” He frowned as he waited for my answer.
I had no idea why he was beating around the bush. It wasn’t his style. Usually, he came right out and said what he had to say. I knew he was about to tell me that he was replacing Liam. I was heartbroken knowing that it was all my fault he had gotten fired.
There was no way in hell I would ever get anyone else as good as him on my team. Not only was he the best bodyguard I’d ever had, but like he said, he was my friend. I don’t know why I didn’t think I could tell him that I had a date. I guess I was so used to everyone working against me and trying to control my decisions that I felt like he would try to stop me or tell Syre. He did work for him. It wasn’t outrageous for me to think he would do what he was hired to do.
“I’m waiting for you to come out and say what you have to say.”
“You think I’m scared to tell you to bring out two cases of those protein shakes? I ain’t stalling. I’m trying to see why you looking like somebody stole your puppy.”
His response caught me off guard, but I recovered quickly.
“What flavors do you want, ugly?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“Chocolate covered strawberry and vanilla milkshake.”
“Come on,” I said, motioning with my head for him to follow me.
Syre followed me to the storage room in silence, standing back as I unlocked the door and pushed inside. There were cases and cases of protein shakes and smoothies that we shipped out and sold from this location. It was getting to the point where I needed someone just to handle the shipping orders. I wasn’t complaining at all. Syre had been the one to give me the idea of bottling them for shipping. He was annoying at times, but that was still my baby.
“Take what you want,” I told him, stepping aside to give him access to the boxes.
“Not until you tell me who I gotta kill to put that pretty smile back on your face.”
I sighed. “You don’t have to kill anyone, Syre.”
“Well, tell me what’s wrong, baby girl. This ain’t like you.” He pushed.
I didn’t know how much Liam had told him, so I didn’t really know how to answer the question. I knew that if I asked him not to fire Liam, he would get suspicious. Knowing that I actually liked him and wanted him to stay on my detail was likely a red flag to Syre. His mind didn’t work like regular people.
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is going just like you want it to go.” I rolled my eyes, hoping that I knew him as well as I thought I did.
“What the fuck does that even mean, D?” he asked, throwing his arms up.
“Your little minions are doing exactly what you told them to do. I hope you’re satisfied.”
“What the hell did I do now? I’m completely in the dark on this one.”
That was a relief. Maybe Liam hadn’t told Syre what happened last night. That meant he went through Psalm to find out where I was. He was pretty good. See why I liked him? He was smart enough not to poke the bear and instead nudged the nerd. I tried not to smile as I figured out how much I wanted to tell Syre. Deciding to spill the beans, I mustered all the anger I felt last night before speaking.
“I see you got Liam trained well. I’m sure he’s working out just the way you planned. Got somebody ignorant as hell just like you on my bumper all the time.”
“What he do?” Syre asked, folding his arms. He didn’t even try to hide the sinister smile spreading his lips.
“You would be smiling with your punk ass. Your employee of the month snatched me up from a date last night. I wish y’all would understand that I’m grown.”
“You didn’t have no business on a date no way. Who were you with?”
“Is that your business?” I asked, stretching my eyes.
“Yes, it is. I need to make sure he’s a nice guy.”
“Are you a nice guy?” I quizzed.
“You ain’t trying to date me, and I ain’t trying to date no damn body. Obviously, he was a bitch made punk if he let somebody come in and snatch you up. My boy Liam did exactly what he was supposed to do. I need to give that nigga a raise,” Syre raved.
“Whatever, Syre. Get your drinks and get up out of here,” I sassed.
“I’ve been put out of better places than this.” He chuckled as he walked over and picked up the boxes. “You going to Bishop’s engagement dinner?”
“You know I am, and you better be there too.” I rolled my eyes.
“You know Ma gon’ kill me if I don’t show up. I just don’t know why bro going for that shit.”
“Someday, you will realize that you can’t run other peoples’ lives. You can barely run your own. Have you been to court yet?”
“Nah. Waiting to hear back from the court for the date,” he stated.
“Have you been eating? You look thin as hell.”
“That’s why I came and got my refill of shakes.”
“I’m cooking ribs tonight. Come by about six and get a plate.”
“I will if I don’t have plans.”
“You heard what I said, big head,” I warned him.
“Got you, big cuz,” he teased, turning to kiss my forehead. “Chin up, pretty girl. Let the man do his job. Next time, let me vet the nigga you think you’re dating before you try to sneak off with him.”
“I’ll do that when you start letting me vet your hos.”
“Hos don’t need vetting, D. They’re only there to do one thing.”
“That’s what I keep trying to tell you. I don’t need you to vet my hos when I only need them for one thing.” I winked.
I could see the smile melting off his face in real time. I burst out laughing as he turned around to face me.
“Don’t fuck with me, Divine.”
“See you tonight, Syre.”
“Don’t get none of these niggas hurt, D. Me and my boy Liam don’t mind rolling up on none of these fools. Be smart, baby girl.”
“Bye, fool.” I laughed.
* * *
The sweet smell of my homemade barbecue sauce filled my house as I pulled the ribs out of the oven. I left work after the lunch crowd started to thin out so I could start the meal I wanted to have tonight. I baked the ribs low and slow so they were falling off the bone.
If Liam decided to show up tonight, I wanted to have his favorite meal ready for him. All day long, I was tempted to call or text him, but I never gave in. Waiting for his shift to start was torturous. Syre called to let me know he was on the way, so there was that. I went about my business of cutting the ribs into portions before fixing Syre’s plate.
I used one of the carry out plates I had left over. I never knew if he would stay when he came to visit, so I was prepared for him to dine and dash or take his plate to go. A knock on the door caused me to put the plate on the counter. Syre usually knocked before letting himself in, but just in case, I headed to the door. Just as I expected, the door flung open before I made it to the living room.
“You got it smelling good as hell in here, D,” Syre declared as he walked in.
“You act like you forgot how I get down.”
“Nah, I can’t forget that. Ma made sure you got all the skills to keep your husband happy and well fed.”
“How am I ever going to get a husband with you and your goons in the way?” I asked.
“If a nigga can’t get around me, he don’t deserve you,” he replied as if that made all the sense in the world.
“You gotta stand down, Syre.”
“Look, I’m sorry for being so hard on you lately. This shit with Ma and Bishop got me stressed the fuck out. Seems like everybody is losing their damn minds. I brought you something, though,” he said, shoving a big cardboard box toward me.
“What is it?” I asked, unable to disguise my excitement.
“Here before I change my mind,” he said with a smirk.
Accepting the box, I placed it on the coffee table and walked over to grab a pair of scissors from my little cup of pens and trinkets.
“This my plate?” he called from the kitchen.
“Yeah.”
“What you got to drink in here?” he quizzed.
“Look in the fridge. I made some tea.”
“Got you.”
With Syre busy, I cut into the tape and opened the box. I shook my head seeing one of my favorite words. I didn’t hesitate to open the box and see exactly what was inside. The soft pink shade made me squeal.
“You got me another Chanel bag?” I asked as if my eyes were playing tricks on me.
“Did I do good? A bitch sent me a picture asking me to get that for her. Wish I would spend over $5,000 on a bag for a thot.”
“I love it, but you could have saved the backstory,” I said, walking into the kitchen where he stood at the island eating.
“I just wanted to make sure you liked it. I’m trying to make it up to you, D, for making sure Liam takes his job too seriously and for stomping your boy toy’s head in the ground that night. Let a nigga say he’s sorry with Chanel.” He chuckled.
“Thank you, Syre.” I smiled, throwing my arms around his waist.
“You’re welcome, baby girl. Let Liam do his job, and he won’t have to snatch you out of places. Stall him out, D,” he advised, kissing the top of my head.
“I’ll try.” I rolled my eyes playfully and continued to smile up at the man who thought he was my father.
“These ribs are good as shit. Fix my guy a plate tonight. I see he’s working hard to keep you in check around here.”
“He’s trying anyway.”
“If you’re pouting, then he’s doing a good job. He hasn’t done anything out of the way has he?”
“No. He’s the perfect gentleman.”
“I bet you just hate that,” Syre said with a chuckle as he closed his plate. “Let’s go to the back and blaze.”
“Lead the way. Between you and your employees, I need it.”
I followed Syre to my back door. When he opened it, he looked around before stepping out. “About time you got some flowers and shit out here.”
Before I could ask what he was talking about, I stepped out to see a tree flanking each side of the walkway leading out to my back sitting area. Droves of pink peonies were gathered at each side of the door. Liam . How long had he been working on this? It had been at least a week since I’d been out back, maybe two.
He didn’t even tell me what he was doing. That’s what I liked about him. If I said I liked something, he got it for me without me even asking or even thinking about it again. He was so much like my brothers it was crazy. I think that was why I was becoming so attached to him.
“Looks much better with some color, huh?” I asked as I followed him to the pool.
“Yeah. Now, you just gotta keep them alive,” he said as he plopped down in one of my lounge chairs.
“Just like a hater to say something like that.”
“I’m not hating. I like them.”
“Whatever. Fire up,” I told him.
My fave and I smoked in silence for a while. Since I only smoked on occasion, I was a lightweight. I only hit the blunt a few times before tapping out. I didn’t know how long I had been stuck in place when Syre stood and walked over to my side.
“Wake up, D. I think your new bestie just got here.”
“I want to lay here for a while. Let him know I’m out here.”
“He just walked up. See you later, baby girl.”
“Bye, Syre.”
I wanted to talk to Liam and apologize again for my behavior, but I was too high to move. I ran both hands down my face and took a deep breath to try to get myself together as I sat up.
“Didn’t know you smoked,” Liam commented as he stretched out on the lounge chair next to me.
“Mostly when I’m stressed out or when Syre comes around.”
“You stressed or just being social?” he asked.
“You know I’m stressed out. I’ve been trying to figure out what to say to you all day long. I’m so sorry for lying to you, Liam. I just know how Syre gets. I didn’t want him showing up and ruining my date.”
He scoffed. “Like I did.”
“The last time Syre found out I was seeing somebody, he came in and beat the guy within an inch of his life and fired my whole team. I wasn’t trying to get you fired. I was just trying to have some freedom.”
“What do you want me to say, Divine? I don’t give a fuck about Syre getting in your business. He hired me to protect you, not to spy. Am I not doing my job?”
“You know you are.”
“If I’m doing my job, then he doesn’t have any reason to have an issue with me or question what you have going on.”
“You don’t know how he is, Lee!”
“Fuck Syre right now, Divine. You and I had an agreement.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for not trusting that you would hold up your end of it. I’m so used to having to try to go around and dodge my brothers when I’m making my own decisions that I didn’t know if I could trust you.”
“Have I given you a reason not to trust me?” he questioned.
I sighed and shook my head. “Liam.”
“Answer the question, Divine.”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so. Fuck me for trying to be your friend,” he said as he stood.
When he turned to walk away, a lump formed in my throat. When making the decision to ditch Liam, something I never imagined would happen. I hurt him. He was right to think that we were friends, because up until the moment he walked out on me and slammed the door last night, I considered him as one of mine. Still, I couldn’t see past the reason that he was around me in the first place. I wasn’t sure that our friendship outweighed his job as my bodyguard.
“Liam!” I called to him hoping that he hadn’t decided to quit. He stopped in his tracks but didn’t look back.
“What is it, Divine?”
“The flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”
“Yeah,” he answered flatly before continuing to walk around the house.