Chapter 8
The hardest thing I ever had to do was act like I didn’t want to be around Divine. She was magnetic. I never had to wonder where she was in the house because when I showed up for my shift, I went straight to her. For two whole weeks, I divided my time between her back yard where I tended to the steadily growing peony garden and the cabana where she had a bar set up.
There was a TV out there where I caught up on my home improvement shows. I never wanted a pool in my back yard, but I was thinking about adding seating to my garden area. Not that I ever had guests, but I needed a project. I was struggling to keep that gorgeous, gorgeous girl out of my head at all costs. Syre warned me about how crafty she was. Now, I knew firsthand just how manipulative Divine could be.
“Can we talk? Please?” Divine asked, walking out to the cabana holding a piping hot plate of food.
Just like clockwork, an hour or so into my shift, she showed up with food. If I didn’t have the mind to avert my eyes back to the TV, she would have easily weakened my defenses. She usually just spoke to me and put the plate on the bar before going back inside. This time, she lingered.
I had no idea what she wanted, but I wasn’t going for anything strange today. So instead of letting her beautiful, cognac, puppy-dog eyes break me down, I put my attention back on Extreme Treehouses .
“What do we need to talk about, Divine?” I asked, keeping my focus on the TV.
“I miss you, Lee Lee,” she whined.
I scoffed. “How the hell do you miss me, and I’m here four days a week?”
“I miss us then,” she countered placing the plate on the bar.
“I work for your cousin as your bodyguard. There’s no us to miss, Divine.”
“And will you stop calling me that?” She pouted.
“Is that not your name, Ms. Gold? Would you prefer me to keep it more formal? I don’t know how I let myself forget that I was the help once again.”
“Come on, Lee Lee. Don’t be like that. If you’re going to be here, the least you can do is be civil.”
“Is that not what the fuck I’m doing? I’m speaking in an inside voice although we’re outside. I’m not disrespecting you. I’m staying out of your way just how you like it. What is the problem, Divine? You want me to quit?”
“You know what the problem is.”
The break in her voice made me look at her. My legs carried me to the bar to stand in front of her before I could even process what was happening.
“What’s wrong, Divine? I’m giving you what you wanted.”
“This,” she said, pointing between me and herself. “This is not what I wanted, Liam.”
“Well, tell me what you want from me, Divine. I’m doing my job. I’m showing up every single day that I’m supposed to be here. I’m even planting you a peony garden, even though you shitted on me and played me for a fool. What the hell else do you want from me?”
“I want you to come inside. I miss your companionship. I miss talking to you. I miss hearing you sing all those old TV show theme songs when you don’t think anyone is paying attention. I miss you making me laugh and smile without really trying. I miss your friendship. If I have to apologize a thousand times, I will. I just want my friend back.”
Fuck.
As an only child, I spent a lot of time being entertained by the TV. My parents’ volatile relationship had caused me to pick up all kinds of coping mechanisms. My constant companion gave me one that seemed to stand the test of time.
Divine might have been one of the only people to pick up on the fact that I was always singing TV theme songs during an awkward silence. It wasn’t the silence that prompted my singing. It was my nerves. TV was a welcomed distraction, even when I wasn’t watching.
I knew I was a goner when I stood up to talk to her, but I never expected for her to tug at my heartstrings the way she did. Hell, I didn’t even know I had heartstrings until a few seconds ago. Divine’s little ass was playing them muthafuckas like a violin, and she knew it. I wanted to give in. Still, I had to stand my ground. I wasn’t going out like that.
“I hear you.” I finally responded.
Her pretty brown eyes watered, and I wanted to jump over the counter and pull her into my arms. I wanted to apologize for hurting her feelings, but I knew deep down that I was right to stand on business. Divine needed to know I wasn’t going to let her toy with me like she did her brothers and probably every other man who she had ever encountered. Picking up the plate, I walked back over to the wicker sofa and had a seat.
“Thank you for the food, Divine,” I said as I got comfortable on the couch.
“Liam, please.”
“Please what? What do you want from me?” I asked her, lifting my brows.
“Let me make it right,” she suggested, walking around the bar to stand between me and the TV.
“How do you plan on doing that?”
“I don’t know. I just can’t stomach having you mad with me.”
“I’m not mad.”
“Now who’s the liar?” she quizzed.
“What do you want me to say, Divine? You know what you did wrong. Neither of us have a time machine, so I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Are you always so fucking stubborn?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“Is this your idea of making it up to me? I’m just asking.”
“I know that it’s going to take time, but from where I’m standing, all we have is time.”
“Divine, all I ask is that you be honest with me. That’s all.”
“I can do that.” She nodded.
“Good. If I’m going to protect you, I have to know what to protect you from. I need to know where you are and what you have going on. I know how not to intrude, Divine. You have to trust me the way you claim you want me to trust you.”
“Got it. Well, you should know that I’m seeing someone,” she mentioned.
“I think that was obvious when I rolled up on you while you were on a date.”
“I want to be open with you about it, Liam. I have only mentioned him to my girls. I figure the more people I tell the more I jinx it. Since I consider you one of the girls, I should have told you too.”
Biting back a smile, I pointed a finger at her. “Don’t push it,” I warned her.
“I miss seeing you smile, Lee Lee. You’re so adorable.” She cooed.
“You really think I’m a stuffed animal, don’t you?”
“A mean one, but yes.” She grinned.
“How am I mean when you’re the one who did something to me?”
“Don’t change the subject, Lee Lee. I’m trying to give you the tea.”
“Oh, yeah? Where is it? I was gon’ grab a bottle of water out of the fridge.”
“That means gossip, silly. I’m trying to let you know what I have going on so there are no more secrets.”
“OK, you’re seeing someone. Who is he?”
“His name is Sherrod Bates. They call him Rod the God,” she disclosed.
“The rapper?” I frowned. I just knew I was hearing things.
“Yes.”
“So, that’s the kind of dude you fuck with?”
“Not typically, but he’s so sweet, Lee. He treats me like a princess and spoils me just like the boys. I always knew that whatever man I ended up with had to treat me the way they do, or he wouldn’t be able to keep my interest. I’m not ready for him to meet my family yet, so I’ve been trying to keep it low key. It’s only been about a month.”
“That’s cool and all, but if he gets wrong with you, you know I have to check him.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. Please, keep this between us until I’m ready for him to meet my people.”
“All right,” I said, picking up the remote and turning up the volume on the TV. I had heard enough about Divine’s love life to last a lifetime.
“I guess that’s my cue to leave,” she said, laughing nervously.
“I’m out here if you need me.”