Chapter 18
Heat surges through my body, and pain radiates in my head from the spike in my blood pressure.
I’m all for conversing with Roman, but his hostility toward Fayth won’t be tolerated in my presence.
Despite their father being the asshole he is, Roman isn’t the co-party responsible for Fayth’s existence.
Therefore, his tone and attitude with her will be respectful, or the fight he’s seeking will be achieved.
“Roman? Quintyn? What’s going on?” Ms. Rosemary’s sweet voice inquires, yet my eyes don’t move from Roman.
The amount of aggression coming off him is enough for me to watch his every move, so I’m not caught off guard in the event he swings at me.
“I’m trying to find out myself, but this nigga isn’t saying shit, and neither is Fayth.” Roman hasn’t called Fayth by her name in all the time I’ve known him, so I know he’s in his feelings.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Rosemary. I didn’t know that Fayth and Quintyn were—” Mavis starts before Roman cuts her off.
“I heard you the first time, cuz. I’m just waiting for one of these flawed mothafuckas to confirm the shit. Are you gonna come clean or not, Mr. Protector?” Roman’s nostrils are flaring, and death is shining in his eyes.
“From your puffed-out chest, knowing you can’t whup my ass, to the drool in the corners of your mouth, I know the truth ain’t what you want.
However, let me be clear about some shit.
Just make sure your bitch ass can handle it.
” My tone is calm, but fire surges through my blood as my muscles tingle with hyper-awareness.
Fayth and I planned a private conversation, but properly laid plans don’t dictate circumstances, so here we are. Despite my suggesting this location for the necessary discussion privacy was the plan.
“Man. Get. To. The. Fucking. Point.” Roman claps his hands while staring daggers at me.
“Fine. I’m in love with Fayth Lael Miles. Not only that, but we’re in a relationship.” I step back to avoid the punch Roman throws my way and damn near knock Fayth over.
“Bitch ass nigga. What the fuck did I tell you about my got damn sister?” Roman rages while swinging again.
Before I can stop myself, I start throwing jabs at Roman, and shit goes left in a matter of seconds. Screaming and chaos sound around me, but logic has left the building because standing and letting Roman punch me ain’t about to happen.
“Of all the mothafuckas to disobey my rule, I never expected it to be you, nigga,” Roman continues while we exchange blows.
Talking while fighting ain’t my thing, so I don’t utter a word as my punches connect with Roman’s face.
“Break them up, Lavell. What the hell are you standing around for?” I hear a shrieking feminine voice shout.
“Quintyn, Rome, please! Stoppp!” Fayth’s voice penetrates my psyche, causing me to freeze at the terror in her voice.
“Shit!” My head goes to the left when Roman’s fist hits the side of my face, catching me off guard.
“Roman Miles! Throw one more punch, and I’ll be the next one you fight out here,” Ms. Rosemary shouts, instantly deflating her son, who steps back with murder in his eyes while staring at me.
“Just so we’re clear… fuck you and Sunshine.” With that, Roman walks away, knocking a chair over as he goes.
For the first time since shit hit the fan, I turn and look for Fayth, whose standing off to the side with tears rapidly falling from her eyes. Fuck!
“Come here, Lay,” I urge softly despite the ice reeling in my bones.
“I knew he might be mad, but I didn’t expect him to hit you or want to fight. I also didn’t expect him to…” Fayth’s words trail off, making way for the tears that have been heavy since the fight between Roman and me.
Not sure what Roman was on, I had Fayth come to my place so she could attempt to get a decent night’s sleep.
What I didn’t expect was the stinging or bruise on my face from Roman’s last punch.
Now that my adrenaline has receded, I’m feeling everything, and my thoughts are everywhere.
After taking a shower with Fayth, where I tried to suck her emotions away with three back-to-back orgasms, I’m lying in bed with ice resting on my cheek.
While I regret exchanging blows with a man who’s been my friend for several decades, I don’t regret falling in love with Fayth.
Her laughter, smile, compassion, sex appeal, and ability to love me without limitations are something I refuse to give up.
The problem is I’m not sure how Fayth is gonna handle this fallout with Roman.
The two of them have always been close, and with him cutting her off, I know she will have some reservations about the two of us.
“H-He said fuck me,” Fayth cries, confirming my thought without realizing it.
“It’s gonna be okay, Lay. He’ll come around.”
“No, he won’t. He’s never said fuck me before. He didn’t even look at me when he left. This isn’t gonna be okay, Quintyn.” The aggression in Fayth’s tone is expected, but the tightening of my chest as a result is not.
I ponder how I could have handled this situation differently for a few seconds. Maybe I could have had a private conversation with Roman to let him know I was feeling Fayth. Perhaps, I should have said something years ago when his stupid rule came about, knowing I disagreed.
“Roman has always protected me and made me feel like I had someone in my corner. When our dad treated me like shit, it was Roman who told me that Scott was full of shit and didn’t know what he was talking about.
I don’t know who to be without my brother in my life.
How am I gonna survive his absence?” Fayth continues, causing the chambers of my heart to fray and begin splintering.
I’m confident in my love for Fayth and willing to go to the ends of the earth, showing her that she’ll always be safe with me.
Yet, this moment has me feeling like Fayth is on the verge of breaking up with me just to repair what she thinks she broke with Roman.
I don’t know how to process or fix this, forcing me to remain silent.
With Fayth’s emotions spiraling, it wouldn’t be smart for me to say something that could backfire.
Then a part of me wonders if Fayth’s love is surface-level only.
Declaring my love for her in front of her brother and everyone gathering in her mother’s backyard, I laid my cards on the table.
Yet, Fayth has been crying for hours about Roman’s feelings, never thinking about mine.
Fayth hasn’t asked me how I’m feeling, nor has she shown an ounce of the love she claims she has for me.
Maybe I should break up with Fayth so she can run back to Roman and beg him for forgiveness.
After all, blood is thicker than water, so I’m sure if Fayth grovels enough, Roman will forgive her.
Who am I kidding? My love for Fayth ain’t temporary. As far as I’m concerned… fuck Roman and our friendship. I’m not about to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of his ego and controlling ways. Last I checked, I’m the man laying pipe to Fayth, so his ass needs to move the fuck out of the way.