Chapter 15
Four Days Later
For the past four days, I had been avoiding Truce like the plague.
The conversation, the lights, the music, and the wine made me lose my damn mind.
It wasn’t lost upon me that Truce was attracted to me.
The man would always stare at me for long periods of time, giving me those sexy bedroom eyes.
He was also going above and beyond to make sure I was safe and protected.
Not to mention the bond he shared with Scottlyn.
The girl was attached to him, and it made me wonder if she missed her daddy.
I questioned if Truce was just a familiar person, and if she actually saw her father in him.
During the past four days, I had been back and forth from my mom's place and Jas’s, catching up on time that we missed together, and it felt so good.
The next day, after our heated moment, Truce did as he promised and bought me a new phone and took me to the police station to file a restraining order.
I honestly didn’t think or believe that it would work because Damien didn’t give a fuck about a piece of paper.
If he wanted me, he was going to come get me, but I tried not to think negatively about my situation.
I was determined to move away from being the distressed victim and continue to love on my daughter.
My first goal was to find a job to take care of us.
I told myself that once I did that, it would be smooth sailing to my independence.
We were currently at my mom's house for a dinner gathering she pulled together at the last minute. She had invited her former colleagues from the hospital and a few neighbors with whom she’d had a long relationship.
They had brought their daughters, who Jas and I grew up with.
Sanaa was Miss Sheila’s daughter and one of the girls I didn’t care too much for.
She was fake as hell, but I didn’t make a fuss about my mom inviting them. I was just happy to be with my family.
Truce was sitting at the dining room table surrounded by the women.
They were fawning all over him, and I didn’t like it.
There was nothing I could do about that, though.
Truce wasn’t my man, and I had no rights to him.
That still didn’t mean I didn’t feel a little jealous.
The fact that he was flirting back with the thirsty women irritated me as well.
I left the dining room and went into the kitchen to catch a breather. I poured a glass of wine just as Jas came into the kitchen with Scottlyn on her hip.
“My baby loves me, Jela. She said my name!”
“Did she?”
“Yes. Say TT Jasmine, Cupcake.”
“Jaime!” Scottlyn yelled in excitement, then clapped her hands. “Yayyy!”
I laughed. “I like the new name, Sis.”
“You know what, Cupcake. I’ll allow it.”
She placed her in the highchair my mom had just purchased for her and looked at me. It was crazy how she and Jasmine went into a shopping frenzy, buying any and everything they thought Scottlyn needed for their houses. “What got you in your feelings, sis?”
I frowned. “I’m not in my feelings.”
“You are. Is it because of that walking sex God sitting at the table?” She laughed, and I rolled my eyes.
“I’m not thinking about that man.”
“Girl, stop that damn lying. You’ve been thinking about him since you met him. If you want me to drag Sanaa, just say the word. She's been in his damn face all night.”
“And apparently, he’s been in hers too,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
Jas stared at me for a minute before she smiled. “Y’all had sex, didn’t y’all?”
“What? No!”
“Then why are you getting so riled up?”
“I’m not riled up. But… we did do a little something,” I told her.
“Oooo, do tell.”
“We just kissed, and he sucked my breasts. His mouth… Jesus.”
I had to stop this. The feelings I was feeling were wrong and very dangerous. He was already putting himself at risk by going against his brother for me. I couldn’t leave one brother for the other. Damien would undoubtedly kill us both.
“Giiiiirl! If he got you about to come just from laying his mouth on you, I fear what that dick gon’ do to you.”
I grabbed the dish towel and tossed it at her. “Shut the hell up, Jas. I can't do that with him.”
“Why not?”
“Are we forgetting he’s Damien’s brother?”
“And? If you let him go that far, then you may as well let him knock it out of the park. I bet you he talks a bitch through iiiit!”
“Would you freaking stop!” I covered my face because why the fuck did that make me blush?
“Nope.” She took Scottie out of the highchair. “I’ll keep my baby tonight. You say he leaves tomorrow. What better way than to give him some farewell vagina?” She winked at me and left the kitchen, while I stood stewing on her words.
“Jela, bring the pie out, babe,” I heard my mom yell from the dining room.
I set the wine glass down and took the pie off the stove. I walked back inside the dining room to find Sanaa still in Truce’s face while he continued to entertain her. I tried to ignore them, but the shit was hard. I could feel myself wanting to do exactly what Jas told me to do.
“Ooo, pieee!” Sanaa sang. I took the knife and began cutting the pie into triangles. “What kind of pie do you like, Truce?” she asked.
“Sweet potato pie is my fav. My aunt makes the best pies.”
“Yummm. I’m going to have to make you one, one of these days. Have to see if I can put your aunt’s pie to shame.” She giggled.
“Oh, really? We shall see, shorty.”
Oh, would you really?
I slapped a piece of pie on his plate upside down, dropped it in front of him, and did the same to Sanaa’s. He looked up at me in confusion, but I rolled my eyes before offering more pie to everyone else. My mom took over, and I left the dining room to find Jas and my baby.
I see his ass liked to play games, and this was why I knew doing what we did a few days ago was not good for either of us.
I could already see and feel myself falling for a man who was forbidden and didn’t belong to me.
I had to figure out my next move before I gave in to my sexual frustration or my current aggravation.
“So, Truce… What made you get into the building industry?” Mr. Pierre Owens asked. He was my mom’s neighbor, Vanessa Owens’ husband, and seemed genuinely interested in Truce’s work.
We had all migrated to the living room after dessert.
It was approaching nine o’clock, and I knew Scottlyn would be ready for bed soon.
Jasmine was serious about taking her for the night since she didn’t have to work in the morning.
I didn’t mind since they had gone way too long without her, and I trusted my sister to take care of her.
More than I trusted Ms. Delilah’s ass.
“I would have to pay homage to my father and my Creator for blessing us with the knowledge and gift. At six years old, I already knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.”
“Is it hard to do?”
“It's very tedious, but I manage. I think the hard part for me is the electrical work, but I plan to take a course on it soon to have another certification under my belt.”
“That’s great. I wanted to get into the field but quickly found out that it wasn’t for me.” Pierre chuckled.
“Oh, please. You took the class and a week later, you dropped out,” Mrs. Vanessa said, and they all laughed.
Truce sipped his beer and smiled. “Yeah, it isn’t for everybody.”
“Are you single, Truce?” Sanaa asked, sipping her champagne, then looked at me and smiled.
I see this whore is trying to press me.
“I am.”
“Why? I just know you have the girlies in a frenzy!”
“I don’t pay enough attention to what they do or don’t. I like my peace more than I like problems. Besides, I’m at a point in my life where I’m not looking for one-night stands. I need a wife.”
“So, Mom… Where are you and Alex going for your anniversary again?” I asked her to switch up the conversation. Sanaa needed to find something else to do.
She beamed. “Thailand, and I can’t wait!”
“I wish you’d come back to the hospital, Draya. We need more doctors like you,” Ms. Clarissa said.
“Yeah, since you left, that hospital is going downhill. I think me and ’Ris are the only good doctors left,” Ms. Alexis countered.
“I’m not fully retired; I’m just taking a break. You all know how exhausting being in that career field can be. I just want to enjoy being a wife again, and my baby girl returning home means I can explore being a Nammy, too, now.”
“Where were you again?” Sanaa asked.
I stared at her for a second before I spoke, “Muskegon.”
“Oh, you were still at home! I thought you were in another state or something.”
“Another city or state, I still wasn’t here and hadn’t been for almost a year.”
“Well, excuse me. I just don’t get how you can be three hours away and not come back home.”
“It’s not for you to get.” I sniped at her while rolling my eyes.
“Sanaa. Go pour me another glass of wine, will you?” Ms. Sheila asked.
Sanaa smiled. “Sure, Mom. Truce, would you like some more Bourbon?”
“No, thank you.”
“You sure? I hear it’s really good and aged.” She winked and smiled.
He said, “No,” bitch.
“Maybe another time. I don’t like to drink too much and drive.”
“Okay.” She grinned at him and left the room.
Ms. Sheila looked at me. “I’m so sorry about that, Jela. She can be a little over-the-top sometimes.”
“If she doesn’t stop flirting with my sister’s friend and throwing shade, I’ma be on her top,” Jas said, coming from the back with Scottlyn all wrapped up and ready to go.
“Jasmine, knock it off!” Mommy warned her as I tightened my lips to not laugh.
“Nah, Mommy. Sanaa does too much, and you know it. I’m sorry, Ms. Sheila, but don’t invite her back over her no more. We don’t fool with her like that after she tried to sleep with my sister’s man two years ago. Although I believe he smashed anyway.”
“Jasmine Shanae!” Mommy yelled as her colleagues snickered.
“What? I’m just telling the truth.”