38. Jai
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
JAI
S avvy: What the fuck is going on, Jai? I haven’t heard from you in three days! I would hate to pull up on you, but you making it hard for me not to! Text me back to at least let me know that you’re good!
As I read his message, I could feel the frustration and concern in his words. I hadn’t had any communication with Savvy since he dropped me off at my house following the incredible weekend we shared. It was a time filled with laughter, connection, and unforgettable moments, so I was sure my silence had him beyond worried.
Instead of going home that night or the following morning after we had sex, I ended up spending that day with him, too. At the start of our day, we worked out together―in a gym and in the bedroom. Let’s just say I was sore from both, fuckin’ with Savvy. After we enjoyed a refreshing shower together, we went over to his house―the one where he had his brother―to spend the day with his family. Skye was there, too, which added to the excitement of the day. We kicked things off by heading to the backyard, where he had set up an impressive gun range display, and we took turns letting off some shots. That easily became the highlight of my day. Savvy initially thought I couldn't shoot, but I was determined to prove him wrong. I almost matched his skills, although he still had the edge on me.
We ended up leaving around noon, but just for a short outing. Instead of my usual evening visit to my grandfather, Savvy took me to see him a little earlier since I knew Gwen was preparing a big dinner for us back at his house. When we finally sat around the table, it felt like a scene from a storybook. We laughed and shared stories like one big, happy family. The only missing piece was Monte, whose absence was felt amongst his parents, Savvy, and Skye.
Later that night, we gathered around a crackling bonfire and spent hours joking and chatting. That weekend overflowed with happiness, laughter, a whole lot of fucking on me and Savvy’s end , and an overwhelming sense of peace that lingered long after the flames had died down. Every time Savvy kissed me that weekend, it felt like we were finna make a baby.
When that Sunday morning rolled around, a bittersweet feeling washed over me. I longed to cling to our fairytale, to stretch those magical moments a little longer. However, the reality loomed overhead—I would eventually have to return home and confront Maleek, especially since I had silenced my main phone to escape his relentless calls. The hushed device felt like a shield against his intrusion, allowing me a few days of peace . I still had the secondary phone that Savvy had given me. I provided that number to the nursing home and to Cali only, since, at the time, those were the only important people who I figured would’ve bothered me on the weekend.
With a heavy heart and a mind swirling in confusion, I finally mustered the courage to respond to Savvy’s text.
Me: Hey, Savvy! I’m okay, thanks for asking! I hope you’re doing well too. Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about our relationship, if we can call it that, and I want to share what's on my mind. This past weekend felt really special in so many ways —you can’t even imagine. Being able to talk about anything and everything with you is such a refreshing change from how things are with my boyfriend, where conversations often feel… rushed or unimportant. But even with all those amazing moments we’ve shared, I've come to a tough realization. As much as I value what we have, I think it’s best for me to take a little break and put some distance between us for now. This doesn’t mean it’s forever, but I need some time to sort out my feelings about my current relationship. I really hope you can understand where I’m coming from.
After hitting send, I was hit with a rush of emotions. Tears just started falling, each one heavy with sadness yet somehow also clarifying the choice I’ve made.
I wasn’t choosing Maleek over Savvy. I was just confused and angry all in one, and I didn’t want to make any rash decisions. Maleek hadn’t stepped foot in the house since my return, and our communication had been limited to a series of texts that felt scattered and hollow. I knew we needed to sit down and talk face-to-face before I could even think about pursuing anything further with Savvy.
After collecting myself, I stepped out of the small bathroom stall, taking a deep breath as I approached the sink. I splashed cold water on my face, desperately trying to refresh my appearance before returning to my job after my break. The rest of the time at work felt like an eternity. With four long hours still stretching ahead of me, each minute dragged like heavy molasses. However, when the clock finally struck seven o'clock, I wasted no time clocking out.
As I stepped outside into the cool evening air, I spotted Maleek leaning casually against my car, his posture relaxed yet his expression tense.
“What are you doing here, Leek?” I spat, irritation spilling over as I walked toward the car.
He pushed himself off the car. “Jai, I just want to talk to you.”
I exhaled sharply, frustration evident in my voice.
“Okay, and you couldn’t come to the house for that?”
“I just figured our first real conversation after everything that has happened would probably be better in a public setting.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “So, you figured if you come to my job, I wouldn’t slap the shit out of you, huh?”
“Well, yeah, shid.”
When my phone chimed, Maleek glanced at it.
“You got a new nigga already, huh?” he assumed, based on a simple notification.
I rolled my eyes and glanced down at my phone. I had received a text from Savvy. However, I didn’t see his response because I quickly slid it into my purse to keep Maleek from prying.
“Leek, the best thing for you to do is be my peace right now,” I advised.
You’re already not the nigga that I want, I wanted to include.
“Aight, you’re right. But can we just talk? Even if it’s just a few minutes. I know you don’t want to talk about that shit in yo’ job’s parking lot, so come and hit a few corners with me.”
Since we hadn’t really talked about that night, and the fact that I didn’t have a bedtime because I had taken off the next few days for my birthday were the only reasons I was willing to hear him out right then.
“Okay, but we’re taking my car,” I responded, setting boundaries.
He raised his hands in surrender.
“Fair enough.”
The hum of the engine filled the silence as we drove for a couple of minutes, both lost in our thoughts. I could feel the pressure of unspoken words hanging in the air. I was about to voice my thoughts when Maleek finally broke the stillness.
“Jai—”
The moment my name escaped Maleek’s lips, his phone buzzed insistently, cutting through the moment.
Although I was focused on the road, I glanced over to see his boss’s name flashing on the screen. I could see the conflict etched across Maleek’s face as he debated whether to pick up the call.
“Is ‘Boss’ actually your boss, or are you just avoiding a call?”
“A little of both, but hold on, baby,” Maleek gestured, holding up a finger as he answered the call.
I cringed slightly when Maleek called me 'baby,' but I refocused on the road while he handled the conversation.
“Shit! Why the hell did he have to call me now?” Maleek cursed after he ended the call.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Aye, do you mind swinging me by somewhere? I need to pick up something from my boss.”
I whipped my head at him. “Hell no, Leek! You’re not about to have no drugs in my car!”
“Drugs? You really think I’d get in your car with drugs? I wouldn’t even have weed in here, Jai. He’s actually giving me some money… legit money to take to someone.”
“Yeah, but Leek, you know I don’t want no dealings with the stuff you’re involved in. My car is one of a kind due to its color, so someone could easily recognize it if some shit went down.”
“Jai, this isn’t an exchange or anything like that. Baby, you should know that I’d never put you in harm’s way like that… ever. I just figured since we still haven’t talked, and this will only take a minute, that you can swing me by there. Where I’m going is literally two minutes away.”
As I peered through the windshield at the road ahead, an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. My instincts screamed that I should have turned the car around right then, dropped him off at his parked vehicle, and driven straight home to the safety of familiar streets. A whisper in the back of my mind warned me that a mistake or even danger was looming just around the corner. Despite that, a sense of obligation compelled me to continue driving with him beside me.
“Where am I going?” I asked with a little attitude laced in my voice.
“Just keep straight. I’ll guide the way from there.”
Approximately two minutes later, we pulled up to a white house that looked oddly out of place amid the decay of the surrounding neighborhood.
“I’ll be right back,” Maleek announced before opening the door.
“Five minutes, Leek, or I’m gone!”
“I won’t be in there that long. You can even keep the car running,” Maleek assured as he stepped out.
Once the door shut, I hurriedly locked all of them due to the feeling of unease from being in that neighborhood.
With Maleek inside, I seized the moment to check Savvy’s text. My heart sank when I saw his response—just a single word: Bet . An unsettling feeling crept over me, twisting my stomach. What Savvy said didn’t feel like an agreement; it felt more like a challenge.
I contemplated texting him back, but as I caught a glimpse of Maleek emerging from the house, I quickly put my phone away. When I glanced back his way, my gaze locked onto the figure with whom he was speaking.
“Wh-What the hell? What is Savvy doing here?! How does Leek even know him?! Oh, my God! What if Savvy is telling Leek about us!” A storm of thoughts surged through my mind, each one more panicked than the last.
As they concluded their conversation and went their separate ways, Savvy paused mid-stride, then turned slightly, glancing toward my car. Thanks to the tinted windows, he couldn’t see my expression, yet the smirk on his face felt like a dagger, piercing through the uncertainty and fear that gripped me.
“See, I told you I wouldn’t be in there long,” Maleek said once he slid back into the car.
I shifted nervously in my seat, adrenaline coursing through me.
“Leek, who… who is that man you were just talking to?”
“That was my boss, baby.”
Fuuuuuuuuuuck me!