Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
Ramel
Regina was beautiful, but after listening to her talk for a minute, I could tell the problem she was creating in her life wasn’t as big as she thought it was.
I was being pressured to marry somebody that I didn’t even care about, let alone love.
Yet she was complaining about parents who weren’t around long enough to be in her business.
Hell, if I could get rid of my overbearing ass parents for a while, I’d be happy about that.
Gina and I were having two completely opposite problems. I couldn’t say I knew what she felt.
I had never experienced my parents staying off my back for even a little bit.
So, I didn’t totally understand it, but I did know enough to know she was grown, and as an adult, one couldn’t expect their parents to be there for every special occasion.
I wanted to tell her that, but I couldn’t find the right words. Besides, I knew women didn’t like accountability. If I told her what I really felt, I knew she would end this conversation as soon as she was tired of hearing my voice. So, I tried to reserve my thoughts and let her keep talking.
“It’s almost like they don’t even care.” She giggled and tossed back yet another shot after the one we both took for her birthday.
The more she spoke, the more drawn in I was, despite not agreeing with the shit she was saying.
It was hard not to get caught up in how big and juicy her lips were or how she showed every one of her teeth when she smiled.
Her little giggle was sexy as fuck, and the only reason my dick wasn’t rock hard right now was that I was forcing myself to remain focused.
Her lips were so perfect, plush, and pouty.
I wanted to kiss her ass, but I had so many things running through my mind.
I wouldn’t be able to stay focused if I kissed her lips.
If her lips touched mine, I knew for a fact she was going home with me, and if I took her home with me, she was going to be mine.
I had too much going on to even move in that direction.
Besides, my home wasn’t safe right now. There was no telling who would be showing up on my doorstep after I disappeared from the party.
I was pretty sure everybody was looking for me.
I had no doubt that my mama would be the first to show up at my house whenever she wanted.
If she had her way, I would be staying next door to her and my pops my whole life.
“You think you could be overreacting? I would pay good money to have my folks mind their business for a little while. I think you should take advantage of your freedom while you got the chance.” I took the shot I had been babysitting when I was done talking because I wanted her to think about what I’d just said.
Just as I thought, she stood from her seat without saying another word.
I wasn’t tripping, though, because women that beautiful didn’t like when niggas disagreed with them.
I wasn’t a man who agreed just to get along.
If I had something on my mind, I was going to say it, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it.
I was a man before anything, and if we had a disagreement, we could talk about it, but nine times out of ten, I wasn’t going to change my mind.
“And what makes you think you know a damn thing about me and my family?”
“That’s all you been talking about since you sat down. I think I know enough to form an opinion.”
“Well, it’s an opinion I didn’t ask for,” she snapped as she pushed back from the bar and walked off. I wanted to watch her fine ass walk away, but I grabbed her arm before she could get too far.
“Where you going?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Oh, me too. Hold up a second.”
She rolled her eyes and walked off toward the door, but I followed her out. She could be mad if she wanted to, but I wasn’t letting her fine ass get away from me. It was dark, and she was too damn drunk to be walking the streets alone. Wherever she was going, I was going too.
I might have spoken my mind and pissed a lot of people off, but my mama raised a gentleman.
I knew not to let a woman who looked like her walk these streets alone.
I wasn’t saying we were in the hood, but we definitely weren’t in the safest part of town, and she wasn’t even from here to know that.
I doubted she even knew where she was going.
“Yo, Gina, wait up!” I yelled, jogging behind her.
“What do you want?”
“You know it’s not safe for you to be out here walking alone.”
“I don’t think I need a babysitter
“Yeah, but you may need company, walking this time of night. Where you going? I’ll take you.”
“I don’t need a ride. I got a car.”
“Okay, well, I’ll walk with you to your car.”
“Do whatever you want,” she sassed, walking in the opposite direction from the parking lot.
“Hey, you hungry?
“Kind of,” she replied snobbishly. It was apparent she was still mad at my ass, but I knew she wanted to eat.
“Alright. I know a burger joint that’s still open this time of night. If you’re not too bougie for burgers.” She stopped in her tracks, and I threw my hands up in mock surrender. I wasn’t trying to piss her off more than she already was.
“No one is too bougie for burgers.” She rolled her eyes again. This time, even harder than the last.
“You’d be surprised.”
“Well, lead the way,” she said, stretching her arm out in front of her so I could take the lead. Instead, I grabbed her hand and held it in mine. I could tell she wanted to resist, but at this point, she already knew I was getting what I wanted. So, she let me hold her hand.
Billy Ray’s Burgers was one of my favorite spots.
It was like a hole in the wall, and I think it was his brother who owned the bar that we’d just left.
That was how it was in Mississippi. Most of the businesses that were around each other were owned mainly by family, and this situation was no different.
It was easy to transition from one business to another, which was just another way family could support family. I liked the idea of one business supporting the other and the money staying all in the family. I believed that was the true purpose of having ownership, so you could put your family on.
“After you.” I opened the door to let Gina walk in, and her ass jiggled with each step. I couldn’t help but wonder how well it would move while I was giving her back shots.
“Thank you.”
“Welcome to Billy Ray’s.” The lady behind the bar greeted us as soon as we walked in. “You guys can have a seat wherever you like.”
We slid into the first booth on the right, one after another. I got on the same side as her because I wanted us to be close. I pushed up as close as I could to her, especially since she was trying to get as close to the wall as she could.
“See, now you trying to be funny,” she said, rolling her eyes with a slight chuckle.
She was acting like she didn’t want anything to do with me because of what I said, but I was confident that as the night went on, I would change her mind.
I knew I wasn’t the easiest person to get along with because of how blunt I was, but women loved me.
Gina could play all she wanted, but I would eventually break down those walls.
“I’m sort of a funny guy.” I shrugged my shoulders and flashed her a smile.
“You ain’t cute.”
“You only said that because you think I’m cute. It’s okay, baby. My mama blessed me.”
I knew I should have been focused on my situation with Lacy, but Gina was something I couldn’t pass up on, especially when I had so much stress in my life right now.
I needed a distraction, and she was the perfect one.
I’d be a fool if I let someone who looked like her slip by without at least making myself known.
“So, what you thinking about eating?” I asked as she glanced over the menu.
“I think I’m going to just get a burger. I need something to put on my stomach so I don’t be sick in the morning.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, especially since you almost drank everything in the bar.”
“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” She rolled her eyes.
“Hey, if you want somebody to lie to you, just say that. I’m a truthful nigga. I’m gon’ always tell you the truth.”
“Yeah, you say that now, but nobody tells the truth all the time.”
“I do. I was raised that way. Sometimes I might bite my tongue, but when I do talk, it won’t be a lie.”
Since we were two of the only people in the restaurant, it didn’t take us long to get our food, and we pretty much ate in silence. I didn’t know if she didn’t want to talk to me or if she was still in her feelings about what was going on with her family. I knew I was in my head about mine.
My family was literally on its last leg, and I was no longer willing to make sacrifices that didn’t feel good.
At this age, I was only interested in making decisions that would better my future and the future of the family that would one day come from me.
I just didn’t see how marrying Lacy could contribute to that future.
Things were finally going right at work.
My commander had just come back, which took a lot of the work off my shoulders as XO.
I’d been drowning in work while my commander was away, getting better.
He’d almost drowned in an accident not too long ago and had to take sick leave.
As the executive officer, I had to step up and take his place.
I did my job to the best of my abilities, but no one could run a unit like the commander.
Aside from that, the soldiers didn’t listen to anyone, like they did the commander, either.
Although I was proud to say they had given me my due respect, and I gave them my all.
Now that Cap was back at work, I was happy to slide back into my old role.
Yet, the more that I get settled at work, the more things seem to turn up at home.
I didn’t know how I was going to get out of this marriage, but something had to give.
Yeah, I’d walked out and said it was off, but I knew my parents wouldn’t let it die there.
I would have to answer for my actions sooner or later, and I had no idea how that conversation would go.
“You wasn’t playing with that burger, huh?” Gina asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Hell nah. Once it landed on my plate, it was over with for that cow.” That made her laugh, and I was happy I could put a smile on her face. Seeing that she was done with her food too, I knew it was time for us to make our exit. “Let me get you out of here.”
“Yeah, I do need to be getting home.” Gina yawned, and I could see the sleep in her eyes. Once I paid for our meals, we walked toward the door together.
“Now, can I walk you to your car?” I asked, throwing shade since I knew she didn’t want me to.
“Ramel, I don’t need a babysitter, but this was nice. Thank you for the food and the drinks. I appreciate you for keeping me company tonight, even though we had a difference of opinion.”
“No problem. I appreciate you letting me spend time with you. I needed a listening ear myself.”
“I feel like we didn’t even get a chance to talk about your issues.”
“That’s okay, baby girl. We can talk about all my problems next time. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.”
“Probably not.” She smiled before walking off.