Chapter 28 Blossom #4
Despite how I was feeling at the moment and how my day started, I knew it wouldn’t end that way because of this house.
Although it was nearing winter, it was beautiful out here.
The sun shone bright in the clear sky, while the air was crisp and cool.
To me, those were signs that indicated how perfect this day was going to be.
“Girl, that man is going to love you and that child to no end.” Stacy waved me off as she got out of the car, whistling at the sight of the home. “I need to get my money up or marry me a rich nigga. This place is niccceeee!”
Laughing at Stacy, the vibration of my phone pulled me away from her jokes. Frowning at the unknown call, it was time for me to cuss TJ out. There wasn’t anything else that he needed to say to me, and I wanted him to lose my number so I wouldn’t have to get a new one.
“Listen, nigga, I’ve tried to be nice, but I am sick and tired of you harassing me.
” I sneered, causing Stacy’s steps to falter.
“We don’t have shit to talk about! You need to be worried about dodging that needle instead of hounding a woman whom you will never breathe the same air as ever again.
” Walking up the driveway, I took note of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan that was already parked.
I’d emailed Mr. Banks and given him the access code to the home this morning so he could get a head start on the tour if he wanted.
“Make this the last time you call me because if I call my man—”
“I’m slicing that nigga thinner than the edge’s on his dead mammy’s head.” I gasped at the sound of JJ’s voice. “Why you ain’t tell me that nigga was fucking with you?”
“JJ?” I pulled the phone from my ear to check the Caller ID to make sure I didn’t miss his number showing. “Why are you calling me restricted?”
“I’m in the morgue but fuck that.” He snapped as I heard movement in the background. “I’m on my way—”
“So you still have my location? Still tracking me?” Silence.
“I’m not mad.” I giggled into the phone as I walked up the stairs of the home.
The columns were so tall that my neck began to hurt as I peered up to check out how high up they went.
“I’m glad to know that you’re still in the shadows,” I said when JJ didn’t respond.
“Finding out about the things TJ has done has made me a little uneasy.”
When I found out all of the things that TJ was accused of, I couldn’t believe it.
He had never shown any violent traits to me, so when I heard about the shootings and murders he committed, I was floored.
He’d been reaching out to me more frequently, wanting to meet and talk, but after what’s come to light and seeing him break into my home, I would never speak to him again.
The only reason I slept somewhat peaceful at night was knowing JJ was not letting anyone get close to me, and Stacy and I both carried and had weapons around her house to defend ourselves, if needed. No one was ever kidnapping me again.
“You know that I will never let anything else happen to you, right?” he finally replied as Stacy opened the door to let us in. My mouth dropped instantly. “I will die before a hair on your pretty little head is touched.”
“I know, baby,” I answered honestly as I smiled. “I know you don’t play about me.”
“Good.” I could still hear the tension in his voice, and I didn’t like it. “I just wanted to tell you that I missed you and wish you luck that you really don’t need. Call my phone if you need me but let me know when you leave. I love you, mama.”
“I love you, Papa.” I stuck my tongue out at Stacy as she whipped her head my way. “I’ll call you later. See you.”
“I know that’s muthafuckin’ right!” She twerked through the foyer as we made our way further into the home. The echoes from our heels sounded with each step we took. “Papa, don’t play about you.”
“You know, you’re a lot merrier today than you were the last time I saw you.”
Snapping my head to the middle of the sitting room, I locked eyes with JJ’s friend, Marshall. Looking from him to Stacy, I nodded in his direction. “Tell me this isn’t Mr. Banks.”
Confused, she pulled out her iPad and pulled up his file information. Going to his profile, she looked from him to me, back to it before passing it my way. Groaning, I handed it back to her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, genuinely confused. “Do you know him? Let me know something, friend, because if he’s the opp, we can beat his ass in here.”
With a cocky grin on his face, he pulled one of his hands from his slacks as he came our way. Extending his hand to Stacy, she stared at him and waited for me to speak.
"Stacy, this is JJ’s friend, Marshall. You know, the one I was telling you about the day you picked me up from JJ’s house?” I gestured between the two of them. “Marshall, this is my best friend and assistant, Stacy.” Placing my bag on the mantel, I eyed him skeptically. “Why are we here?”
With a look of amusement, he lowered his hand as his eyes followed me. “You’re still mad at me, huh?”
“I don’t know you to be mad at you, Marshall.” I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Are you here to really look at this house, or do you want to taunt me about my brother? I think I’ve dealt with enough, and I’ve come to terms with our life and his karma. So, what are we doing?”
Angling his head at me, I saw the moment his demeanor changed.
My heart rate increased as we continued to stare at each other.
I didn’t know anything about him, and might’ve gone too far speaking to him that way.
He gave me dangerous vibes, and just because he was Jaseon’s friend didn’t mean he wouldn’t snap my neck in half.
“Ok, let’s start over.” He nodded. “I want to apologize for our last encounter, but by no means do I owe you one. You’re his girl, not mine. I don’t tolerate disrespect or threats too well—”
“I didn’t threaten you.” I dropped my arms by my side. “I merely said—”
“Don’t cut me off.” He held up his hand, making me shut my mouth immediately.
“You don’t think I noticed your homegirl pull that little-ass gun from her purse.
” I shifted my attention to Stacy, whose eyes were wide in shock.
“Yeah, shorty, I’m not some mark-ass nigga.
Look…” He took a step toward me. “I don’t want to beef with you, baby.
You’re my boy’s lady, and I don’t want to have to shoot that nigga.
Can we start over?” He smirked, extending his hand once more.
“I’m Marshall, and it’s nice to meet you. ”
I mulled over what he said, and he was right. He didn’t owe me anything. My issue was with JJ, and this interaction was very unprofessional of me.
“Blossom.” I grinned, accepting his hand. “I apologize for my unprofessionalism, and I would love to show you this home if you're interested.”
“Y’all muthafuckas are nuts!” Stacy exasperated from behind us.
“You go from that lame-ass cop to two fine-ass psychopaths in less than two months.” She walked up beside us and craned her neck up at Marshall.
He, too, was a mountain of a man. “Good thing they’re all fine as hell.
You're trying to move me into this house with you, big daddy?”
Throwing his head back in laughter, I watched as she looped her arm in with yet another one of my clients and led him through the house.
I didn’t mean to snap at Marshall the way I did, but I didn’t know if he was here to play me.
Seeing that he was serious about the home, I threw my best realtor hat on and pitched it as only I could.
If all went well, I would have two things to celebrate with JJ: a new sale and a new baby.