6. Carter
CARTER
E shook his head at me as I finished lifting the weight. “I was there, bro. She’s fine as hell, and you haven’t cracked that?!”
“What part about thirty day fast don’t you understand. It’s already been almost two weeks. Let me do this,” It was my turn to shake my head.
“Fine. Get blue balls. What if she dies in thirty days, and you never get to sample that?”
“Is that all you think about? You act like a horny teenager.”
“Nigga what?” E asked. “You bugging for real. My dick still works, and I’m going to use it every chance I get. That’s on you if you choose not to partake. I don’t judge you, so don’t judge me.”
When women spoke about little man syndrome, I always thought of E. He was my homie, and I loved him. I wasn’t sure if it was something he’d gone through or the fact that he was only like 5’8 but his logic when it came to women baffled me at times. The insecurities were loud.
“You’re absolutely judging right now. And you just said a whole lot of nothing. You somehow latch on to women that need saving. You swoop in and save the day, and they want to repay you with pussy.”
“Nigga, you don’t know me.” E kissed his teeth. A huge indicator that I was right.
My response was laughter. Nicole had told him she wasn’t sure if they should move in together, and that nigga lost it. He’d been cheating on her left and right because in his brain that was clearly the size of a pea, she must be cheating too.
“Nicole clearly doesn’t need saving because she wants to stay in her own place and pay her own bills. I wish I would keep helping her and paying my bills too, when all she has to do is move in with me,” he grumbled.
“What would happen if she let her place go, moved in with you, and then she found out you cheated?”
The frown that covered E’s face had me chuckling. “I guess she’d move out. What’s your point?”
“My point, nigga, is that maybe she’s trying to save herself some trouble. If you and her break up, she’s right back out there having to find a place and start over. I can’t blame her for not wanting to risk that. Maybe she’s waiting on a proposal before she moves in.”
“Why you always siding with the bitches? You sound like a pick me.”
“Please grow up,” I chuckled. “You’re the one that’s been out here crying and crashing out because Nicole doesn’t want to live with you. I was trying to help you find a solution to the problem.”
“It’s not a problem. She can keep doing her, and I’ll keep doing me.”
“That’s what it it then.”
E was hurt. His ego had taken a hit, and he was dealing with it by acting out.
All he had to do was really sit down and talk to Nicole and see where her head was at.
If he didn’t want to do that, that was his business.
I wasn’t going to keep giving unsolicited advice.
I placed the weight down and grabbed my phone.
“Fuck,” I groaned after reading the text message a woman named Sheree had sent me.
“What’s up?”
“I forgot all about that wedding I told Sheree I’d go to with her.
It’s at the end of the month. She just asked me if we were still going.
We haven’t talked in about three weeks.” I shook my head at myself.
She’d asked me more than four months ago to attend her sister’s wedding in Golden Waters, North Carolina with her.
I was usually pretty good about remembering things without having to write them down.
This one had slipped my mind like a muhfucka.
“Why haven’t you talked?”
“I think she was trying to make me jealous. She kept dropping hints that she wanted a relationship but if I wasn’t ready to commit, she’d pursue other things.
I told her she was free to do that, and she started dating some guy she works with.
I hadn’t even thought about the wedding honestly, but if they’re still dating, I wonder why she doesn’t take him instead. ”
“Because you’re the one she really wants. She’s settling for him because he wants her. And why doesn’t the relationship Guru want to be with Sheree?” E smirked.
“Far from a relationship Guru. I just have a little bit of common sense. And Sheree does too much. I’m very honest, and I don’t have anything to hide, but we’re not in a relationship.
She actually got mad because she wanted to go through my phone, and I told her she was out of her rabid ass mind.
The first time she came to my house, she was all in the bathroom cabinets looking to see if there was anything in them that belonged to a woman.
That was her last time there too. I’m good on that. ”
After my workout, I got in the car to head home and take a shower. Mentally, I became lost with planning out the next few days and going over everything I had to do. My music stopped, and Alise’s name appeared on the screen.
“What’s up Gorgeous?”
“What’s gorgeous are the flowers you sent me. Thank you. They put a smile on my face.”
“That was the goal. What you up to?”
“I just left my Airbnb and came home to change for my Pilates class. The delivery guy literally pulled in right behind me. The flowers were a very nice surprise. My house is going to look like a flower shop soon.”
“See? Intentional.”
“Very intentional,” she laughed. “I hope you’re having a good day.”
“I am. Just left the gym about to head home and take a shower. What’s for dinner?”
“I’ll probably grab something after my Pilates class. It’s in a little plaza that has a few different restaurants and takeout spots.”
“Meet me after, and we can grab something to eat. Text me the address, so I can already be in the area.”
“Okay. The class ends at 7:30.”
“Bet.”
I talked to Alise until I got home then went straight to the shower.
Shani was asleep, and the home health aide was scrolling through her phone.
She was a younger black woman maybe in her mid-thirties and every time she saw me, she eyed me like I was a piece of steak.
I was past the point of fucking anything with a pulse.
Shorty wasn’t bad looking at all, but I simply wasn’t interested.
After my shower, I drank a protein shake and went over some work emails before it was time to go meet Alise.
We decided to meet in front of a chicken spot and as I approached, she was already waiting.
That damn pixie cut had my dick jumping.
The pale purple leggings and matching fitted jacket she wore had her curves on display.
One thing I learned in couple’s yoga was that shorty was flexible as fuck.
I loved that she moved her body and stretched.
It would help her endure what I had planned for her ass in the bedroom once this fast was over.
Alise smiled bashfully as I approached her. I felt we were at the point of hugs, so I hugged her. Tight. Tight as fuck. I even placed a kiss on her forehead while inhaling that signature peach scent that always lingered around her.
“You’ve inspired me,” she stated after we placed our orders and found a booth to sit in.
“Oh yeah?”
Alise nodded. “I think I’m going to do the seventy-five hard challenge.
I always used to see it, but I would come up with reasons not to participate like oh I’m going on vacation, and I’m going to be drinking and not eating healthy.
Damn sure not gonna be exercising on vacation. But I’m going to commit to doing it.”
“That’s what’s up. Health is wealth. We aren’t getting any younger.”
“Not at all.”
We talked and ate. Alise showed me pictures of her daughter, and I did the same.
I told her that I was actually going to visit my son the following weekend.
When we were done eating, I walked her to her car and gave her another hug but that time, I took it a step further.
I lowered my head and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
The kind that lingered a bit. I kissed her a second time, but I let my tongue part her lips.
Right in the parking lot, we kissed slow, but deep.
My erection felt like it was trying to burst through my jeans, and I pulled back.
“Bad influence,” I mumbled staring at her.
“You kissed me,” she giggled.
I opened the car door, waited for her to put her seatbelt on, and closed the door. Got damn thirty days.