6. Blair

Blair

The flashes from the cameras and lights blinded me as he pulled in front of the restaurant. I used my purse to shield the flashes and my face, as he put the car in park. The windows to his Ferrari were tinted, however, the windshield wasn’t tinted so all the paparazzi were rushing to the front of the car to snap a picture of us together.

Everyone wanted to know who Zay was dating, so it could end up all over the blogs tonight. There was no way we could avoid them, because this was his life. His life consisted of the media and people shoving cameras in his face or confessing their love to him because of his music.

“We can leave if you want, Blair. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable and shit.” He ignored the flashes, completely immune to the invasion of privacy that these people caused.

I gave him a reassuring smile. “We’re already here and it’s your friend’s grand opening to his restaurant… I would never make you miss it.”

He touched my chin, a gesture that had only been reserved for Quasim. Why was I concerned about that man when I was out with Zay? I hadn’t heard or spoken to Quasim in two weeks, and it was a welcomed distance that I needed.

I was able to get back into my routine without worrying about what Quasim was doing. As much as I missed him, this was what I needed to get him out of my system. If I was going to give Zay a fair chance, I had to push all thoughts of Quasim out of my head.

“You so fucking special, you know that?”

I smiled. “I can be when I want to be.” I shielded my face, and he looked me in the eyes before reaching across and kissing me on the lips.

I allowed him to kiss my lips as I slowly caught his movement and joined in. He pulled away and gave me a quick peck before he allowed valet to open the door for him. The other valet attendant opened the door for me, extended his hand out to help me up and out the car.

With help, I stepped out the car as Zay was rounding the car. He took my hand in his as we made our way through the sea of paparazzi and people waiting outside to get an autograph for him. Zay held my hand tightly as he pulled me in front of him while everyone screamed things at us. He was so smooth and had no sweat witnessing these people acting a plum fool behind him.

“Zay, is this why you and Grace broke up?” One screamed at him.

Another one damn near jumped right in our path, and security moved him. “Is this the one you were looking at rings for? You gonna marry this one, Zay?”

Even I looked shocked when he mentioned that he was looking for rings. Me and Zay hadn’t been dating that long, which wasn’t long enough for him to be shopping for rings.

“Clear the path… move the fuck back,” his security hollered, as we neared the restaurant, and I said a prayer, thankful that we would be inside the restaurant and not out here in this chaos.

The doorman opened the door for us, and we stepped inside of the restaurant. It was an Asian and Latin fusion restaurant called Pico and Panko, and everybody that was anyone was here. The décor was a mix between the warm tones of the Latin culture, and then the natural Asian hues. There was sleek wooden Asian inspired furniture, paired with the boldness of the Latin style.

“Shit, Zay… my bad. I would have had you come through the back, but we got a crazy delivery last night and it’s crazy as hell back there,” A man that looked like he was mixed with black and Asian came over soon as we stepped through the door.

Zay dapped him up as they embraced. “This is your night… why the fuck you worried about me, Kion.”

He laughed. “Don’t matter. I want to make sure you’re comfortable. I got you the best table in the house… private and you won’t have people gawking at you.” The man paused and turned toward me. “Where’s my manners? I’m Kion, this chump’s best friend.” He smiled and gave me a hug.

“Hey Kion… Blair,” I introduced myself, and then playfully swatted Zay. “You could have introduced me to your best friend.”

“His ass rude…no manners at all. Probably be putting his elbows on the table, too,” Kion continued to tease his best friend.

“Chill, I was getting to that… easy on me,” He kissed the side of my face, and laughed while Kion looked at both of us.

“You must be special if he’s bringing you around me. He never brings anybody around me.” He continued to poke fun at his friend.

“I guess special is the word of the night, huh?” I looked up into Zay’s eyes and he chuckled and pulled me closer to him.

Kion grabbed a woman that was walking past and whispered something into her ear, and she turned toward us. “I will show you to your table… it’s great to see you again, Zay.”

He nodded at her, and then looked at his friend. “Go and handle business… it’s your big night and it’s packed in here.”

“A dream I never thought would have happened… thanks to you being my silent investor.”

The two bumped shoulders once more before Zay squeezed Kion’s shoulder as he rushed off to handle something in the kitchen. We followed the woman that took us to a table all the way in the cut.

It was private and we didn’t have to worry about anybody sneaking pictures or videos of us. I slid into the booth and Zay slid in behind me, as we both sat next to each other. She handed us the digital menus before excusing herself.

I tapped through the menu and looked at all the options of foods that they had. All of it sounded delicious, and they did an amazing job at fusing both culture’s foods into one.

“I think I want to try the beef bulgogi empanadas,” I got excited, thinking about tasting the food.

Zay ordered us a bottle of wine, and a drink for himself as we both settled into the booth. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”

“Thank you for inviting me. It sure beats sitting in the house and eating leftovers.” I giggled and looked into his eyes.

He licked his lips as he looked at me. “I really want you with me all the time, Blair.”

I touched the side of his face and blushed. “You’re so sweet… I want to spend time with you, too.”

“I’m being so serious, though… wish I could take you on tour with me.” He mentioned, and I became nervous. “Would you even consider some shit like that?”

“I have my business here, Zay. I cannot just pick up and leave to follow you on tour.” I hated to turn him down.

Any woman would have jumped at the chance to follow Zay on tour. What woman became scared and nervous when a rapper was asking her to go on tour with him. All expenses paid, and I could see the tour every night in a different city.

“Then come to my show in Chicago… come spend the weekend with me. After my show, we can get into some shit and make the weekend about us.”

“I would love to come to your show in Chicago.” The thought of going to a city that I had experienced with Quasim pulled at my heart strings.

There was so much that we had experienced together, and then nothing at all. “Shit, you got my ass blushing like some lame ass schoolboy.”

I laughed and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “So, tell me… when you’re on stage, are you going to shout me out? I mean, everybody is going to see us together on the blogs any minute.”

“I’m gonna bring you on stage.”

I snorted. “Oh, hell no… I am not getting on that stage. You are crazy if you think you gonna get me up on that stage.”

“You gonna stand on the sidelines then? I wanna see your face every time I look over.”

“I can do that.”

The waiter came and took our food order as we continued to talk and have drinks. I was becoming more comfortable, and the conversation between us was flowing. We were both having a good time, and I was glad that I decided to come out tonight.

Big Pri: When your date is over… we’re at Fern. Come have drinks with us.

“I hate I have to go to the studio tonight… come with me.”

I laughed as I sipped my wine. “Like you have plans, I have my own… my girls invited me out.” I showed him my phone and he smirked.

“You leaving me for your girls… damn, you foul.”

“Oh please. Zay has to work, and I won’t be blamed because your next album is not out… won’t have your little fans coming to me as a woman.”

Zay stared into my eyes, and I had to look away because he had my insides on fire. “Ain’t shit little about me, baby.”

“Hmm, I hear that.”

He got closer to me. “I need you to hear it, feel it, and understand it,” he moved my hand under the table, and I could feel exactly what he meant.

I started to fan myself and Zay started laughing. “Is it hot in here or is it just me.”

“You crazy as hell, Blair.”

I laughed. “I feel like I’m finally getting back to me… having cancer and dealing with life, you tend to lose a piece of yourself in all of that.”

We had a conversation about my cancer a few times and each time, he was so soft and gentle. He didn’t seem put off by it, and asked questions, wanting to know more. “I can imagine it was hard going through all of that.”

“Very hard. Sometimes, I sit and think how the hell I even got through all of that and remained sane.”

“Cause you’re a special person… God always looks out for the special ones… and you are definitely one of them,” he pinched my cheeks, and I smiled.

“I like to think he looks out for me, and I have some pretty amazing prayer warriors, too.” I thought about my family.

We were beyond friends and had been through so much. They were my family, the only family that hadn’t turned their backs on me and held their word when they told me they had me.

Our food came out and we ate and continued talking. Zay’s phone kept going off and he ignored it while paying me attention. I could tell that whoever was trying to get through to him, needed him.

“Answer the phone… I am fine.”

He looked at his phone and then back at me. “Nah. They can wait until I’m on the way back to the studio.”

I smiled. “Zay, answer the phone. It can be important. You have given me your attention all night, so I won’t deduct any points from you.”

He looked at me once more before kissing me on the lips and answering the phone the second it started to ring again. I continued to eat my food as I listened to him talking. It sounded like whatever he had to do was urgent.

As he spoke on the phone, he kissed me on my temple while handling business. “I can come over that way when I’m finished with dinner and make sure my girl is taken care of.”

I damn near went blind trying not to choke when he called me his girl. As far as I knew, we were just dating and seeing where this could go. Neither of us had put a label on what we were doing. Labels always complicated things when people first started dating, so I wanted to steer clear away from them.

Zay wrapped his conversation and looked over at me. “Everything all good?”

“My producer’s flight was delayed, so he got me using his friend… not even feeling that shit because I like to use who I’m used to.”

“Life is all about trying new things. What if this new producer ends up being amazing.”

He paused as he stared into my eyes. “I don’t like change, though… what works for me has always worked for me.”

“What if this works for you, Zay. There is nothing you can do about your producer’s flight being delayed… you can either take these lemons and turn them into something delicious, or you can let them continue to be sour right along with your funky mood.”

We both broke out into laughter. “I was going to stand his ass up and chill with you, but you seem to have other plans.”

“You were not going to stand him up. That man’s time is just as important as yours. Give him a chance and I bet you’ll be surprised.”

He pulled me closer to him and kissed me on the neck. “This is why I need you around me more… you right about his time… shitty thing for me to even say.”

I smiled. “I’ll be with you in Chicago… let’s start there.”

“Alright.”

The bill came and Zay took care of it, giving the waiter a huge tip. When he came and collected the bill, his eyes watered when he saw how much Zay had tipped him. Just like when we came, people were still outside snapping pictures and wanting to get every angle of us.

Zay helped me into the car before he walked around and got into the driver’s seat. He revved his engine a few times and then peeled away from the restaurant. “Where you heading, baby?”

“Fern… it’s a bar in Jersey.”

He zipped in and out of traffic as we made our way out of Brooklyn toward Staten Island, and then eventually over the bridge into New Jersey. I held onto the door as he drove with ease, every so often looking at me, before returning back to the road.

As we turned onto the block that Fern was on, there were bikes and cars everywhere. There were a few Gods outside and their heads were on a swivel when we pulled onto the block. Zay whipped in front of the bar and put it in park before getting out.

I spotted Havoc outside smoking a spliff with his brother and Hassan. Zay helped me out and I smiled up at him as he held his arms out and I fell into him, while he held onto me tightly.

“You not going to back out on me, huh?” He spoke into my ear, and I nodded my head no while laughing.

“I’m going to come to Chicago with you… I promise.”

“Pinky promise that shit then,” he released me from our hug and extended his pinky that had a diamond band on it.

“See, now you believe me.”

“We gonna see, Blair .”

I rolled my eyes and tried to walk away, and he pulled me back. “Give me another hug.”

I extended my arms, putting them around his neck as he kissed me on the neck. “Make sure you call me when you get home, ight?”

“I will… make sure you give that producer a chance… ight ?” I mocked.

He released me and laughed as he walked around the car, while I stepped up on the curb. “Oh you funny… have fun with your girls. Tell Capri I said what up.”

“I will… drive safe, please. Put that seatbelt on too, Zay.”

“Got you, Beautiful.” He winked as he hopped into the car, and looked over at me, putting the seatbelt on.

I gave him the thumbs up and waved, and he whipped off the block. “Why you want to mess with that lunatic, B?” Yasin questioned.

His question pulled me out the slight trance that I had fallen into. “What are you talking about?”

“You know he here, right?”

“Who?”

Havoc snorted. “You an owl, Blair… who else would be here?”

I walked over toward them and pointed my finger up at them. Even with heels, they both towered over me, especially Havoc. “Why are you both minding my business?”

Yasin handed me the spliff he was pulling on and I accepted it, needing to zone out a little bit. “You mighty dressed up for Fern tonight.”

“I was on a date, and it finished, so I came over here to hang with my best friends… why are you both giving me the third degree?”

“Because we know you love that nigga… and you over here wasting homie’s time. Let him go make his music before Sim have him talking out a hole in his neck.” Havoc shrugged.

“He’s not going to touch him. There would be no reason for him to do that… we’re not even together.”

“You want to be, though.”

“Havoc, when did you become a therapist?” I snapped.

He chuckled. “I just know love when I see it, and the both of you love each other… both too damn stubborn to admit that shit.”

I took another pull of the spliff and handed it back to Yasin. “Seriously, you look nice, B.” Yasin complimented.

I wore a ruffled red asymmetrical dress with gold strappy heels, and a gold clutch. “Red is really your color… any reason you wore it today?” Havoc smirked as I punched him in the arm.

I shook my head as I laughed at him and brought my ass inside the bar. As I walked past the crowd, all eyes were on me as I squeezed through to get inside. Soon as I made it inside, I scanned the bar for Capri and spotted her with Zoya at the other end of the bar.

Zoya spotted me first and clapped her hands. “When I said wear something cute for your date… damn, I didn’t think you were about to shut it down.”

Capri spun around in the stool and her mouth dropped. “Fuck, Blair… I know Zay drooled when he saw you.”

“Was stuck for a whole ten minutes when he picked me up,” I laughed and pretended like I flipped my hair.

Capri and Zoya both slapped hands. “I know that’s right… how was everything? You’re all over the blogs.”

I sat in the empty stool between them. “Surprise surprise.” I sighed.

“Girl, why do you sound sad about it? Zay is the hottest rapper out now… along with Quan, and Maliek Dubrow… being seen with him isn’t a bad thing at all.” Zoya replied and waved the bartender over.

“I’m not saying it’s a bad thing… scary, though.” I admitted.

Capri sipped her drink. “Finding love is scary though, B. You’re the one that told us that this was the year that you were going to find love… you can’t be scared now.”

“He asked me to come on tour with him.”

Zoya choked on her drink. “And you said….”

“I told him that I have a business and clients. I cannot go follow him on tour.” I waved the conversation off because going on tour with Zay was out of the question.

“Be honest… if you didn’t have your business, would you have gone with him?” Zoya questioned, while Capri eyed me down for my answer.

“Probably… I have fun whenever me and Zay are together. We’re cool peoples.”

Capri sipped her drink. “Cool peoples, Blair? That man wants to be your boyfriend, and you calling him cool peoples.”

I snorted. “He actually called me his girl when he was on the phone at dinner. I don’t know… how do you respond to something like that?”

“Don’t respond to it until you know how or what you feel. I know you’re not completely over Quasim. Zay seems like a good person, so don’t go wasting his time because you’re unsure.”

“I agree. Take it from me… being involved with two men only leads to headaches and unresolved feelings that you eventually have to resolve.”

I took back the shot the bartender had slid in front of me and sighed. “Can we talk about something else… like Zoya not going to Bali with us.”

Zoya squealed, laughing in the process. “Not you throwing me under the bus because you don’t know who you wanna love.”

“Zoy!” I pinched her.

Capri cut her eyes at Zoya. “And you’re not going because?”

“You know I have that case with Dane Amanté… with the amount of money he’s spending, this case is priority right now.”

“You’re excused,” Capri laughed.

I looked over at Zoya as she texted someone on her phone. “Have you spoken to Gerald?”

She heaved a sigh and placed her phone down. “Me and Gerald don’t talk at all. I still receive my roses every Tuesday. I’m so confused with him, though. All he spoke about when he was free was wanting to marry me and give me his chocolate babies, and now that he’s locked up, it’s crickets… I can’t believe I’m saying this… I miss that damn man.”

Capri nearly jumped off the stool. “I knew you were sweet for Mr. Fuck you meannnn,” she hollered, and Zoya pulled her ass back down in the seat.

“Cut her the fuck off… how many drinks have you had?” Zoya laughed.

I looked at Zoya and I could tell she was sweet on Goon. What was there not to like about Gerald. He was a good, respectful man that probably had a few screws missing. He was a provider, protector, and he was funny as hell.

It was never a dull moment with that man.

“Well, you said he wanted a fair advantage when he got out.”

“He doesn’t want you to feel like you’re obligated to hold him down… plus, he knows about your lil yeah, and that’s a problem for him.” Capri filled us in.

Zoya rolled her eyes. “Me and Sigel are not together, but we’re together if that makes any sense.”

“And we know that Menace doesn’t want you with him.”

“Menace is my brother, not my father. He swears that he can tell me who to be with and I’m going to do it. Kora may listen to him and follow his every word… that’s not me. Honestly, my brother needs to find him a woman so he can mind his own business.”

“Your brother finding a woman is very unlikely. I would probably murder myself day one.” I chuckled.

I had met Menace a few times and the man was an intense lunatic that needed everything perfect. I often wondered how the hell Jeffie was able to handle him and do so with such poise and grace. It was no skin off her back when that man started to unravel. She was able to calm him and get him back levelheaded.

Zay: I’m gonna try and have a positive mind.

Me: Thank you. He may surprise you.

Zay: You surprise me.

Me: I’m full of them.

I smiled, and then looked up as Quasim was coming from the back. He had his head down in his phone as I eyed him down. Dressed in a pair of white linen pants, gray T-shirt that clung to his perfectly sculpted body, and a pair of Chicago Jordan 1’s.

As if he felt my eyes on him, he looked up from his phone and looked at me. I smiled at him, and he offered me a half smile with a wink.

“Blair is out the house… let’s get her drunk tonight!” Aimee hollered and ran over toward me, hugging me tightly.

“Are you just being nice because you wanna move into the apartment across from me?”

Aimee stumbled back a few and faked like she was offended. “Wow, Blair. We’re family and that’s what you think of me?”

Capella was behind her and came over and kissed us each on the forehead. “How you doing, Auntie?”

“I’m good… what are you two up to?”

“Capella took me on a date, and we passed by. I saw your truck and decided to stop in to see you. Hey Zoya,” Aimee hugged Zoya, and she looked her over.

“You alright?”

“I am… promise.”

“My girl.” Zoya smiled.

Capella had stopped drinking and started back working out with his father. He looked amazing and you could tell Cappadonna had him training hard.

“You want a drink?” I offered to call the bartender over to get Aimee a drink before they headed back out.

“Oh, no… I don’t drink anymore.” Aimee turned down a drink and I looked at her and Capella proud of them both.

I smiled. “I’m proud of you both… seriously.”

“Appreciate it, B.” Capella winked, knowing the conversation we had in Monaco. I prayed that my conversation with him changed something in him.

I didn’t think Capella was abusive, however, he was going through something and like a child, he was lashing out. Nothing was making sense to him, and his life was in chaos, so naturally, he was acting out.

He was young and had been playing grown for a long time. It was time for him to humble himself and have his family pour into him and tell him that he was wrong, too. Your family could love on you and get you right at the same time, and that was what he needed.

“Aim, we gotta head out before we miss our reservation,” he held her around the waist, and she turned to look at him.

The love these two had was unreal. You could see how much she loved him, and how much he loved her as he stared down into her eyes. “Don’t let us keep you… I love you both. Call me when you’re home.”

“Home could be right across the hall from you, Blair.” Aimee smirked as she hugged Capri, and grabbed her purse she had flung down onto the bar when she came in.

Aimee had been on me for months to move in across the hall from me. “Come over tomorrow and we can talk about it.”

She squealed as she rushed into my arms and hugged me. “Thank you! I swear me and Rory will be quiet as a church mouse in a house… with a pounce?”

“Don’t rhyme… try that shit again,” Capella clowned her.

“Dammit… Ror is so good at the rhyming.” She cursed herself, grabbed her purse and headed out with Capella behind her.

She signed something to Havoc on the way out and he chuckled and shook his head while going behind the bar to fix himself a drink. “Another round on me?”

“You know we pay for nothing in Fern,” Capri said and signaled for the bartender to get us another round.

Recommendation: Listen to ‘Freeze’ by LL Cool J + Lyfe Jennings

After having more than a few rounds, we were feeling way too nice. Meer found his way down at the bar to bring both Zoya and his wife back to their house because they both were turned up. He offered to take me, but I wanted to go home to my bed.

No matter how drunk I was, I was going to find my way home so I could climb into my bed. Yasin stood with me outside while I waited for my Uber. Even with the warm weather, I was still cold because we weren’t that far from the water.

An all-black old school Chevy Camaro pulled onto the block in front of the bar. The windows were so tinted that you couldn’t make out who was inside, so I became nervous. Yasin wasn’t nervous in the least as he chilled beside me, so I assumed it had to be someone that he knew and was familiar with. The door opened and all 6’3 of Quasim filed out of the car and he leaned on the top of the car.

“Get in, Anjo. I’m gonna drive you home.” He said, not asking, but telling me that he was going to drive me home.

“I’m good… my Uber is only a few minutes away.”

He briefly looked away before returning his gaze back onto me. “Get in the car, Blair.”

I didn’t bother to argue with him as he sauntered around the car and opened the passenger door for me. It was cold and this Uber kept adding minutes onto his arrival anyway. I got into the car, and he closed the door behind me.

I watched as he walked over toward Yasin, and they hit the IG shake before he walked back to the car. I tried to act all unbothered like I wasn’t paying attention to his every move as he climbed back into the car. Once he got into the car, we sat there for a minute.

Neither of us spoke.

“Don’t hang up on me again, Blair.” Was all he said as he pulled away from the curb and headed to Brooklyn.

I didn’t have a response for what he said because I had hung up on him damn near two weeks ago. It wasn’t like he called back or cared that I had ended our call and told him to go to hell.

“You draw the line at me hanging up on you, but not me telling you to go to hell?”

He casually drove while paying attention to his surroundings. “I’m already in hell, Anjo… doesn’t bother me.”

It hurt my heart hearing him say that because I didn’t want him to feel like he was in hell. Living without a child was hard, and I knew it could feel like hell. Quasim had been in his grief for so long that it had become his personality. He didn’t smile or live anymore because of his own guilt that he felt.

For a slip of the moment, I witnessed who the real Quasim was. His face muscles actually remembered how to form a smile, and he was so witty that it was sexy. I laughed so much with Quasim because he was the funniest person.

On the outside when you saw the Inferno brothers, you assumed that Meer was the one with the wild personality, which he did have, and Quasim was the quieter one, which he was. However, when he was with his family and his walls were down, he was so funny, and you saw the resemblance between him and Meer.

I turned back in my seat and remained quiet for the rest of the ride. Not like he gave any conversation anyway. ‘You’ by Jesse Powell played lowly in the car as we drove across the bridge. If you weren’t listening for it, you would miss Quasim singing along to the music while drumming his fingers on the wheel. When we pulled up to my building, he killed his engine and got out to open the door for me.

Quasim wasn’t going to drive me home without making sure he walked me to my door. There was no arguing with him that I could handle making it into the building, so I didn’t bother. I put in the security code, and he held the door behind me and made sure it was secure behind him.

My phone vibrated and it was Zay calling me. I quickly answered before nosey over my shoulder could see who was calling. “Hey.”

“Did you make it home?”

“Just walking in now… thanks for checking in on me.” I dropped my keys when I got to my door and kneeled down to pick them up.

“You had fun with your girls?”

“I did… we needed to catch up, seeing as you about to have me all over the blogs by morning.” I giggled and struggled to get my key into the damn lock.

“Best advice I can give is to ignore those blogs. We know what we’re doing, so fuck what they have to say. I don’t wanna hold you long, just wanted to make sure you made it home.”

“I don’t really read the blogs anyway, so that’s the good thing, right. Thank you again for tonight, I had a good time with you… talk to you tomorrow.”

“For sure.”

I ended the call and shoved my phone into my clutch before attempting to open the door again. “Sounds like you had fun on your date… hmm?”

“Stop asking like you care, Quasim.” I turned to look at him, and he was leaned on the wall, watching my every move.

“I care about everything that you are involved in.”

“Hmm.”

“Speak your mind, my love.”

I stared at him. “Let me have this, Quasim.” My stupid voice betrayed me and cracked. “It’s clear that you don’t want me, so allow me to be happy with someone else.”

He pushed up off the wall and took one step and he was right in front of me, cornering me between my door and the corner of the hallway. “Tell me that you want only him, and I promise I’ll leave you alone, Anjo.” He spoke lowly, caressing my face.

His thumb slid down my chin as he looked down at me and I looked up at him. “I want him, Quasim.”

“I don’t believe you, though.” He took control of my face and kissed me on the lips, slipping his tongue into my mouth, as his other hand lifted my dress and found its way into my panties. He slipped his fingers inside of me as he continued to suck my entire soul through my mouth.,

One finger…

Two…

Three…

I gasped and moaned into his mouth as he pulled his fingers out and broke our kiss, leaving me stunned in the hallway. His fingers glistened from my juices, and he sucked them clean while staring at me.

“You saying all of that shit, and that pussy still gets wet for King Inferno… why you fronting with yourself.” He kissed me once more and I pushed him away.

Sim smirked as he licked his lips, probably tasting my juices on his lips. “Leave me alone, Quasim.”

“You got it…” he turned to leave, making me even more upset that he was giving me what I asked for, when I didn’t want him to leave me alone.

I wanted him to love me and show me that he felt the same way that I felt about him. “Yeah… doing what you do best. Running away from me like you’ve been doing.”

He turned around slowly and looked at me. “Why do you care, Anjo? You with homie, right… that’s what you want. You want that nigga, knowing that just seeing me makes your pussy wet. Makes your body crave me and there ain’t shit that you can do about it.”

“You’re an asshole, Quasim.”

He grabbed a handful of dick and looked at me. “You want this dick, but you not ready for what comes with it. The minute I shove this shit inside of you, Blair, ain’t no other nigga. Just me… you not ready for that.”

“No, you’re not ready for that… it’s the reason you run from me. You already know I can make you happy. Coming between these legs will keep you coming back, make you start making claims on me… trying to force a ring on my finger, having the Gods call me Queen Inferno. So don’t speak for me… I know what comes with hopping on that dick… do you know what comes with me hopping on it? Exactly.”

I turned and was finally able to put the key into the lock and felt his arms around me, pushing me against the wall. My breath was caught in my chest as I looked up at him as he stared down into my eyes.

“A lot comes with me, Anjo. I don’t want to ruin another person’s life… I can’t do that shit, no matter how much I want it. I would rather allow you to have happiness elsewhere.”

“Let me decide that. You’re making that decision for me and that’s not fair to me. Quasimmy, how can we share what we did in Italy, and then you come home like I’m nothing. Like everything we shared and did was worth nothing.”

He rested his forehead against mine and sighed. “You mean everything to me, Blair… fucking everything. I don’t want you to ever think you mean nothing because you mean everything.”

I kissed his lips and looked into his eyes. We were so close that I’m sure he could smell the liquor on my breath, and I could smell the cinnamon mint that he always popped, no matter where he was.

“Show me then, Quasim.”

“I want to, baby…I wan—” His phone interrupted what he was about to say, and he pulled his phone out. I saw the name Thea come up on the screen and my body instantly became hot. “Fuck.” He mumbled.

I pretended I didn’t see the screen of his phone and waited for him to explain why Thea was calling him, whoever the fuck she was. “You good?”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “I got to go handle something.”

“Bet you do,” I removed myself from him, and he pulled me back toward him. “I’m tired… go handle whatever you need to with Thea.”

He looked at me and raised his eyebrow. “Whatever you thinking, it’s not that.”

I sighed. “I don’t care to think anything anymore… not my business and you’re not my man. Zay asked me to go on tour with him and I’m considering it.” I lied, knowing I turned him down, but I wanted to get a rise out of Quasim.

“If that’s what you want to do… do it.”

Tears burned my eyes as I looked at him while he walked backwards. “Cool.”

“Good night, Anjo.”

“Blair.” I called behind him.

He stared at me, waiting for me to elaborate on what I was talking about. “Good night, My Anjo.” He repeated himself, and I went inside, slamming the door behind me.

I steadied my breathing before turning to look through the peephole and he was back at my door, leaning his head against it. It was like he was torn on what he should do. I was witnessing a man stuck in what he wanted and what he felt he deserved, and it broke my heart. After another call came through to his phone, and this time he picked it up.

“Chill out, I’m on my way… I told you that I’m always going to come for you, right? Then wait on my porch… I’m coming.” I heard his conversation as he walked toward the steps, staring back at my door before he headed back downstairs.

My heart twisted as I stood in my foyer feeling like my heart had broken in pieces right in front of me.

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