Chapter 5
“I have been trying to call you all morning! I shouldn’t have had to come up here to talk to you, Denishia.”
I slightly rolled my eyes as I huffed. I’d been extremely busy today, ordering pieces for next weekend and creating new designs. Not to mention the three deliveries I had this morning. The event planner for Ezekiel’s mother’s party gave me free reign to do what I wanted after she saw the things I was coming up with. She said she had the feeling Mr. Wheeler would be pleased with whatever I created. She chuckled after saying it, letting me know she saw his attraction to me. It wasn’t like he was trying to hide it.
It was nearly noon, and this nigga thought it would be a good idea to show up to my shop acting an entire ass. “Will, I have been extremely busy. What did you need?”
“I needed some money for a deal I found for a speaker system, but I missed it.”
His explanation only pissed me off. “You know… maybe you won’t have so much free time if you went and found a full-time job. I don’t know what free time is. I have a business to run, and your fucking need for speakers ain’t even on my to-do list. I don’t like being in this frame of mind when I’m working. If you gon’ come in here embarrassing me with your bullshit, I’m gonna embarrass you back.”
His eyebrows lifted in shock. I’d never told him off in front of people, but he’d never tried to clown me in front of people either. I put my hand on my hip as I saw Mr. Wheeler walk through the door. What in the hell is he doing here?
“You know what, Denishia? I’m done with this shit. Ain’t nobody want yo’ ass but me anyway. You devote all your time to this bullshit ass flower shop. That’s why I have to get the shit I need from somebody else. I was trying to do shit to make you happy, but you don’t even notice. Be by yourself with these pitiful ass flowers.”
The wind was knocked out of me, but I didn’t let that shit deter me from what I needed to say. “You were just fine being with me when I was doing what you wanted me to do. In case you haven’t noticed, I work hard because I’m the only muthafucka working. I was too stupid to see that you were using me. I thought you loved me, especially when you ate the lining out of my ass. I should have known then that you were full of shit. Get the fuck out of here!”
I walked away as he yelled obscenities. I didn’t know how we got here all of a sudden. Things weren’t great, but Wednesday after my long day and trip to Houston, we’d had an amazing time. He’d cooked, and we’d sexed. I had no complaints, other than being tired yesterday. That wasn’t even a real complaint, though, because I was thoroughly satisfied. Yesterday, we didn’t talk much, but that wasn’t uncommon. So this just came out of the fucking blue… left field… out of nowhere.
I slammed the door to my office, then suddenly remembered Mr. Wheeler was standing there. I brought my hands to my face, trying to calm my nerves. I was so embarrassed at not only Will’s behavior but mine. As I opened the door, a tremble went through my entire body. My mind was working overtime, hoping I didn’t lose his business because of my unprofessionalism.
I walked around the corner, my knees knocking, to see Mr. Wheeler was gone. I flopped in a chair as Jamia came to me. “Jamia, I fucked up. Shit! Did we lose Mister Wheeler’s business?”
“Denishia, it’s gonna be okay. We didn’t lose Mister Wheeler’s business. Look.”
I lifted my head to see him walking back into the shop with a frown on his face. When his eyes met mine, the frown eased some. I quickly stood from my seat. “Mister Wheeler, I’m so sorry you witnessed my unprofessionalism. It’s?—”
“Man, if you don’t stop with that Mister Wheeler shit.”
I stared at him, and it was then that I noticed he had purple magnolias in his hand and a bag of what looked to be food. He came closer to me as Jamia walked away. When he grabbed my hand, I could feel the heat from his touch. His gaze was causing a shiver to crawl up my spine and heat to gather around my ears.
“Ezekiel, I’m sorry.”
“Your apology isn’t necessary. I apologize that you’ve been putting up with a sorry excuse for a man. Please don’t think he is a representative of what manhood is. I bought these for you.”
He extended them to me, and I stared at them for the longest. It was like those flowers mesmerized me, and I knew that had a lot to do with me fantasizing about Ford. When he and his wife first met, I would always think about how maybe I could have been the one receiving them had I shot my shot. While I no longer thought about that, I still stared at them, admiring their beauty. When I finally looked up at him, I said, “Thank you so much. These are beautiful.”
“Mm-hmm. I also bought lunch. You probably hadn’t even thought about eating yet.”
It was past noon now, and I had to admit that it had never crossed my mind. I was so busy. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I haven’t. Thank you. Would you umm…” I looked away for a moment and met eyes with Jamia to see her silently coaxing me to finish my thought. “Would you like to join me in my office?”
He nodded and gave me a closed-lipped smile. “I was hoping to spend some time with you. Plus, I know which sketch to pick.”
I smiled slightly, then led him to my office. He looked around as I set the flowers on a table near the window. “You have a nice office. It’s spacious.”
I nodded as he sat in the chair at the front of my desk and set the bag on top of it. I joined him as he pulled the burgers out. The smell was definitely familiar. “Is this from Rockin’ A?” I asked.
“Damn. You’re good.”
“No. It’s one of my favorite spots to get a burger. I either go there, Hamburger Depot, or Whataburger. Neither of them ever miss. So I know exactly what their burgers smell like.”
He chuckled as I quieted down. He handed me a burger and fries, and our fingers touched. Staring at me for a moment, he finally said, “Denishia, you are so gorgeous. I know you have a lot to figure out after the debacle that happened earlier, but I still want to get to know you. I can be patient with the process if you keep the lines of communication open.”
I looked away and cleared my throat. “It’s going to be a tedious process because we live together. I don’t know if I can do what you’re asking of me. Having you around may make things worse for me, even if you aren’t around physically. I need to be alone to properly get through this. Plus, women probably throw themselves at you all the time. I wouldn’t be able to deal with that kind of foolishness.”
He grabbed my hand, and I swallowed hard. “You feel that heat? How can you say no to that much chemistry?”
“I’m not saying no. I’m saying not yet. I can’t commit to something like that when I don’t know what kind of fuck shit this nigga gon’ be on when I get home. Excuse my language.”
“I’ve said worse,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I suppose what I’m asking of you is to not completely block me out. I won’t be all in your space. I have an audition to prepare for. I just want to be able to talk to you sometimes. That’s all.”
“But how long will you be satisfied with that, Ezekiel? That will only suffice for a little while. I don’t make commitments unless I’m positive I can keep them. With this shit brewing, I don’t know how I will feel day-to-day. I may not feel like talking to anyone.”
“Can I ask you a question?” he asked.
I angled my body toward his and said, “Yeah.”
“Do you feel an attraction to me? Any chemistry? Or is it that you’re starstruck? I don’t want to confuse what I think you’re feeling for what I want it to be.”
I lowered my head for a moment. “I think it’s both.”
He gently lifted my head by placing his fingers under my chin. “What do you mean?”
“I always thought you were an attractive man, even more so in person. I suppose I’m starstruck because I can’t believe you actually have an interest in me. I don’t have low self-esteem. I just… I don’t know.”
He grabbed my hand again as I stared at him and kissed it. “You do know. Tell me.”
My body heated up tremendously. The man was fine as hell. I didn’t have much to offer. I figured he would want someone in the business or at least with as much star power as he had. I was a nobody. I wasn’t rich. In fact, I was barely making it with all these bills. My mortgage and the rent on this place alone took nearly half of my profits most months.
“I’m not as accomplished as you. Why would you want someone like me? I’m not as educated either. I didn’t go to college. My grandmother taught me how to take care of plants and taught me about business. The rest I learned along the way. My mama was my first employee. I struggled, and sometimes, I still do.”
“I admire that, Denishia. You have a very successful business. Do you know how many florists are in Houston? Yet people out there are still seeking your services. Your drive is insane. Your potential is limitless, and you’re fulfilling it. I don’t want a spouse in the business. I don’t know how real they are.”
“You don’t know how real I am either. Just…”
“I get it. One day at a time? Can we agree to that?”
I looked away to think about what he said. I didn’t even want to agree to that. I didn’t want to give him false hope. Before I could agree or disagree, there was a knock on the door. It opened, and my mama walked in with a smoothie from Smoothie King.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Denishia. I didn’t know you had a client. Oh shit. That’s Ezekiel Wheeler! Did you tell him your favorite holiday movie was Unwrapping Your Love: The Gift ?”
I closed my eyes. Old people could spill all the damn secrets. When I opened them, Ezekiel had a smirk on his lips. “Denishia, you didn’t tell me you were a fan of my work.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not all of it. That is one of my favorite movies though. Thanks, Mama. Bye, Mama.”
She giggled as Ezekiel stood and introduced himself, as if she didn’t just say she knew who he was. It seemed he was as nervous meeting fans as they were meeting him.
“I’m Patsy Boswell. I must say, I’m a fan also,” she said and cut her eyes at me as Ezekiel chuckled.
I was not the type to gas anybody up. If I didn’t like something, I didn’t have a problem saying so… except when it came to Will’s ass. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t tell him he was dead weight. It was almost like he’d become a part of me and who I strived to be. Was I striving to become a better person, a better business owner, a better lover… for him? I should have been wanting to be better for myself.
“Denishia.”
My eyes lifted to Ezekiel’s, then slid over to my mama. “I’m sorry. My mind was somewhere else.”
“I said, I saw Will’s pathetic ass. Since when you start letting him drive your car?”
I frowned and hopped up from my seat, running out to go see if my car was gone. I shoved the back door open to see my car was indeed gone. My heart was racing. I immediately went back inside and called the police. Will’s name wasn’t on anything I owned. Thankfully, I was smart enough not to enter any financial agreements with his ass.
As I reported my car stolen, my mama was standing there wide-eyed. Ezekiel came to me and gently rubbed my back. I hated that he was seeing all this. He was being exposed to sides of me he would have never seen had it been my choice. Walking away from them, I went up front and turned off the open sign and locked the door. After reporting it and them sending an officer my way, I ended the call.
“Jamia, we have to shut down early. That muthafucka took my car. He gotta be on drugs to think that would be okay. How the hell did he get here in order to take my car?”
I wasn’t asking that question to any one in particular. I was just voicing my frustration.
“Denishia, I saw a woman waiting for him when I escorted him out of here earlier. I can tell the police what I saw,” Ezekiel said.
“I can too,” my mama added.
I slowly shook my head and walked away from them, going to the restroom. I locked myself in there, wondering why it felt like my life was spiraling downward right before my eyes… and so damn suddenly. This was crazy. I lowered my face to my hands and cried. This couldn’t be my life. I should have ended things with him a long time ago.
There was a knock on the door, but I remained quiet. “Denishia, it’s me,” Jamia said. “Do you think he’s at your house making more problems?”
I immediately got a headache and called for the police again, asking if they could meet me at my house. If he could steal my car, then he was probably stealing a lot of other shit. He was spoiled, and that shit was partially my fault. He was throwing a fucking temper tantrum because he couldn’t get his way. Well, now he would be throwing a fit in a jail cell, because there was no way in hell I would let him get away with this.