Chapter 7
SEVEN
Johnni
“Fuck.” I cursed lowly as I dropped my keys, trying to balance my cup of lavender lemon tea that I just brought to mix with my tincture and settle my nerves.
I was so stressed. Quincey’s campaign was underway and between his home office and his main one in city hall, he had taken over with yard signs, posters, and merchandise.
My phone rang and I knew it was Mama Steph because I was running late on meeting her at the house for practice. Just as I got my keys, I opened the door, choosing to ignore my phone until I could get settled in my car so it would at least sound like I was on the road.
As soon as I opened the door, I was met by a single picture of Quincey and what appeared to be a woman laid up in a bed with no clothes on. As pissed off as I was, I was just as terrified.
Someone had gotten into my car without me knowing.
I looked around as I set my tea down, now digging for my phone to call him.
Of course, he answered on the first ring.
“Hey Josie, Mama just called me looking for you. Are you good?”
“No, Q, someone was in my car and they left a picture of you,” I said with a shaky voice that now matched my hands.
I was barely able to hold the phone as I began to look around, checking my surroundings to see if anything looked off or felt weird beyond the mysterious picture now in my hand.
I turned it over to see a message addressed to me in cut out letters.
Tell our man I’m on my way.
-signed his weekend lover.
“Josie! Can you hear me?”
I didn’t.
I shook my head.
All the fear I had instantly disappeared once I realized what this was. Quincey had a side bitch who was coming at me as a woman.
“Nope but I wonder if your weekend lover can. They just left me a message for you.” I hung up so I could send him a shot of the picture.
My phone began ringing back to back from Quincey, but they all went ignored as I flew to his office. No, this wasn’t about to be a phone conversation. I wanted him to look me in my eyes and lie about breaking our open relationship rules and risking not just his shit, but my pageant career.
I made it to city hall in no time. I walked in, ignoring his secretary Monica as I barged right into his office. He was in the middle of calling me as I tossed the picture on the desk.
“A gotdamn picture, Q!” I yelled. He was up quick, closing the door behind me as if that would help keep Monica from hearing me.
“Josie, I can explain.”
I laughed humorlessly.
“You can explain this? I want to hear this bullshit.”
“It’s old.” He shrugged like that would make it better.
I blinked hard a few times.
“Tell me again how that makes it better. We have rules, Q, no offsite play, yet this…this picture tells me you were meeting up wherever you want. I’m not even upset, just stuck on why I need to be reminded of the rules when clearly you get to break them when you see fit.”
“That’s not what I did, Josie. It was a long time ago and only one time.”
I scoffed.
“One time. You must’ve forgotten who you talking to, Q. Ain’t no need to continue to lie right now. So who is it?” He got quiet, reaching out for me.
“I’ma take care of it. You don’t have to worry about who.” I snatched away, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I do if they’re getting in my car, Quincey! What’s not clicking about that? What, do they need to be sitting in my shit waiting for me next time—”
“I said I got it, damn Josie!” he yelled, cutting me off.
I chuckled as I licked my top teeth. I backed out of his reach just as he tried to grab me.
“Wait, Josie, I’m sorry.”
“Yup, sure are.”
That was all I said as I turned, opening the door to leave his office.
Quincey had me fucked up.
If he wasn’t abiding by our rules, then why the hell should I?
Exactly, Johnni, you might as well get your cake ate too.
I shot a text to Mama Steph, letting her know I was sick and would get back with her tomorrow. Then sent another text to someone I knew would calm my nerves faster than my tea.
Me: Drop your address. I’m on my way.
The dots appeared and disappeared before he dropped a pin with his location.
Courtland: The garage will be open, pull in.
That was all I needed to know as I made my way to Courtland.
I made it to his house in less than twenty minutes, doing as instructed, pulling into his garage next to his truck.
I grabbed my phone, turning it off. I almost jumped out of my skin at the sound of the door closing behind me until I saw him standing in the garage in nothing but basketball shorts with his chiseled, tattooed chest on display.
Gotdamn, God, you crafted a work of art.
His deep chocolate skin looked smooth to the taste…touch. At this point whichever I could do first.
I was lustfully eye fucking Courtland, gnawing on my bottom lip as he walked over to me, opening my door for me with that infamous scent hitting me, causing me to close my eyes as he wrapped his hands around my waist.
It was weird that we both inhaled deeply at the same time, but I didn’t give a damn.
“Mm… you always smell like the best damn slice of apple pie,” he said while scooping me out of my car.
“Thank you.” I blushed as his mouth ran down the nape of my neck, placing soft kisses.
The next thing I knew, my legs were crisscrossed around his back while his hands cuffed as much ass as he could.
The move was simple, but I felt so protected in this moment by a man I barely knew.
“How can I serve you, Lourdè?”
And when he said those words, so many things ran through my mind, but only one thing came to the front.
“Cater to my body. She needs you the most right now.”
As if that was all Courtland needed, he went to work, kissing, sucking and caressing me everywhere physically possible with his hands and mouth.
By the time we made it to his bedroom, I was naked, only leaving him to strip out of his shorts, putting his pretty muthafucking dick on full view for me. When it waved, I smirked as I waved back like a crazy person greeting her imaginary best friend.
Courtland climbed on the bed between my legs, kissing my thighs as he moved up my body.
“You know this changes everything with us, right? Ain’t no going back from here, baby girl.” I stared into his deep brown eyes, seeing the sincerity in his words behind them.
I did.
I also knew the potential consequences of my decision to come here and didn’t care about any of that anymore.
“Yes. And I’m ready for it all.” That was his cue as his massive mushroom tip invaded my walls, causing me to gasp as I clenched his forearms.
One stroke in and I was melting into his cool sheets underneath me, allowing him to serve my body while taking my stress away.
“Hey, Johnni!” Nas stood to greet me as I made my way into her office. It had been a while since we'd seen each other. Hollis and I met her back in undergrad, and over the years kept in touch. Hollis especially with her messy journalism life forever needing a lawyer.
“Hey, Nas, thank you for seeing me so last minute.” She waved me off as she retook her seat.
“Girl, please. You already know for you, Hollis, and Mickey, I’ll clear the schedule. So what’s going on?”
“I need you to take a look at this contract. I need to make sure I’m protected if anything goes wrong.” I pulled the thick document out of my purse and handed it to her.
It had been a couple days since I’d found the picture in my car, and besides letting Courtland fuck me in every position, I made an appointment to see Nas to see if there was a way out for me.
Most would say I was moving too quickly to come to this decision, but I knew I wasn’t. I never wanted any of this, not this way. Before he ruined not only his name, but mine in the process, it was time for me to go.
“Oh, sure, girl. Wait, what is this?”
“Something I signed when I got married.”
She flipped through, giving me horrified glances every so often.
“Oh, Johnni. Damn, this shit looks worse than a gotdamn prenup. Tell me, what’s the goal? Like do you want out? Or…”
Back when I was younger and first signed, getting out wasn’t even an option on the table, so I put it out of my mind. If she could find an escape plan, I was for sure going to take it.
I loved Quincey, but this wasn’t the life I wanted anymore.
“I want a way out, safely.” Nas tilted her head, giving me a somber expression. I hadn’t even talked to the girls about leaving Quincey, yet here I was, seeking counsel to end my marriage that the public saw as picture fucking perfect.
“Safely? Is everything okay? That nigga not putting his hands on you, is he? Because, girl, I stay str—”
I laughed, waving my hand, cutting her off. Nas was like Hollis, gun ready to empty a clip on a muthafucka with ease.
“No, he’s not that crazy.”
“Give me some time though. I’ll find something. Do you need anything else in the meantime?”
I shook my head. “Like what?”
“Restraining order for protection, bodyguard, safe house? Shit, you said he not hitting you, but we know these Wilsons don’t move with the poise they pretend to possess in public. If we get to digging, I want to make sure we keep you safe at all times, Johnni.”
My mouth opened and closed. “Oh, no. Physically I’m safe.” Her shoulders relaxed while she offered a small smile.
“Okay, if anything changes, please don’t hesitate to call me. I don’t know a lot of people, but I know the right ones to help.” I pressed my lips together, giving her a small smile back.
“Thank you, and if you see Hollis or Mickey, please don’t mention this.”
“Girl, of course not. I’m not breaking my client confidentiality for no one. Quincey couldn’t even walk in here and question me on shit.” We shared a chuckle because I knew her words were true.
I stood to leave.
On my way to the parking lot, I bumped into a scent I immediately recognized, freezing as my eyes dragged up his body nice and slow to his handsome smile and fine ass face.