Chapter 32
"Domino"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
My fists slammed into the heavy bag as sweat dripped down my forehead, neck, and spine. My knuckles were wrapped, but aching.
Thud.
I kept seeing Ajori’s face.
Thud.
That sexy-ass smirk.
Thud.
Ajori’s smart-ass mouth.
“Fuck,” I cursed, stepping back, panting.
My phone buzzed on the bench. I ignored it… until it buzzed again.
Mama.
I grabbed it, still catching my breath, swiping the screen. “What’s up, Ma?”
Her voice came through soft, firm, and suspicious. “You sound like you outta breath, baby. You alright?”
“I’m good.”
“You lying. What you hitting? A wall? A person? Or one of them bags again?”
I sighed and sat on the bench, grabbing a towel. “Bag. Just... clearing my head.”
“Clearing your head? You usually don’t have problems at work, so what got you clearing your head… or who? A girl, perhaps?”
I scoffed, dragging the towel down my face. “A girl? Ma, you trippin’.”
“Am I?” she retorted, in a knowing tone.
I hesitated. “How do you be knowing these things?”
“You think I don’t know when something—or someone—got my baby twisted up? Go on. Tell me. Who is she and what did she do?”
I dropped my head into my hands. “Her name’s Ajori. She’s tied in with us. To make matters worse? She’s Alejandro’s daughter.”
“His daughter?” she repeated, that revelation taking her by surprise.
“Yeah… my exact reaction too. But that’s another story for a different day. But the girl ain’t really do shit. She just… talks too much, looks too good, and smarter than she acts. Got me—” I stopped myself. “Never mind.”
“Mm-hmm,” she said, like she heard everything I didn’t say. “Sounds like she got you caught up.”
“I’m not caught up, Ma.”
Mama chuckled. “You always been the quiet one with that temper. But I knew one day, a woman was gon’ sneak up on you and get past all that stone. You better be careful, though. When a woman can push your buttons and make you hard in the same breath… that’s danger, baby.”
I didn’t respond.
“Anyway,” she continued, “I ain’t call to talk about your loverboy mess… although, I’d love to hear more about this Ajori girl soon. I just wanted to hear your voice and make sure my son is still breathing. And drink some water,” she fussed. “I can hear you sweating through the damn phone.”
I smiled, the first real one in hours.
“And listen,” she added, voice shifting, still soft, but serious now.
“If you can’t stop thinking about that girl, stop playing with it.
From how you talk about her, she’s not one of them you halfway deal with.
So either leave her alone completely or go all the way in.
Ain’t no in-between with something that got your mind like that. ”
I exhaled slowly. “Love you, Ma.”
“Love you more, Damari.”
She hung up.
I sat there a second longer, sweat drying on my skin, phone still in my hand.
My mama’s words sat heavier than they should’ve. Because the truth was, I already knew what I wanted… I just wasn’t supposed to.