Chapter 21 #2
“No, for real,” she pressed. “You barely had anything to say back then. You walked around like you didn’t care, like nothing I said ever mattered. So, what’s changed now, Dru?”
He rubbed his chin, and his gaze flickered with something she couldn’t quite place. “I didn’t come here to argue, Nhuri.”
She let out a bitter laugh, sitting back. “I can’t tell, but what’s new? So, what did you have me come here for? Let’s have a real conversation for once.”
Dru’s jaws clenched, and for the first time, his expression cracked. “A’ight, you’re doing too much.”
“Am I?” Nhuri’s eyes narrowed. “What’s doing too much is how you made me feel crazy for wanting more from you. Like I was asking for too much.”
Dru exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You act like I ain’t give you nothing, Nhuri.”
“Did you?” she challenged, leaning forward. “Because from where I’m sitting, I remember a man who stopped trying. A man who acted like I was just there. Like our relationship was just something to pass the time.”
Dru’s eyes darkened. “That’s bullshit.”
“Is it?” she shot back. “Tell me, Dru . . . When was the last time you made me feel wanted? When was the last time you acted like you gave a damn about us?”
He stayed silent, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
Nhuri nodded slowly. “Exactly.”
Dru dragged a hand over his beard, exhaling roughly. “Man . . . You always did this. Always turned shit into something bigger than it needed to be.”
Nhuri blinked, heat rising to her face. “Something bigger than it needed to be?” Her voice dropped, shaking slightly with restrained anger. “So, me walking away from you, from us, was just me being dramatic?”
Dru shifted, looking uncomfortable. “That’s not what I meant.”
“No, Dru, that’s exactly what you meant,” she snapped. “You think I wanted to leave? That I just woke up one day and decided I was done? I loved you. I gave you everything I had, and all you did was act like you couldn’t be bothered.”
Dru’s nostrils flared. “Man, I had a lot on my plate back then, Nhuri. Work, family shit. You knew that.”
“Oh, I knew,” she said, her voice thick with sarcasm. “I knew that everything else came first. I knew that no matter how much I tried, I would never be enough to make you want to put in the effort. I knew I was in a relationship with a man who cared more about control than compromise.”
Dru’s expression hardened. “Control? That’s what you think it was?”
Nhuri tilted her head. “Am I wrong?”
Dru clenched his jaws, looking away.
“That’s what I thought,” she murmured.
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Finally, Dru exhaled, his fingers drumming against the table.
“I wasn’t perfect, Nhuri. I know that.” He hesitated, then met her gaze.
“But you didn’t have to leave the way you did.
You at least owed me a conversation or something.
But you got up out of there with no warning and then ignored me. That shit hurt.”
Welcome to the club, she thought. Nhuri’s heart clenched, but she refused to let sympathy take over.
“I tried, Dru. I tried so many times to make things work, but you never listened. The way you acted so nonchalantly about my feelings, not caring if I stayed or left, made it much easier for me to choose for you. It made it easier to choose me.”
Dru exhaled and shook his head, running a hand down his face. “I cared. I didn’t know how to show it, but I did. And I know me saying that now won’t change shit, but I need you to know that.”
Nhuri remained quiet, but his next words made her tune all the way in.
“I was selfish in our relationship because I felt I wasn’t doing enough for you. Couldn’t do enough for you. So, I stopped. I made you feel like you were in the wrong because I was lacking, and that was fucked up.”
Nhuri’s chest tightened. For months, she’d wanted to hear him say anything to prove she wasn’t just tripping and had left for nothing.
All those restless nights, crying because she saw the change and how whatever she did to make him feel secure in their relationship didn’t matter because he didn’t feel man enough to even keep it real with himself.
Now, sitting across from him, Nhuri realized something. Whatever he said, the things he needed to get off his chest, didn’t mean or change a damn thing. Dru wanted to talk to her to clear his conscience . . . like always.
Nhuri took a sip of her water. “And instead of you expressing your feelings, you treated me badly,” she said and chuckled with a scoff in disbelief.
“Not on purpose. That’s what I’m trying to get you to understand,” Dru said, sounding regretful.
“There is no understanding between us. I want you to know that how you treated me was unfair. No, let me finish,” she said, stopping him from talking over her.
Dru clenched his jaws but let her continue. Nhuri leaned closer.
“You were wrong, and you checked out of our relationship long before I saw the signs. Maybe it was your immaturity or lack of accountability, but what happened between us was on you. You are the reason I left. I was never the bad person, maybe just not the person for you, and I’m okay with admitting that now. Hopefully, you can do the same.”
She stared at Dru with a mix of frustration and exhaustion but complete peace. He needed to hear every word she said because he wouldn’t let her get a word in before now. Nhuri felt like she was finally letting go of something that had been weighing her down for far too long.
This situation had knowingly and unknowingly held her back from her full potential to love again and be the woman she was always meant to be. It felt good to stand up for herself. Just as she reached for her purse, a familiar face came into her line of vision.
“Ayo, ain’t this something? I was just talking about you.”
Nhuri’s eyes squinted before they widened some.
Shyriq’s brother, Rush, stood tall and confident with a smirk.
The iced-out chain around his neck gleamed in the low lighting, making Nhuri wonder what he did for a living.
His attire of joggers and a crisp white tee with some Jordans on his feet was vastly different from Shyriq’s style.
“Rush?” Nhuri blinked, surprised. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
Rush grinned, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Man, just grabbing some food. I was about to head out, but then I saw you sitting over here looking all serious. Thought I’d come say what’s up.” He pinned his eyes on Dru, sizing him up before focusing back on her. “Everything good?”
Before Nhuri could answer, Dru scoffed and leaned back in his seat. Irritation was written all over his face.
“Oh, I get it now,” Dru said. His voice was laced with bitterness.
Nhuri frowned. “Get what?”
“This is why you left, huh?” Dru gestured toward Rush. “Because you had some new dude lined up the whole time?”
Nhuri’s mouth fell open in shock. “Are you serious right now?”
Dru’s jaws clenched. “Nah, it makes sense. You dipped out so easily you didn’t even look back. You just needed an excuse to go be with whoever was waiting in the wings.”
Rush let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Yo, homeboy, you got me fucked up.” He glanced at Nhuri and scowled. “Who is this clown?”
Nhuri sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. “He’s nobody.”
Dru, clearly agitated, snapped. “Nobody? Yeah, okay. How long was it before you moved on, Nhuri? A week? A month?” His eyes burned into hers, and his temper flared the way it used to when he didn’t get his way.
“All that talk about me not giving a damn, but the whole time you were just waiting to be on some foul, ho shit.”
Nhuri slammed her hand down on the table, spilling some of her water. “You got me messed up,” she hissed, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t disrespect me.”
“Nah. You got yourself messed up. Sitting up here like you’re just the best woman in the world. Fuck out of here,” Dru spat.
Rush stepped forward, ready to snatch him out of his seat. “Aye, you better lower your tone and watch who you talkin’ to. Shit can get real ugly in here.”
Dru huffed. “Man, whatever. This ain’t got nothing to do with you.”
“It had something to do with me the moment you raised your voice at a woman who clearly ain’t fooling with your lame ass anymore.”
Nhuri shook her head, disgusted. “You know what? I should’ve never agreed to this. I thought we could have a mature conversation, but clearly, you’re still the same bitter, insecure, controlling man I left.”
Dru’s nostrils flared as he exhaled. “You just mad ’cause I caught you in your bullshit.”
Nhuri stood abruptly, grabbing her purse. “No, I’m mad because I wasted my time thinking you had actually grown the hell up.” She pulled out her phone and turned to walk away. “Don’t bother texting or calling me, Dru.”
Dru chuckled sarcastically. “Go ahead and block me. That’s real mature of you, Nhuri.”
She ignored him and walked out of the restaurant. Rush walked quickly behind her. He was amused by everything he was witnessing right now.
“Aye, Nhuri. You good for real?”
Nhuri turned to Rush, her face tight with irritation. “I’m fine.”
“A’ight, but if you need backup next time, let me know.”
Nhuri knew he was trying to be funny and lighten the mood, but she was too heated to feed into it. Shaking her head, she left the hotel without saying another word.
Climbing into the driver’s seat, she took a deep breath, inhaling deeply before letting it all out.
Going to her contacts, she blocked Dru’s number and everyone associated with him.
She thought talking to him would provide the closure she needed, and that wasn’t the truth at all.
She felt more stressed than before entering the grocery store, and she blamed no one but herself.
“So glad I have some liquor waiting on me,” Nhuri mumbled, pulling out of the parking lot.