5. Dynastie
“Why are you knocking when you have a key?” I asked when I answered my door for Jordan.
“I wanted to make sure we were good. Can you talk?”
“If you don’t mind talking while I pack.”
“That works.”
I stepped back, opening the door wider to let him into my condo. Once he was inside, I locked the door and walked past him toward my bedroom. He followed close behind me, grabbing me by the waist, stopping me before I reached my destination.
“Jordan, chill,” I griped, annoyed by his touch.
“Damn, baby. I haven’t seen you in a week. I thought you would be a little more excited to see me.”
I wasn’t excited to see him, and unfortunately for him, I wasn’t a liar. Instead of hurting his feelings, I gently removed his hands from my waist and continued to my bedroom.
I had three large suitcases open on the floor, two of which were almost full, and the other one I’d just started filling. I noticed Jordan look at the suitcases with confusion before looking at me with the same expression.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Is that a serious question, because I’m pretty sure you know what packing looks like?”
“Dynastie, cut the shit and the smart remarks. Why are you packing three big ass suitcases?”
“I’ll be gone for three months, possibly more.”
“Three months. Where are you going for three or more months?”
“Home.”
“Home, as in Chicago?” he questioned.
“No. Home, as in Waukegan.”
“Why are you—hold up. Is someone in your family sick?”
“Not that I’m aware of, and I pray everyone in my family remains in good health.”
“What other reason would you be taking three or more months off from work?”
I’d been moving around my bedroom, folding pieces of clothing and placing them in my suitcase. I stopped and turned to face him.
“What makes you think I won’t be working? You do know I can work from anywhere, don’t you?”
“Can we stop this back-and-forth shit and you tell me what the hell is going on?” he pressed, not hiding his irritation.
I sighed because I didn’t plan on telling this man anything. Had he shown up at my door twenty-four hours from now, he would’ve been met with my absence.
I prayed long and hard about whether I should take Major up on his offer, and God said it was time. The thought of seeing him made me nervous, but deep down, I’d been waiting for the day to come.
“I can’t give you the details, but I got a job, and it’ll take me a while to gather the information I need.”
“Why can’t you share the details?”
“Because I signed a contract agreeing not to share the details.”
“I’m your boyfriend, though.”
“Are you?” I asked with a raised brow.
“The hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You were in your feelings and haven’t talked to me for several days. That, my boy, doesn’t sound like something my boyfriend would do.”
“I was giving you time to cool off.”
“Cool off? You were the one heated, not me. I’ve been cooler than the other side of the pillow.”
“Fine. You’re right. I overreacted about you declining my invitation to move in with me, but I’ve cooled off. I came to apologize and make up, only to find out you’re leaving for several months. I don’t like this shit, Dynastie.”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure what to tell you because I’m not changing my mind.”
“When are you leaving?” he asked.
“My flight leaves tomorrow at seven.”
“In the morning?” I nodded. “Damn. When were you planning to tell me?”
“Whenever I talked to you again.”
“You’re saying you would’ve left without telling me had I not stopped by or called?”
I nodded as I spoke. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
This conversation had already taken more time than I wanted, causing me to fall behind. I had dinner plans with Zena, a woman I’d met at Onyx City University during my master’s program. She was married with three kids, so we didn’t get together too often.
It was time for this nigga to go, so I headed out of my bedroom and to the door for him to do just that. I could feel Jordan behind me, a little too close for comfort.
“Jordan, I think you should go.”
I reached for the doorknob, but he grabbed my arm before I could touch it, yanked me away from the door, and flung me a few feet away. I lost my balance and fell to the floor quicker than I could process what was happening, landing hard on my left shoulder.
“Ouch! What the fuck is your problem?” I shouted, using my right hand to get up.
“You got me fucked up!”
“Nah, nigga. You got me fucked up.”
I rushed to my bedroom and went to my bedside table, where I kept my nine-millimeter. Jordan wasn’t far behind me, but by the time he was close enough to touch me, I’d racked my first round and aimed it at him.
“Back up, nigga!”
He looked shocked as he held his hands up in surrender and stepped back.
“Put that shit away.”
“Get the fuck out.”
“It was an accident, baby.”
It probably was an accident, but it was reason enough for me to be done with his ass.
“You throwing me to the floor may have been an accident, but if I pull this trigger, it won’t be. Go home.”
He kept his hands up as he walked backward out of my bedroom, only turning his head for a millisecond here and there, probably to check his direction.
My gun remained aimed at him until he reached behind him, turned the doorknob, and backed out of the door. I held the door open with my foot, and when he was a few feet away, I stopped him.
“Hold up. Toss me my keys.”
For the first time since they went up, he lowered his hands.
“Come on, Dynastie. If I can forgive you for pulling a gun on me, you should be able to forgive me for being a little rough. I didn’t mean—”
“My keys, Jordan.”
He begrudgingly reached into his pocket to retrieve my keys and tossed them in my direction. They landed right next to my feet, but I didn’t pick them up until he was gone.
“Girl, I was on the fence about whether I should break things off with him, but his behavior tonight solidified my decision,” I told Zena.
After Jordan left, I finished packing with just enough time to take a quick shower and meet Zena at Onyx City Grill at our agreed upon time.
“I don’t blame you. I always told you he was a little off.”
“My brother has been saying the same thing, and I should’ve listened to y’all, but honestly, our relationship wasn’t that serious to me.”
“You’ve been with him for almost two years, girl. That sounds more than serious to me.”
“I know. Maybe I’m not using the right words to explain.”
“You don’t love him.”
I paused as I lifted a nacho to my mouth and gave Zena a look.
“Why would you say that?” I asked, curious as to how she came to that conclusion.
“A few reasons. You don’t look at or talk about him like a woman who loves him.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe you like him, you care about his well-being, you enjoy his companionship, and you might even enjoy having sex with him, but none of those things have to equate to love, and in this case, they don’t. ”
“Oh my God, Zena. You hit the nail on the head.”
“It wasn’t hard to see. My husband even asked what y’all were doing because he could tell you weren’t into him.”
“Damn. That’s wild considering men aren’t usually very observant.”
“My husband definitely isn’t, but he said that after the first time the four of us met up. It’s actually kinda baffling that Jordan couldn’t see it or feel it.”
I shrugged. “It’s not like I was disrespectful or treated him badly.”
“True, but there was never a sense of urgency on your part when it came to him. It felt like you could take him or leave him. Chile, I ain’t neva played about my husband, and he has always matched my energy. After ten years together, we still want to live in each other’s skin.”
“The way you broke down our relationship in less than one minute needs to be studied because everything you said is spot on,” I told her.
“It was obvious to those on the outside looking in. I’m sure me and the hubby aren’t the only people who noticed. I have a question, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Who’s the lucky man?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused by her question.
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?”
I looked down at my food, unsure of how to answer her question. If I were honest, there has always been someone else. We hadn’t spoken or seen each other for years, but somehow, Major was always lurking around in my head.
Zena had supported me through one of the hardest times in my life, but she didn’t ask many questions because our friendship was fairly new at the time. I’d never shared anything with her about the man who had my heart, but I guess now was as good a time as any.
“How much time you got?”
“I knew it! I’m all ears. Take all the time you need.”
“This is fancy,” I said to Bo when he slid behind the steering wheel.
I’d landed at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee about forty minutes ago. After claiming my luggage, I made my way outside and spotted an older gentleman leaning against a chocolate luxury SUV, holding up a sign with my full government name.
I waved him over, and he rushed to assist me. He insisted he didn’t need my help putting my stuff in the trunk, so I got inside and waited.
“It’s a smooth ride,” he responded.
“I’m sure it is.”
He looked in the rearview mirror as he pulled away from the curb.
“It’s nice to finally meet you. I was beginning to wonder if you were a figment of Major’s imagination.”
“He talks about me?”
“He does. Why do you sound surprised?”
“No reason. It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Bo.”
“How was your flight?”
“Early, but it was fine. Thank you for asking.”
“It’s been a long time since the last time you saw Major, huh?”
“It has.”
“Did you miss him?”
I was taken aback by his question, and my mouth opened and closed a few times, but I couldn’t find my voice.
“Your expression and silence are enough of an answer. He’s missed you, too, and he’s very excited to see you.”
“Hmm,” I responded with a nod and a tight-lipped smile.
There were a few things I could say in response, but I’d just met this man, and I didn’t want him to see that side of me so soon.
“You’re still angry, aren’t you?”
“Mr. Bo, I don’t know what he told you, but I’m sure it wasn’t the whole story. I have a right to still be angry, and if you don’t mind, can we talk about something else?”
“Of course. I’d love to hear more about the woman Major is madly in love with.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. Major must have been paying this man to lay it on thick. Thankfully, the traffic was moving, the ride was short, and when it came to me, I had plenty to talk about.