27. Ronnie
Ronnie
“Where are you going Ronnie?” Reese was sitting up on the bed with a confused expression.
My eyebrows furrowed as I grabbed my underwear from off the floor.
“Home.” His arm reached out to stop me from putting it on.
“Why are you leaving?”
I shook my head, snatching away from his hold. I surveyed the room for my sweatshirt and pants. Finding them at the end of the bed, I got dressed.
“We don’t have to make this into something. I know this was just us grieving from Sin’s death,” I noted.
“Aye, hold on,” he instructed when I headed for the door. Flinging the pillow to the side, Reese got up to come toward me.
“Grieving or not, I still wanted you. I know you feel the chemistry between us, since the first day in your office.”
I nodded my head, and he grabbed ahold of my hand, kissing me on my lips.
“I felt it, too,” he admitted. “We agreed to be friends, but I wanna be more than your friend though. Let me take you on a date.”
“You don’t mean that.” I chuckled humorlessly.
“I don’t say shit I don’t mean,” he countered, and I believed that. Reese seems like the kind of man who knows what he wants. I’m just having a hard time believing he wanted me.
“People will talk about us. I already tried this with Sin, Reese.”
Talk is an understatement. They’re gonna have a field day seeing me out in public with Reese just weeks after Sin passing. No doubt, they’ll come up with all kinds of assumptions. Some may think we planned his death so we could be together.
“I’m not Sin, baby. I know what I want, and if you riding with me, we can figure the other shit out.” His mouth twisted in a grimace.
Reese sounded so sure we could make this work; despite all the obstacles we’ll have to face. Still, I can’t put everything on the line for another man again, just to have it backfire on me as it had with Sincere. I frowned. Shaking my head, I pulled my hand away from his grasp.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
I ran from Reese’s room before he could say anything else. Luckily, I didn’t run into any of his family members on my way out the door. I really did like Reese. He was right about the chemistry between us. I’m just not sure if I can be with him.
Once I finally got inside my car, I laid my head against the seat. It hit me then what just happened. I had sex with Reese.
He was gentle, patient, and most importantly, he let me cum. I can still feel his hands on my body, which made me wanna go back inside for another round. Instead, I drove away from his house before I changed my mind.
Since the shooting, I’d distanced myself from everyone, including Monae.
Every time she called me, I sent her straight to voicemail.
I’d hate to be that friend who only reaches out when she wants something, but right now is when I needed her the most. And even though she may be mad, she’ll still give me the best advice.
Hooking my phone to the Bluetooth, I dialed her number. I’m expecting her to yell at me. I deserved it for pushing her away for weeks. When she picked up I didn’t get any of that.
“Just tell me you’re okay Ronnie.” Monae’s voice was shaky on the other side, and I broke down immediately.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you. I knew you were just tryna be there for me.” My eyes became blurry as I drove.
“You’re sorry? Girl, I’m sorry. You went through something tragic. Don’t apologize to me for grieving. You okay?” I wanted to say I was fine, but that would be a lie.
“No,” I croaked out. She sighed. I heard rustling from her end.
“Wanna come over to talk? I’m home alone.” I’m so glad she said that because I was on my way to her, anyway.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Get the wine.” I made a right turn. I was already a few blocks away, seeing that she didn’t stay too far from Reese’s house.
“Already at it. I’ll see you in a minute.” She hung up.
I was happy the conversation didn’t happen as I expected it to. I can breathe a lil’ easier knowing Monae’s not mad.
I made it to Monae’s place less than five minutes later and parked next to her car in the driveway. Walking up to the door, I knocked.
“Hey, boo. Come in,” she greeted. I gave her a quick hug as I walked in, surveying the room. Something was off about it.
“It looks different in here,” I muttered. She shooed me toward the couches.
“Uh-huh, I got a new love seat. Come sit down.” Once I was seated, I grabbed the glass from the coffee table and took a sip.
“I’m listening.” Monae took one of her own, staring at me over the rim of her cup. I guess I can just jump into it. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I inhaled, then exhaled deeply.
“I went to Sin’s house to tell him it was over. He opened the door naked with a girl inside with him. Things got heated, and he pushed me against the door, choking me,” I relayed. Monae gasped.
“The girl who was there helped me get out. I ran to tell Reese what he did and showed him my neck.” I pointed to the spot where the bruise had been.
“We went to find him. First, we looked in the apartment I ran from, but he wasn’t there. Then we went to another apartment. After that, Reese figured Sin was probably at the studio, so that’s where we went next.”
Monae nodded in encouragement for me to continue.
“Sin was hiding under a table. You can tell he was still high from earlier that day. When he came out, Reese confronted him about something he was told.” I left out those details. I didn’t think it was my place to tell Monae what it was.
“They started fighting, and then we heard the police at the door.” My voice cracked.
“He-he knew he was gonna go to jail for the robbery. Sincere knew he had no way out, Mo,” I sobbed softly, tears running from my eyes. Monae’s hand touched my knee.
“You ain’t got to finish this.” I waved her off. Yes, I did, or I wouldn’t be able to get passed it.
“Sin spotted the gun Reese dropped on the floor during the fight. Somehow Reese knew what Sin planned to do with it, so they both went to grab it at the same time. Sin shot himself in the chest by accident.”
“Girl, that’s crazy as hell.” Mo pulled me in closer, a shocked expression on her face.
“You must be traumatized. I don’t know how I would’ve handled that.” I wiped my cheeks.
“I’m tryna stay strong.”
“And to witness that with Reese,” she added. “How he doing, by the way?”
I cleared my throat.
“Speaking of Reese, that’s why I called you tonight. I need advice.” I took a sip of wine.
“What happened?” Monae’s eyes set on mine suspiciously.
“We had sex,” I murmured out lowly. I didn’t think she could hear me. However, she heard enough when she blurted out.
“You and Reese?” I nodded, and a wide smile broke out on her face.
“Girl, I’m happy for you. He seems like a good man.” I bit my lip, looking down into my lap.
“He is. I tried to run from him when we got done. Girl, it was amazing. The best I ever had.” She picked up her glass from the table.
“Then what’s the problem?” she quizzed.
I don’t know why people think this is okay, like it’s no big deal. “People will talk about me, Monae. My daddy is gone have a heart attack. Sincere just died weeks ago. What I look like jumping into something else? With his group member, no less. It was just grief sex.”
She doesn’t believe a word I’m saying.
“You like Reese?” she asked me.
“What that got to do with anything?” I frowned.
“Do you like him?” she repeated, taking a sip of wine.
Rolling my eyes, I threw my head back in exasperation. “Yeah, I do. He asked me on a date.”
“Then go for it.” It’s not that easy. I turned to her.
“Mo.”
“Go for it, Ronnie. You deserve to be happy.” Her voice was stern when she said it the second time. Mo put the wine on the table, then reached out to hold my hand.
“It’s not a marriage proposal. It’s a date.
And if you like Reese, you should be with him.
Fuck what other people have to say. You a boss ass lawyer, but you’re human too.
They be so quick to judge but won’t walk a mile in your shoes.
He’s not Sin, Ronnie. You can’t let what happened with him stop you from finding happiness. ”
I wiped my tears with my free hand.
“And if that happiness leads you to a relationship with Reese, then so be it.”
I laid my head on her shoulder.
“I love you, friend.”
“I love you more.” We wrapped our arms around each other. Just like I knew she would, Monae gave me the reassurance I needed. I knew exactly what to do.