Chapter 22
Flames, Confrontation he just ended the call. Tears rolled down my face, and then Junie walked out of the room. I got a text from a number I'd never seen before saying, "I'm in town for the summer, can we please meet up?"
I called the number, and he automatically answered.
"Who is this?" I asked.
"Justin. I think I deserve closure from the only woman I ever loved," he said.
"Where you want to meet at?"
"Flame, this new restaurant my pop just opened on the north side."
"Bet. Be there in an hour and a half," I said, ending the call. I got up, put on a pink fitness set and some tennis shoes, did a light beat of makeup, and my curls were popping like always.
When I arrived at the restaurant, it was really beautiful—white tablecloths, leather seats. It was so expensive, I didn't see anybody our color in there. Justin came up to me in a jogger suit and his little fro. He walked me to a table and pulled a seat out for me. We both sat down.
"You look good, Tammy. It looks like you lost a lot of weight," Justin said.
I felt a little uncomfortable by what he said because I was the exact same damn size. I really wanted to leave right then and there, but I also wanted to give him the closure he needed. The waitress walked up.
"Hey, Mr. Williams and friend, what can I get y'all today?"
"Make sure the tab is on the house, I already told my dad me and my fiancé were coming."
I rolled my eyes because ain't no way he was still claiming me after cheating on me.
"Can I get your chicken fettuccine Alfredo with a strawberry lemonade?" I ordered.
"Can I get a steak cooked medium-well, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and a glass of water," Justin ordered.
She wrote our orders down and walked away.
"I really missed you. I can see you taking care of yourself. You got on new clothes and shoes. You must have a great job," he said.
"Actually, I don't work, I was a bottle girl and I got fired. My cousin has been making sure I'm straight till I get on my feet. I have a friend that helps me also."
"I'm glad you got a friend. I can't remember the last time you had a friend. It was before college, wasn't it?" he asked.
"Yes. Remember, you didn't want me to have friends? You barely wanted me to have a family," I said, irritated that I was even having this conversation.
"It's not that Pumpkin, everyone deserves family. Your mom is a drug addict and your cousins are whores—aren't they your only family? I just didn't want that for you, but you ended up working in the club anyway. I just thank God you weren't swinging from a pole.
Mercedes will show you that being big won't stop you," he said, acting like I shouldn't be offended.
I sat back and laughed at him. He was basic, couldn't fuck, his dick was little, and he was a bitch-ass nigga living off his daddy's money. I didn't want no puppy; I wanted a big dog.
The waitress brought out the food and drinks, and everything looked amazing. Then I looked at the door—Clover, Donny, and Trent walked in. My heart started beating fast. They were sitting on the other side of the restaurant.
"Are you okay, Tammy? You are sweating," Justin said.
"I'm okay, my stomach just started hurting." I wasn't even lying; my stomach felt like it was in my ass.
I looked up—Clo wasn't at his table anymore, and Trent and Donny were ordering. I was ready to go.
"Thank you for lunch, Justin, but I got to go. I'm not feeling good." I stood up.
That's when Clo walked up to the table.
"Want to introduce me to your friend?" he asked.
"Who her friend? I'm her fiancé," Justin said.
"Nigga, you not her shit. What the fuck—tell me what the fuck it is, Golden," Clo said.
"I told you about letting people call you that ghetto shit. That sounds like a stripper name; no woman of mine's going to be called that," Justin said.
"Look, Clo, he called me and said he needed closure. I was just trying to give him that," I said.
"This nigga think you his, Tammy? I ain't buying that shit. You got on clothes I bought, sitting in front of this nigga that clearly thinks he's better than us. I thought you were better than that," Clo said.
I started crying and tried to hug him, but he pulled away from me. He, Donny, and Trent left the restaurant.
I sat down, feeling overwhelmed. Justin was eating his steak unbothered by what had just happened. I sat down and started eating Alfredo.
"So let me guess, that thug is your so-called friend," Justin asked with a chuckle.
"We're actually dating."
"Damn, Tammy, when did you start liking thugs? I thought I was your type. I guess I was wrong."
I frowned, trying my best to hold it together. "Don't judge a book by its cover," I said.
"Looks like he's done with you. I have to go explain to my father how you had nothing to do with these thugs jumping in our face," Justin said. "Can I give you a ride home?"
"Yes, let me text you the address."
I texted him the address, and we walked to the car. When we got there, he opened the door for me, and I got in. He put in the address, looked at me, and said, "I see you moved."
"I moved in with that whore you were talking about. She owns her house," I said, being sarcastic.
"How much pussy did she have to do that?" he said.
"She actually never had to sell pussy, she just dances."
"Hmm, of course you're going to believe your cousin," he said.
I just stayed quiet the whole ride because I was never talking to this bitch-ass nigga again. When we pulled up to the house, Silk, Clover, Trent, and Donny were sitting on the porch. I got out of the car and started walking up the driveway. That's when I felt Justin pull my arm.
"Justin, stop, you're hurting me," I said.
"You didn't tell me you were staying with this thug," Justin said.
"You got one minute to get your pussy ass from around here and get your hands off my damn woman," Clo said, standing on the porch.
"Is this really what you want? To be a baby mama to this thug on welfare with all these niggas living in your Section 8 house?"
"Justin, chill the fuck out! I don't know why I ever fucked with you, your mouth is crazy as fuck," I screamed.
He shoved me. Clo jumped off the porch so fast that by the time Justin made it to his car, Clo was right behind him.
Clo punched him in the face and he fell.
Clo punched him again and his teeth fell out.
I ran up and stopped him. All he could do was hug me, and all I could do was hug him back because I was dead-ass wrong for meeting up with Justin.
Justin jumped in his car and pulled off so fast.
Me and Clo went into the house to talk.
"So you like niggas who talk to you like shit? That shit is noted," Clo said, sounding frustrated.
"No, I don't. He said he needed closure and I just wanted to give it to him," I said.
"Gold, I can't do this mixed-signal shit. Do you want me or not?" he asked.
"Of course I want you. You just don't make time for me lately," I said, running my hand through his hair.
"I am trying. You make it no better with your attitude," he said while kissing my lips.