Chapter 13 #2
"I haven't been hiding anything from you," I said.
"I just found out myself that I'm getting married. This was an arrangement set up by my father and Kaseem's family. It's a power move for both families. Let’s not make a big deal about it, I’ve already agreed and it’s happening.
" I said, sure of myself. In my heart, I knew that this had to be done to protect my father. No use in fighting it. I just prayed eventually I’d be allowed to leave and live my life after this family got what they wanted. Today, I had to put on a fake face.
River's face went tight. "Tatti, that doesn't sound right. You would never agree to something like that."
"I don't have a choice," I said, and my voice was firm. "So I need you to respect that and just be there for me. That's all I'm asking."
Nyla was quiet for a second, looking at me like she was trying to read between the lines. River opened her mouth to keep pressing but I cut her off with a look.
"Don't," I said. "Just... don't."
River sat back, not happy but backing off because she knew me well enough to understand when I was done talking about something.
That's when the front door opened.
Namier walked through like he owned the place, all casual confidence and energy that filled the whole room. He looked around, nodded at everyone, then asked where his brother was.
"He's in his office," I said.
But he wasn't looking at me when I answered. His eyes had locked on Nyla the second he walked in and it was like the rest of the world disappeared.
Time actually stopped.
I could feel it. River could feel it. And Nyla definitely felt it because her whole body went still.
Namier's jaw flex. He looked at Nyla like he was seeing something he didn't expect to see, and for a second he just stood there processing. Then he seemed to catch himself, like he remembered he wasn't alone.
"Damn," he said, and his voice came out different. Slower. "Excuse my manners. I'm Namier."
He extended his hand to Nyla only. Didn't acknowledge River. Didn't acknowledge me. Just Nyla.
She took his hand and they shook. And they kept shaking. And kept shaking.
I cleared my throat. Loud. Cause this was getting out of hand now. These muthafuckas was stuck in a damn matrix.
"Your brother is in the office," I said again, and this time my tone had an edge to it.
Namier looked away from Nyla like it physically hurt him to do it, and he nodded once before heading toward Kaseem's office.
The second he was out of earshot, River leaned over and whispered to me.
"That man know he fine," she said. "Is he married too?"
Nyla hadn't moved. She was still staring at where Namier had been standing, her hand still warm from where his had been.
"Nyla," River said. "Earth to Nyla. You good?"
Nyla blinked and looked at us like she was coming out of a trance.
"Did y'all see that too?" she asked, her voice small.
"See what?" River said, playing innocent. "That man who just walked in here, completely ignored us, locked eyes with you like you were the only person in this room, shook your hand for like over a hundred seconds, and then had to physically force himself to walk away?"
Nyla's face flushed. "Oh my God."
"Oh my God is right," River said. "Tatti, what the hell is happening?"
I smiled despite everything. "That's Namier. Kaseem's little brother."
"Well, little brother is FINE," River said.
"And apparently very interested in Nyla," I added.
Nyla was still staring toward the office, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. "Don't," she said, but there was no force behind it. She was already gone.
In my mind. I already knew that this was the start of some shit.
I talked to the girls and although they were reluctant, they agreed to go dress shopping with me next week. I told them I wished a small and intimate ceremony. Nothing big at all. Just me and my girls. Him and his close people.
Once the hour was up. They were blindfolded and led back to their car. I knew when Namier came out that office, he’d be looking for his mystery woman. And she was long gone.
—
At the end of the night, at least four hours after everything had gone down, I showed and got into my bed to watch something funny.
After the day I had, I needed to unwind with something light.
BMF or Power would have been too heavy for me.
My mind fell on my secret. My secret that I’d do anything to protect.
My lifeline and everything that was important to me.
While I was in deep thought, I got a knock at my door.
I knew it was Kaseem cause I smelled his expensive ass body wash through the door.
“Come in.” I yelled, and the door came over. He put his hand on the frame and looked at me laying the for a second.
“I’m about to call it a night.” He said. I was wondering why the hell he was telling me that. Then he finished what he was saying.
“You coming to get in my bed or you want me to sleep in here?” He asked casually, not wanting to show emotion.
“I’ll come in there. Yo bed more comfortable.” I said as I damn near jumped up. What was happening to me? He smoked, turned around and walked into his room.
He stood onside of the bed, letting me get into the inside.
After I was comfortable, he slid in behind me.
Instead of turning on the tv, he had Alexa play show jams. I laid on my side and he got behind me.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and I leaned my head back into him.
No words were said, no moves were made. Minutes later I heard him snoring. One thing was clear.
I was becoming his safe space. It didn’t take long at all for me to fall asleep in his arms either.