Chapter 5 #2
“And the gentlemen.” She didn’t acknowledge me, which had me ready to take it ten on her ass.
Free sitting there all nonchalant like he didn’t see this itches set of full teeth only aggravated me more. He was about to move his lips to speak, but I beat him to the punch.
“He will have a glass of Hennessy, neat. And I would appreciate it if you would take your hoe ass, devil eyes off my man.” The aggressiveness in my tone pulled both her and Frequency’s eyes in my direction.
Stunned, she immediately stammered over her words while giving me widened eyes of guilt. Free actually had the nerve to be fucking smirking, and I was close to reaching across the table to smack his ass.
“Um, I was—”
“You were just about to go place our drink order and send another waiter in our direction. Make sure this one knows where to keep their eyes,” I instructed carefully, and all she could do was nod her big ass head and go rushing off with it down in humiliation.
That bitch bolted off like she was on fire, causing Frequency to break out into gut-busting laughter at the situation.
“You wild, yo. The girl was being nice,” he expressed.
“Mmm hmm, nice and friendly with the pussy. Hoe ass,” I declared, cutting my eyes off to the side while his head moved from side to side.
His pretty ass irises sparkled, and the way his lips teased a smile was so sexy.
He grabbed my hand and sloped forward. Once again, his touch set me on fire.
My eyes closed from the warmth that he provided, stirring me down to the deepest pits.
We’d been together for months, but it still felt fresh and new.
The only relationship I had to compare it to was Lock, but this hit different.
Frequency snatched a piece of my soul since being with him, and it would never be up for reserve again.
He doted on me in a way that if another man dared try, it would come up short. There could never be a comparison.
“Now you know the only woman that I am worried about is the one sitting across from me. So what’s really on your mind?” he asked, brows raising critically.
When I was insecure, he was always there to assure me.
Ever since Ivana popped back up, it was a constant feeling that nagged at me.
No matter how much he reminded me that I was what he wanted, in the back of my mind, I couldn’t let go of the notion that if given the chance, he would leave me for her in a heartbeat.
“I have grown to be very protective of the things that I care about,” I worded carefully, and both of his eyes went into slits while he studied me.
Frequency scooted his chair over to my side of the table and put an arm around me.
We were practically on top of each other, and his cologne smothered me in the best way.
He wore that expensive shit that he only had to dab on twice, and it seeped into his pores and his clothes from there.
Resting one hand on my thigh and the other on the back of my chair, he kept me close.
“I know that. It’s why I love you.”
I swiveled my head his way and soaked in his handsome face.
He was lucky he was so damn fine. When he said shit like that, all of my doubt went away.
Biting sexily into his bottom lip, he arched his upper torso forward, gripping my chin and forced his lips and tongue onto mine.
I hung on to the collar of his jacket, reciprocating every ounce of passion.
“Ahem. Your drinks.” The young waiter set our glasses on the table.
He was slim, very lanky, with red hair and freckles to match. He kept his arms behind his back and peered down at us cautiously.
“Are you ready to put in your request?” he asked, holding our stares.
We each ordered our food, and I brought my glass to my lips for a demure sip.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the kids and what they were doing.
I didn’t want Celine to be too overwhelmed on her first night back, but she had Ivy to assist. Free reached for his drink and took a small swallow before he set the glass back on the table.
Something caught his attention across the room.
Following the line of his vision, I noticed that Ivana entered the building, and jealousy quickly reverted inside me.
She wasn’t alone, and it didn’t get past me that the man whose arm she was on was fine as hell.
Had to give her credit where it was due; she had taste.
One of his arms was snaked behind her back, guiding her to a table about three over from where we were seated.
I couldn’t quite read the situation, but something was off about it.
As appealing as her companion was, there was also something very shady about him.
Free swiped his mustache with his thumb and first finger before he reclined in his chair.
His gaze never wavered, and I saw his jaw tighten.
I’d grown accustomed to his mannerisms the same way that he did mine.
He was angry—irritated. Reaching for my glass, I took another gulp and lifted my wrist to check the time on my icy timepiece.
Another gift from Frequency. Right now, I was about ready to make him choke on it.
“Maybe you should go say hi instead of just watching them like a hawk,” I suggested, even though that was the last thing I wanted.
“I got every right to be curious, Harbor. I’m trying to find out everything I can about what she’s been doing and who’s she been doing it with.”
“And is that because of the situation with Ivy, or for your own purposes?” I queried.
The tone in my voice pulled his attention in my direction, and our eyes locked immediately.
“Why you asking me that?” His face distorted, almost as if he was annoyed with me.
“Obviously, I have to. Your entire demeanor changed the minute she walked through the door. You won’t be focused on me with her ten steps away. Why don’t you get my food to go, and I’ll be in the car?” I snatched my clutch from the table and rose to my three-inch heels at the same time.
Free’s hand reached for me, and I snatched away from him.
We’d drawn attention from a few of the people surrounding us, but they weren’t ogling or anything.
My accusing stare landed on him, merciless and bold.
Having children had put me in a different position in life.
Being the other half of a man like him had elevated in me in a way that I never expected.
I had been so caught up in him that I was slowly diminishing, and it was the kind of feeling that left me in a state of sinking with no escape.
I was not about to be another bitch that put her all into a man and ended up with nothing.
Them hoes were bitter, lonely, and miserable.
They stayed in the next person’s business, and I didn’t want my life to go that way.
“Harbor—” He was calling after me, but I had nothing left to say.
I needed to get away from him and get some fresh air.
Stepping outside into the brisk evening, I paced back and forth in front of the building, trying to get my thoughts together.
He knew that I was stubborn, so there was no way that I was going back inside to try and form some kind of compromise.
Up until now, being involved with him, I hadn’t had to question him or his loyalty to me.
True enough, the way we started off probably would have had another woman running in the opposite damn direction.
But before Ivana showed up, I could have sworn we had transcended beyond our initial meeting.
I went into my purse in search of a pack of my Black cigarettes.
I didn’t smoke a lot. Usually, it was social settings or when I was extremely stressed.
Tonight fit the bill. Propping myself against the brick wall behind me, I tucked my arms across my chest and brought a filter to my lips.
I sparked the tip with my lighter and took a deep inhale.
When I brought my eyes up, Deviance stood there.
He wasn’t at a hundred percent, but he was much better than he was a few months ago.
Exhaling smoke, I looked him up and down as he paused at my side.
He went right back to duty the minute he was able to, never more than a car space behind me when I was out and about, my guardian angel.
“Everything okay?” he questioned, eyes lowering.
“Nah, just needed to get out of there,” I countered curtly. “My life is not working out like I thought it would,” I concluded.
“Give it some time.” D’s advice was always so simple, but meaningful.
I knew that as deeply as he admired me, it was more like that brother/sister type shit. His first loyalty was to Free.
Frequency
I usually prided myself on thinking first and not asking any questions unless absolutely necessary.
However, I’d never been in the middle of some shit like this before, so a nigga felt like I was fucking up.
No matter what I did or how I handled things on either side, somebody was bound to feel slighted.
Everything about Ivana being back rattled every rational part of me.
I was curious and a range of other emotions I couldn’t put into words.
My first instinct was to go after Harbor, but if I didn’t confront Ivana now, I didn’t know if I would get the chance.
I loved my girl, more than she could ever even know, but nothing was easy about what was taking place.
Pulling myself to my feet, I tugged my suit jacket tighter around me and strut right over to the table.
Ivana seemed surprised, but her date smiled with amusement.
His calm demeanor and knowing eyes kept me focused on him.
The nigga was staring through me like he knew me or things about me, and I didn’t like that shit.
With feigned surprise, both of her brows went up when she saw me .
Immediately, her eyes searched the restaurant.