In His World

Chapter 1

one

. . .

Unfortunately, I realized quickly Damien would do just enough to get by.

A girl wasn’t asking for fireworks. All I needed was effort, so I didn’t feel like I had to orchestrate everything.

Thirty-three wasn’t old, but it was old enough to know when you were settling, which was exactly what I was doing.

I couldn’t count on Damien for anything lately.

So, if I had to hype myself up before the world got a chance to underwhelm me, then that’s what I was going to do.

My pink and white Fenty leggings and sports bra, paired with my white Air Max, was the perfect attire for a birthday girl on a mission.

Last-minute tasks still needed my attention.

And instead of relaxing on my birthday, I’d be running around to get them done.

After retrieving my wallet and keys off the counter, I headed out my apartment door, tripping over my boyfriend’s shoes in the process.

I caught myself on the wall, looking down at them.

He never put his things where they belonged, which was at his place.

None of this was new. My irritation felt familiar, as well as keeping my mouth closed about it.

I’d learned how to step over his mess without saying anything, because saying something never changed it.

That alone said more than I wanted to admit.

“Junky ass,” I hissed in frustration, running down the stairs and out of the storm door.

Hopping in my car, I turned the air on, which felt more like heat after my car sat in the sun all morning.

It was unusually hot for a late May day, but I took it because there was always a chance that my birthday would get washed away under the summer rain.

Chicago had some of the most unpredictable weather year-round. Oh, but when it broke, it brOKE!

Annoyance and frustration nagged at me once I peered at my dashboard as lights blinked back at me.

My gas was low, the oil was overdue, and some other light that I wasn’t aware of blinked.

They were all reminders of Damien keeping promises to everyone but me.

I stared at the dashboard, running through a mental checklist that felt too routine for someone who was supposed to be in a ‘relationship’.

Somewhere between turning the key and pulling out of the lot, I realized I’d already accepted that if something needed to be handled, it would be on me.

Damien didn’t do any of the things I asked of him.

This man was pushing thirty-six and still behaved as if he was a teenager.

He was beyond irresponsible, which was starting to become a major turnoff.

Hell, I was told men matured at a slower rate than women.

I just knew dating someone a few years older than me would relieve me of some stupidity. That turned out not to be the case.

Finally, the air started to cool on my face.

I sat there a second, staring at his name before I hit call.

I knew how the conversation was about to go, but I called him anyway.

I pulled my visor down as the phone rang.

Placing my oversized glasses on my face, I rolled my eyes when he finally answered my call.

Lately, the sound of his voice was just as irritating as his presence.

But I was trying to stay calm. My one rule in life was no tears on your birthday.

“Yo baby, what’s good?”

“Damien, why would you leave my car on E, and what happened to you getting the oil changed for me?”

“I didn’t have time like I thought I would. Remember, it’s tournament season. When the game was over, I just brought it back and hopped in my car. Then I went straight to the radio station.”

“Your shift at the radio station starts at 10 at night. The basketball tournament started at 3 in the afternoon. You picked my car up at 9 in the morning, for the sole purpose of getting work done on it. You mean to tell me I was stuck inside all day, and you still didn’t do the shit you volunteered to do? ”

“Who you cursing at?” He laughed, irritating me further.

“Do I sound like I’m in a laughing mood?”

“I said I was pressed for time baby. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Don’t baby me. How many more times do you think I’m going to give you the opportunity to play with me?”

“Sibley, chill, man. It’s my bad.”

“It’s my birthday. Getting an oil change does not fit into the day of pampering I planned for myself!”

“Oh yeah, that’s right! Happy birthday, love.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right? Wow.” I rolled my eyes in shock but more so in disgust. He really thought not keeping his words was okay.

Damien and his needs were his only priority; I don’t even know why I was so surprised.

Taking a deep breath, I regained my composure, attempting to calm myself down.

“What time should I be ready tonight?” I asked.

“Ready? For what?”

“You planned something for me, right?”

“Right, I did. Um, be ready by 8. See you later.”

I hung up the phone without saying goodbye, then tossed it on my seat.

I spent the next three hours with the biggest attitude in the nation.

I got the oil changed and had the windshield wipers and brakes replaced.

I loathed going to auto shops alone. It never failed: walking in with the intention of getting one thing done, then they’d show up with a list of items to be replaced.

Normally I’d protest, but this time I didn’t.

I just wanted to get everything out the way and have a decent summer.

Especially considering I couldn’t count on my ‘man’ to look out for me.

Shortly after I left Firestone, I headed to the nail shop and made it just in time for my appointment.

My girls called me plain, but I really just liked simple things.

A nude coffin set, short might I add, was all I needed.

I pampered myself with a hot stone pedicure and finished it with nude polish as well.

Back in my truck, I cruised down Lakeshore Drive.

I had nowhere to go but back home; however, I wanted to enjoy the ride.

With my hair blowing in the wind, pedi and mani fresh, and eyebrows on point, I was vibing.

It felt like my day was getting back on track.

I thought nothing could take my joy, until the low tire pressure light came on. “Ugghhhhh!” I screamed.

I drove a little further, because realistically it was Chicago—I couldn’t just stop anywhere.

I also didn’t want to just go home knowing I needed air.

I pulled over in the city and found myself at the first visible gas station.

Annoyed was an understatement. Here I was, bent down putting air in my tires, some shit Damien should have been doing.

And damn, I was at the tire shop earlier!

Shouldn’t they have checked on that? I couldn’t figure out if I was annoyed with him or if I was annoyed that at my big age, I didn’t know how to put air in my tires.

I thought the air was going into them, but instead I made the tire itself flat.

Leaning against my truck, I said a silent prayer when a black truck with tinted windows pulled up.

I straightened up a little, wiping my hands on my leggings like that was going to change me being in these people’s way.

I hope they are not waiting on me to leave because I need help, I thought.

The doors opened on the truck, and four men emerged from it, one who was a work of art. He walked towards me with a smile etched across his face.

“You need help or something?” He asked as two of the other men nodded at me, then walked into the gas station. My eyes quickly roamed over him. He had to be at least 6’3”, long brown locs pulled into a ponytail. My eyes darted from his sleeve of tattoos to his lips as he spoke.

“I said, do you need help? I got somewhere to be, beautiful.”

“Yeah, uh, I do actually. Can you help me put air in my tires, please?”

“No doubt. Which ones?” I pointed to the back passenger tire while he walked around.

“You riding clean in this Wrangler, shorty. Where you headed to?” He asked, taking the pump off the base and securing it to my tire.

“I was supposed to be celebrating my birthday but, unfortunately, I’m running errands.” I shrugged.

“Oh, word? What yo man got planned for your birthday?”

“That’s smooth. Who said I had one?”

“Girls like you always do,” he laughed while I joined in with him. “Do you have an air chuck?”

“What’s that?” I asked awkwardly. “Ohhh, the little thingy you use to check the pressure?”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “The little thingy.”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I went to Firestone earlier, and the guy convinced me to get one.” I added, pulling it out of the glove compartment.

“You mean to tell me you were at a car shop today and they didn’t put air in your tire? Somebody needs to lose their job.”

“Well, in their defense, I rushed them to get everything done so I could get my nails done.”

He walked around seemingly checking the pressure of the other tires. He placed the air compressor back on the rack while I thanked him graciously.

“No problem, beautiful. I’mma be at this spot tonight. You and your girls should come through. Leave that nigga at home though if you do,” he added, handing me five one-hundred-dollar bills and a flyer.

“Oh no,” I laughed awkwardly. “I can’t take that from you. I don’t even know you.”

“The name is Kier, and you?”

“I’m Sibley.”

“Your name is as beautiful as you. Guess we know each other now.” He smirked down at me. “Happy birthday. I hope to see you tonight.” He added, placing the bills in my hand and kissing it as he backed away.

The bills sat in my hand as I watched Kier and his entourage drive away.

He wasn’t driving; he was a passenger. And we all learned from TLC what that meant.

But giving away five hundred dollars was crazy, so how much of a scrub could he really be?

The gesture felt nice, though, I had to admit that.

I was a few hundred dollars richer on my birthday and hadn’t even made it to dinner yet.

Still, it wasn’t really about the money; it was the way he did it.

He hadn’t hesitated to come to my aid. I folded the bills slowly, sliding them into my wallet, and glanced down at the flyer again.

Kier. I had a feeling this wasn’t the last time I’d see him..