Chapter 14
Fourteen
Mansion was on another level tonight. I cruised through the rubbish with Brisk’s hand locked in mine and her ass pressed against my pants. Her grip tightened with each person we encountered that was too close to comfort. One look in their direction and the space she required was given. We finally made it to our destination, a VIP suite with a balcony view of the action downstairs in the main pit.
“Are you okay?” I asked as we settled, away from the crowd and into our own space.
“Umm. Hmmm,” Brisk responded with dishonesty.
From the fidgeting limbs to the arm that was looped within mine though we were alone proved otherwise. When I attempted to break the physical contact, she pulled me closer. Together, we walked to the balcony and gazed into the crowd beneath us. It was obvious that this wasn’t her scene, which made me regret the decision to bring her to Mansion. However, the food was my only reason for visiting. I had no interest in any other aspect of the club tonight. The dining experience was phenomenal.
“We’re leaving,” I announced.
“What? We just got here,” her forehead clustered as she spoke. Confusion was evident.
“And, we’re just leaving, Brisk. This isn’t your jam. I apologize for considering it, even.”
“It’s just that… Well, I have social anxiety.”
It all made sense, now. The droves of people, loud music, strippers, and constant interactions made it impossible to ignore any form of social anxiety within these walls. That piece of information was saved in my mental rolodex as I took Brisk by the hand and led her in the opposite direction.
“You don’t have to explain, love. I figured we’d be leaving the minute we walked through the door,” I yelled over the music, “Is there any other place you’d like to go?”
“Home,” she stated matter of factly, “Well, to your house. To maybe watch a movie and order in?”
“Home it is,” I reiterated, letting her know that there was no fault in the statement she’d just made.
By the hand, I guided her through the private suite, down the stairs, and toward the exit. Once we were on level ground, we traded positions. From behind Brisk, with my hands at her waist, I maneuvered us through the crevices of the crowd that were made as we approached.
A slight tug at the back of my jeans caused the hairs on my arm to stand. Instinctively, my hand found my waist and rested on the butt of my gun before my fingers curled around the handle. Trigger finger on the small half loop, my stride was halted as I turned around to confront the violator. Brisk felt my attention and body slip from her grasp, causing her to turn, too.
“Going somewhere so soon? The party jus…,” Cash’s statement slowly faded as she noticed I wasn’t alone.
“Yeah. I’m going home,” I nodded.
“Oh, well, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend or does she talk? Maybe she can introduce herself?” She shaded, causing me to step a little closer when I responded to her pettiness.
“This is a game you won’t win, Cash, so it’s best you didn’t try playing it. Not with me, anyway, and not about her.”
As I stepped back, I brushed Brisk’s soft skin. She, too, had closed the distance between her and Cash, piquing my interest as I watched her. With a sly smile, she extended an arm in Cash’s direction.
“I’m Brisk, and you are?”
A quick glance at Brisk’s hand and then back up her body, Cash sniggered and returned, “Ask Bello about me.”
She attempted to walk off, feeling victorious, but her inflated ego was quickly flattened, when I informed Brisk, “She’s not worth your time nor worth discussing, love.”
Shrugging, I placed my hands at Brisk’s waist again, not giving Cash the satisfaction of my eyes as I nudged Brisk in the opposite direction. I could feel the heat radiating from her bright, yellow skin as I headed for the door. The daggers she stared into my back felt like tiny thorns as I settled into the car minutes later beside a silent date.
As the engine purred on our way out of the parking lot, Brisk hiked the sound up on the stereo. Without saying a word, I was aware that she was requesting my silence. For now, I’d offer it, but I damn sure didn’t want to.
The city lights caused the glaring of my windshield every few seconds. With each light came a new thought that was quickly replaced by another. The silence being much too loud, I began gnawing at the right, lower flesh of my jaw.
Every other second, my eyes found the side of her face. Beautiful, yet tense, it was. Frustration budded in my brain, overwhelming me with an emotion that I wasn’t quite familiar with. Sympathy. At a moment’s notice, my hand was lowering the volume of the stereo while my tires screeched from the rapid decision to pull over to the side of the road.
Though we were less than three minutes from my place, it felt like an eternity. I just couldn’t wait that long to hear her voice again, or know what was going on in that big head of hers. I wouldn’t survive.
“Say something, love,” I started, turning my entire body to meet her clenched jaw and wandering eyes.
“I don’t have anything to say, Bello,” she sighed with a long, exaggerated breath.
“Well, start with what’s on your mind.”
Her bated breaths combined with the lack of eye contact was driving me to the brink of insanity. The sadness in her voice was only the tip of the iceberg. But, as much as I hated to admit it, she was so fucking pretty with the pout.
She’s making this shit too easy .
Too fucking easy to get caught up in her rapture. Too fucking easy to share space with her. Too fucking east to get lost in her existence. Too fucking easy to appreciate her presence. Too fucking easy to give whatever was needed of me. I could feel it in my chest, what was happening to me. But, I wasn’t ready to fall. Not unless she fell with me.
“It’s only you and if I have it my way, it’ll only ever be you. Forever. Maybe it’s too soon to feel this way, but tell that to my heart because it’s the one that isn’t listening to anything I say. While you’ll never have to worry about running to a guy that I’ve ever dated or given myself to, I don’t get the same pleasure. Quite honestly, that makes me sad, because you should’ve waited on me. No matter how long I took.”
While it wasn’t Cash that she was worried about, from the sound of things, her honesty was settling. She was right. I’d have the pleasure of walking God’s green earth knowing there wasn’t a man alive who had what’s mine, yet she didn’t get the same leniency. It wasn’t fair, but it was life.
“I’m sorry. Sorry, I didn’t wait, but I never imagined anyone of your caliber existed that didn’t already have a ring or making plans to get one with the man she loved. But, the beauty in my past is that it has gotten me here. Right where we are.”
“It just sucks. Knowing you’ve given any part of you to someone that isn’t me. It might sound silly, but it’s just how I’m feeling.”
“It doesn’t. It doesn’t sound silly, love. It sounds honest and I appreciate it. But, what if I told you that I’ll never give myself to anyone else as long as we’re here on this earth? Is that enough? Because I can’t do anything to change the past.” Remorseful, I tried compromising.
Lifting her head, Brisk finally gave me her eyes. Followed with a reassuring smile, she placed a hand to her chest, “It beats differently when I’m with you.”
“I feel you.” I patted my own.
“On another note… we seem nothing alike.”
“Don’t do that, love. Ever. Ever in life.”
“Do what?” Brisk’s head turned in my direction when she asked.
“Compare yourself to anyone. You’re above that.”
“I’m just saying,” she reasoned.
“Just don’t, Brisk. You’re incomparable.”
Silence fell amongst us again. For once, I was okay with that. I needed Brisk to settle in her thoughts and allow my words to marinate. The last thing I needed or wanted was her falling into the comparison trap. She deserved better.
I crept out of the loft. Brisk was resting peacefully underneath my sheets, making my whole fucking heart smile. I’d agreed to pizza and a movie, but by the time the movie started and she’d had two slices of pizza, she wasn’t any good. While curled up beside me, exhaustion wore her down.
The locusts of the night greeted me at the door with their howling in the crisp morning air. It was going on two when I finally reared the corner of the private garage that Brisk had been instructed to park in upon arrival. Marcus had mentioned repairs on her van during brunch a few weeks back, but it had stuck with me since. With Brisk’s van being her only source of transportation, I wanted it to be in great condition.
If it was left up to me, she’d be in something a bit more current and without as much room. She was only one person and simply didn’t need all the space. But, I’d let her make the decision to upgrade on her own. I wasn’t in the business of forcing my lifestyle or desires onto her - or any woman for the matter. When she was ready, I’d be more than willing to put her in something nice.
The vintage van, covered in an off-white paint with trimming and logos in a sandy nude, was parked next to my Slingshot. I kept it tucked away in the garage in case of rain or high winds. The last thing I wanted was for it to be damaged in my absence, or at all even. The Maybach was in the overage garage that was dedicated to our residence with more than two vehicles.
Her key ring dangled from my hand with far too many trinkets, fuzz balls, and shiny shit hanging from them. However, I noticed there was only one actual key. It belonged to the van. I unlocked the door and hopped inside to get it started. My homie owned a body shop and knew that I’d be dropping it off for him to have a look at later this morning. The plan was to have the van fixed and returned to the space before she noticed it was gone.
Cliiiiii..,
Cliiiiiiii.
The engine stalled, refusing to crank. I pumped the gas a few times before trying again. Still, getting the same results. Then, again, and not even the previous sound was present. There was silence as I tried turning over the ignition.
Battery or the starter , I finalized. We can rule out or determine it’s the battery right now .
I exited the van and walked the length of it until I reached the back. The double doors opened on the first tug. Nothing… nothing in life could have prepared me for what I saw upon pulling the doors apart.