Chapter 38 Titan
ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS
“Bleu! Get your ass out of the water! You know you can’t swim!”
I dove into the water and scooped her ass up from where she was splashing and yelping like she was about the fucking die. Mia sat at the poolside table, laughing as I struggled to get her to calm down.
When I placed her on the side of the pool, she shook off and ran to lay her ass down in a quiet corner.
“She’s traumatized herself,” she said, as I stepped out of the water.
“That’s what she gets for running and jumping full force into this bitch.”
I grabbed a towel to dry off. Currently, we were enjoying breakfast. We’d been on the island for two days now, just enjoying the sun, the food, and the beach.
Bleu was afraid of the waves. Every time they rolled in, she ran away, but still barked at them.
When Mia took her into the water, she almost had a damn heart attack trying to get out.
That’s why I didn’t understand why she jumped her fat ass in the pool.
“Leave my baby alone, Titan. She’s just curious.”
“Curiosity killed the cat. In her case, the dog.”
“All I know is she better make it home in one piece.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. What’s the plan for the day?”
“I think I want to do a little shopping. Maybe a little sightseeing. The resort has a doggy daycare where we can leave her while we go out.”
I chuckled. “I hope she doesn’t tear those people’s shit up. Maybe I should slip them some extra funds beforehand.”
Bleu was definitely going to be on one. She wouldn’t be destructive, but she was used to being with us, family, or the doggy daycare we put her in to socialize her, so there was no telling how she was going to act with strangers.
The sound of my phone ringing broke me from my thoughts. I looked down to see that it was my mother calling. Swiping the screen, I answered the FaceTime call.
“Sup, Ma?”
“Hey my babies! How is St. Thomas?”
“Beautiful and relaxing,” Mia answered.
“You are out there glowing, honey. Just sun-kissed and fine.”
Mia blushed. “Thank you, Ma. I really needed this.”
“You have to take care of yourself, baby. In all aspects, including mentally.”
“I know.”
“I’m so proud of both of you. I’ve seen so much growth from you in the last couple months. I’ll tell you one thing, I’m glad you stopped all that damn fighting. I was ready to whip both your asses.”
“Ma, please,” I said, waving her off.
“Ain’t no, Ma please,” my Pops said, coming into view. “When she got tired, all she had to do was tag me in and I was on y’all’s ass. Believe that.”
“I don’t know, Pop. I don’t think you can handle me.”
“Nigga, I taught you everything you know about fighting. Not everything I know. I’ll put you on your back and have you wondering how you got there.”
I had to laugh. This man swore he could beat any and everybody.
“I don’t want no smoke, Pop.”
“I know you don’t. Anyway, we didn’t want anything. Just wanted to check in on y’all and tell you we love you.”
“We love y’all too,” Mia said.
“Give Bleu our love,” my mama said, blowing kisses.
“I will.”
We disconnected the call and finished eating, then headed inside to shower and get ready for the day.
When Mia stepped out of the bedroom in that form fitting maxi dress, we almost didn’t leave our villa.
We headed to the doggy daycare to drop Bleu off.
Much to our surprise, she was excited to leave us.
That white lady started talking that baby talk and her friendly but not friendly ass went right to her like she was her best friend and didn’t give us a second thought.
All I could do was shake my head as we left her to meet our car out front.
The ride into town didn’t take long. The car dropped us off in the heart of the shopping district. It was filled with shops, food, drinks, and fun activities. I really didn’t need anything, but if my wife wanted to shop, I’d let her shop until she dropped while I carried the bags.
Every boutique we went in, she had to try on something.
I sat there grinning as she modeled each item.
The sales associates thought it was the cutest thing and hyped her up every time she put on a show.
It was refreshing to see her with a genuine smile.
I felt bad that I’d missed the signs that she was going through a depressive episode back home.
Shit, I was going through it my damn self.
In my last session with Dr. Baxter, I broke down in that lady’s chair.
I felt like I’d been holding it in, and the moment she asked me if I was okay, it was like the floodgates opened.
Every tear shed and feeling revealed felt like a crushing weight was lifted from my shoulders.
I think all I needed was somebody to ask me that question.
Sure, JacQues was dead.
Sure, we’d shut down his operation and saved as many victims as we could.
We’d avenged our daughter, but what now? What happened when the storm was finally over and you really had to sit back and assess the damage that had been caused? In reality, I needed this vacation as much as my wife.
I smiled as I watched Mia. We were in a jewelry store, which meant I was about to drop a bag because my wife loved jewelry. She and Claudia, the saleslady, had struck up a conversation about the pieces she was currently wearing, all gifted by me.
“He likes to spend big money on you,” Claudia said.
Mia giggled. “He spoils me.”
“Well, I have the perfect addition to this beautiful set.”
She went into the display case and pulled out a necklace just as I walked over.
“Flawless, two-carat diamonds set in eighteen-carat white gold. It pairs perfectly with the set you’re wearing.”
Mia’s eyes twinkled as she looked down at the necklace.
“Can I try it on?”
“Of course.”
Claudia removed the necklace from its display and came around the corner. Mia lifted the braids she wore so she could put it on. When she was done, she grabbed the mirror so Mia could see.
“What do you think?” she asked me, touching the diamonds.
I reached out to finger the necklace. “It’s nice. You want it?”
She gave me a playful grin. “Please?”
“Whatchu gon’ give me for it?”
“Whatever you want.”
I chuckled as I tipped her chin. “Remember that.” I turned back to Claudia. “We’ll take it. No need to box it up. I’m sure she won’t take it off.”
Claudia smiled. “I’ll ring that up for you.”
As she went back around the corner, Mia stood on her toes and kissed my lips.
“Thank you, daddy.”
“You gon’ thank me real good later,” I said, slapping her ass, then giving it a squeeze.”
Claudia rang up our purchase, and I swiped my card like I had several times today.
I didn’t mind spoiling my wife. Just like Maceo loved to trick on Shar, I loved to trick on her.
It didn’t matter that she made as much money as I did.
She’d never have to go in her pockets as long as she was fucking with me and even if she wasn’t.
After hours of shopping, we headed back to the villa to drop off the mass of items Mia got.
We chilled for a little bit and changed clothes before going to grab Bleu and heading out for this hiking excursion she talked me into on the ride back.
This woman had me around all these people with this big ass dog strapped to my back in a fucking baby carrier.
I stood near the back of the group, listening to the guide give instructions; the women nearby were gawking at me.
I mean, I got it. I was a handsome nigga and women loved dogs. They smiled at me, and I turned my head.
“How old is she?” one asked, bold enough to come stand next to me. “She’s so cute, just like her daddy.”
I chuckled. “Ma’am, you’re in danger.”
“I was just giving you and this beautiful baby a compliment, love.” She touched my arm. “My girls and I are here on vacation. We’d love to show you a good time.”
I picked up her hand like it was nasty and dropped it away from me.
“I’m married.”
“She can join.”
My head snapped in her direction. “Not only are you hard of hearing, but you one of them ol’ freaky ass hos, huh?”
She scoffed. “Ho?”
“I almost called you a bitch, but I was raised better than that. You don’t see me over here trying to listen to this man?
I said I’m fucking married. I don’t want none of you or your homegirls.
Y’all probably came on this trip to fuck on each other.
The only person I’m fucking on is my wife, and you better get away before she comes back over here. ”
“Too late for that,” I heard.
Mia, who’d been standing off to the side taking a call from her father, popped up next to me.
“Can I help you?” she asked, crossing her arms.
The woman offered a shit eating smile. “N-no. I was just telling your husband how beautiful your dog is.”
I kissed my teeth. “Baby, she asked to swallow my dick from the back and ride me reverse cowgirl.”
The woman gasped. “I never said that!”
“So you didn’t invite me to be entertained by you and your group of freak hos? I dare you to lie. That’s basically what you asked me to do.”
“That sounds like what you asked him to do to me,” Mia said, stepping closer to her.
“And she said you can join,” I added from behind her.
“Oh, she did?”
Mia reached out and twirled her finger in the woman’s hair with a smile on her face. I smoothly moved in front of them to block the interaction. The next thing I knew, she had the lady by the neck, her nail digging into her pressure point. She winced in pain.
“Let me go,” she whimpered.
Her friends tried to walk over, but I lifted my shirt, showing my gun because I never went anywhere without it. They halted their steps.
“I’m gonna let you go, but when you walk away, remember this.
I’m not the bitch that’s gonna play with you about my man.
You saw us come here together, and I know you see these wedding rings.
Please don’t make me ruin the peace and tranquility of my vacation because I had to fuck you up. Walk. Away.”