Chapter 6
T wo Weeks Later
Things had been weird with me and Houston since the whole taco situation.
I came on my period the next day, and he joked and said that was why I overreacted.
I decided in that moment not to share my feelings with him anymore because it was clear he didn’t take them seriously.
Even with me reminding him it was about the principle of the situation, his response was yeah aight .
That very same day, I posted a picture of me cuddled up in bed unable to move, jokingly telling someone to send me chocolate and wine.
An old friend from high school, Andy, called me on messenger and asked me what I wanted.
I told him I was joking but he insisted, so I requested steak, wine, and a piece of chocolate cake.
That had been the meal I ate on the first day of my period for years now, and it always made me feel better.
Andy not only brought me that but my favorite candy and a heating pad too. After he left, I cried.
Every day that week, he texted or called and made sure I didn’t need anything else.
Meanwhile, I didn’t hear from Houston at all.
He waited until the last day of my period and said he stayed away because it makes me moody .
I just hung up on his ass. We didn’t talk for another two days, and when we did talk, it was because he wanted to invite me to his family barbecue today.
The only reason I agreed was because I’d never met his family and figured this was his way of moving our relationship forward, though at this point, I didn’t know if it was even worth it.
“So wassup with Andy?” Paisley asked with a syrupy grin. “Is he single?”
“No, plus he’s just a friend.”
“A better one than Houston.” Her eyes rolled. “I don’t know why you’re still dealing with him.”
“He’s not a bad guy. He’s just… I don’t know. I can admit he’s lacking some traits I want my man to have, but we’re not in a relationship, so it doesn’t really matter.”
“That’s the part I don’t get.” She adjusted herself on the couch and turned slightly to face me. “I don’t understand why you put up with this shit. You don’t have to.”
“Yeah, but I want to. When things are good between us, they’re really good. I guess… things have been bad lately.”
“And I think that’s a sign this whatever it is has run its course. If the relationship is stressing you out more than it’s increasing your happiness, you need to let it go, Sis.”
My bottom lip poked out slightly as I crossed my legs underneath me. “I don’t know what I was thinking stopping by here before I went to his mama house.”
She laughed, which made me smile. “You knew what you were doing, even if just subconsciously. If you meet that man’s family and he asks you to commit, everything that has happened recently will be thrown into the sea of forgetfulness.”
“Would that be such a bad thing?”
“If he doesn’t change… yeah. It’ll just be harder for you to leave.
I agree with you that Houston isn’t a bad guy; he’s just not the guy for you.
It isn’t fair for you to feel like you’re not getting what you need, but it also isn’t fair for you to make him feel like he’s always doing something wrong. ”
“You’re right,” I mumbled, pulling my phone out to text Houston and tell him I didn’t want to meet his family until we were committed to each other, but the text he’d sent me made me change my mind.
Bae: I can’t WAIT to see you. My favorite girl is finally meeting my second favorite girl. See you soon.
Releasing a long sigh, I massaged my temple and shook my head. Tonight would either go really really well or horribly wrong.
A Short While Later
I’m ready to go.
Lil sis: Then leave. TF?
He ain’t ready for me to go.
Lil sis: IDC. I will pull up and drag you out of that house AND bring Mama so she can beat that lady up. GO HOME.
A bark of laughter escaped me as I read my sister’s text.
I messed around and told her I was having a horrible time at the barbecue because Houston’s mama was a bitch.
She didn’t speak and had been ignoring me the whole time.
When she did look at me, it was to mug me or talk shit about me.
I thought she was okay with me coming since Houston had invited me, but she was treating me like I’d stolen her baby daddy.
As excited as Houston was for us to meet, I was over it.
I’d rather be at home watching TV instead of being somewhere I felt unwanted.
Houston was standing outside talking to his uncle and cousin at the grill, so I called him and told him I was about to go. He told me he’d meet me at my car, but it was really useless. There was nothing he could say to make me stay.
By the time I made it outside to my car, Houston was jogging around the house through the back gate.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, closing my door as I opened it. “We just fired up the grill.”
“Yeah, I’m just not really comfortable here.
” A nervous laugh escaped me as I squeezed the back of my neck.
I wasn’t nervous about what she would do to me; I was nervous about what I’d do to her.
“I’ve been here for like an hour and a half and your mother hasn’t said one word to me, but she’s been talking shit about me to her sisters every chance she gets. ”
Houston sucked his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest. “Come on, Pres. It ain’t even like that.”
“Then what’s it like, Houston? Because you made it seem like she wanted me here but clearly she doesn’t.”
He exhaled a shaky breath and gripped my shoulders.
“I might’ve told her about the issues we’ve been having lately and she’s super protective of me.
Plus she don’t really like any woman I date because she feels like they are going to come between us.
But I told her I really like you and see a future with you, so she has to get along with you regardless. ”
My head shook as I chuckled and pushed his hands away from my arms.
“I’m not going anywhere I’m simply tolerated, bae. If she doesn’t like me, for whatever reason, I just won’t come around.”
Houston shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweats. “I was hoping she’d act right but I was wrong. That’s my bad. I wouldn’t intentionally put you in a situation for you to be uncomfortable. But that’s my mama, bae. Y’all gon’ have to get along.”
“Actually, we don’t. We’re not married, Houston. If she doesn’t like me, I just won’t come around. It’s not that big of a deal.”
Except it was, because I refused to be one of those women who had a horrible relationship with their mother-in-law.
If her attitude didn’t change, Houston and I couldn’t get married.
And if we wouldn’t get married, there was no point in us being in a relationship.
And if a relationship wasn’t in our future, it was time for me to cut him off.
“So you leaving?” He pressed me against my car and kept his body against mine. “At least stay up for me. I was looking forward to spending some time with you.”
“Houston,” I called, gripping his arms as he kissed my neck. “I—”
“Houston!” his mother yelled. “Let that girl go so she can leave. I need your help with something.”
Clenching his jaw, he stood upright and didn’t bother to look back at her as he stared at me.
“I’ll be on my way to you in like three hours, aight? Don’t go to sleep.”
“Whatever, Houston.”
He gave me a quick kiss before heading back toward the house, and a part of me hoped he didn’t come over.
I started my car then texted my sister to let her know I was leaving so she wouldn’t be worried about me.
I prayed she didn’t call wanting more details because at this point, I just wanted to be left alone.