25. Daylin #3
I nodded, hating that I felt thankful that my parents never had me wanting for anything except for love and acceptance. They may have been cold and callous, but I always had a roof over my head and food to eat.
“That makes sense.”
“So what do you do? You look like a girl boss.” Téa squinted over at me as I chuckled.
“I own Delicacies. It’s a ph—”
“Phone cases. I know of it. Some of the ladies I used to work at Perry’s with had them. I remember checking the site and promptly exiting upon seeing them prices.”
“You think they’re too high?”
“No.” She shook her head, brows pinched. “I think they’re suited for a certain market and should remain that way. I was broke, living paycheck to paycheck, if you will, so I couldn’t spend fifty-five dollars on a case. But now, look for my name in the orders.”
I chuckled, appreciating her comments.
Between Shardaya, Kasia, and now Téa, Rakim had indirectly brought a lot of cool people into my life.
* * *
“Damn. We are gonna have to place a huge order for restock,” I told Petra as I took note of what cases we had available.
Lately, there seemed to be a huge boom in business, and surprisingly, the latest collection, hand drawn by yours truly, couldn’t stay in stock.
I only did it because Rakim suggested it, and a part of me thought he’d bought them all up when they first launched.
He swore he hadn’t and only ordered one.
I was skeptical, but when I restocked them and they completely sold out again, then a third time, I realized he was being honest.
For years, I hadn’t drawn any designs for my cases, but now I wished I’d trusted myself and my talents a while ago. I loved making designs for my cases, and now that I knew others actually did like them, it brought about a new robust excitement whenever I thought about my business.
The newly installed bell of my warehouse sounded off, making me look into the app to see Josias. Confused, I trod toward the door and opened it to allow him in since it was raining again.
“Aye, you busy?” he asked somewhat dryly, and I was able to calm myself realizing if something had happened to Rakim, he would be a lot more alarmed.
“I got a little minute.” I waved for him to follow me to my office, introducing him to Petra on the way. “Surprised you didn’t stop and flirt,” I jested once he and I entered my office.
Josias chuckled somewhat fraudulently, letting me know there was a problem of some sort, just not one that would cause for grave concern.
“I need ya help, Day.” He started to pace, ombre honey-blond locs swinging with every step. “It’s bad.”
“What is it?” I inquired alarmingly.
“It’s Kasia. I don’ did everything I can think of, and she ain’t budging. I’m panicking, fam.”
“Did everything?” I was doubtful. I’d talked to Kasia daily via text and sometimes on the phone at night, and she hadn’t mentioned this ‘everything’ Josias was doing, which meant it wasn’t shit but small stuff if that.
“I mean, . . . yeah. I cut Tarin off—sexually and emotionally—brought her flowers, and professed my love to her.”
“Okay.” I sat down. “Isn’t that what you always do? And every time in the past, it’s been a lie?”
He sucked his teeth, halting his pacing.
“I mean, yeah, but I ain’t lying this time.”
“Okay, well she doesn’t know that.”
“She act like she don’t even care to know!”
“You have to give her time, Jojo. Maybe after a while of you proving yourself, she will start to bend some, but what the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Talk to her. Tell her I’m a good nigga and some mo’ shit. Talk a nigga up!” His brows furrowed, making me chuckle and him smack his lips in irritation.
“I am not some prophet, Josias. You have to be patient and continue on the straight and narrow road if you want her to come back to you. There is no cheat code to this.”
“I’m scared to be patient, man.” He sat on the couch in my office, digging into his eyes with his palms. “She like that cornball ass nigga, and she might fuck around and marry his ass or something if I’m too patient.”
“I didn’t say go MIA. I said be chill. You can still do things to show her you love her and are serious. You don’t need to completely fall back. But don’t try to steamroll her or make her be back with you. Be the mature, considerate man I know you can be, right?”
He picked his head up to lock eyes with me before nodding somberly.
“Fuck.”
“First accept that your own actions put you in this position, not Kasia. Had you been one hundred from the beginning, you wouldn’t even be going through this.
Unfortunately, though, bro, your word has no value in this moment, so you have to show up with actions but not too much to where you are overbearing or trying to control her decisions.
Had you been right, she wouldn’t be laid up with Darron. ”
“Fuck!” He shot up from the couch, startling me slightly. “They been laying up? You saw ’em?”
“Josias, get the hell out.” I ascended as well, guiding his big ass out of my office.
Once he was gone, I pulled my phone from my back pocket to send a text.
Me: Girl your BD is sick!
Kasia: Good.
I laughed at her message, shaking my head in amusement. That was what his ass got.