6. Yes to the Dress #3
“Daddy?” I said, looking dumbfounded. “What are you doing here?” He couldn’t even find time to make it to dinner, so the fact that he was waiting in my apartment had me twice as confused.
“Can you tell your guard dog to stand down?” he huffed, looking from me, to Brick, to his arm that was still clinging to my waist. His nostrils flared in apparent disapproval.
“I-” I turned back to Brick, realizing we were now nose to nose. “It… It’s okay. Please put that up.” He eyed Daddy angrily as he holstered the gun. I knew he kept it on him, but to see it out shocked me every time.
“I need to speak to her, alone,” Daddy said, still looking at the two of us in disgust like he’d caught us with our clothes off. Brick completely ignored him, turning back to me.
“You good?” His voice came out in a possessive growl, and I was thoroughly confused. Were the two of them into it over me, or did they genuinely dislike each other for another reason?
“I’m fine. You can go,” I said softly, swaying on my feet when I realized his arm was still gripping my waist. He gave me one more pensive glare before pulling me in tighter for a hug and whispering in my ear.
“Just say the word, and I’ll have this nigga shittin’ out teeth by morning.”
My mouth hung open because why would he say that? Was he for real?
One look at his face let me know that he would absolutely deliver on that promise.
“I’m okay,” I whispered back. “Goodnight, Brickly.”
“Goodnight, Peep.” He didn’t give Daddy another look as he turned and strolled off, quickly sprinting down the stairs and making it to his car in a hurry.
I frowned, realizing he must have had other plans that he was rushing off to.
I turned and brushed past Daddy, not giving him a second look.
Once I stepped into my living room, I started going through my normal routine like he wasn’t even there.
“You haven’t been to work.” That was all the greeting I got as he sat down on my sofa.
It was only then I realized that I hadn’t seen him in weeks, and aside from a few short calls and text messages, we hadn’t really spoken either.
As usual, my mother was on mute. She was too busy with her First Lady duties to be bothered to reach out.
Shopping, brunch, and spa appointments would always be more important than the souls she birthed.
“I put in my notice. You didn’t get it? I have a wedding to plan, remember?” I said with venom laced words. He didn’t even check on me before he started with me.
“Destiny, watch your tone,” he warned. His words struck no fear in me as I looked him over from head to toe.
He had on yet another of his expensive, custom suits, with custom jewelry that probably cost more than the hand-me-down car I pushed.
I shook my head in disgust, making a note to call the bridal store and have them add the jewelry that I tried on earlier to my order.
He was dripping in jewels and designer on a random Thursday afternoon.
Surely, it would be okay for me on my wedding day.
“My apologies,” I said in the same tone as before. If I wasn’t already mad enough over basically being sold to compensate for his greed, Brick eventually revealed all the hurtful things he said about me the day we met. Needless to say, I was not in a loving mood.
“So, this is what you’re doing? Running all over town with that thug? Letting him touch you?” The more he spoke, the madder he seemed to get.
“It’s not like that,” I argued. “And I wouldn’t even know him if it wasn’t for you!” I spat back, rolling my eyes. Between his ambush, and Brick literally flying off to go meet some girl, my mood was shot for the night.
“Maybe we should reconsider this whole thing. I don’t like what this is doing to you. This may not be the best idea,” he murmured, rubbing his hand over his face.
“No!” My outburst scared him and me, but the fact stood that I was looking forward to the wedding as well as the benefits and freedom that marriage would give me. I refused to let this be another thing that he snatched away from me.
“She’s not as bad as you made her out to be, but she did make it abundantly clear that if there’s no wedding for any reason, she will be keeping her word,” I said, staring into his eyes so he could see how serious I was.
That lady would blow his brains out on the way to her hair appointment and emerge looking flawless and completely unbothered.
He sat there contemplating my words and seemingly concluded that his wellbeing was more important than my soul making it to heaven.
“Fine.” He cleared his throat. “Just remember who you are, and what I taught you.”
“Will do,” I said with a curt nod. “Is there anything else? I’m ready to go to bed.” He looked at me long and hard, and I just stared back.
“No… Good night, Destiny,” he said before turning and excusing himself. I slammed the door as hard as I could the moment he stepped out, ignoring his protests from the other side as I drug myself to my bedroom with a whole attitude.