8. Services No Longer Required #3
“Then don’t. But I’ll be damned if I have you out here workin’ some lil’ dead end job just for the sake of money.
You been bustin’ your ass your whole life, and you’ll be well taken care of.
Shop, go to the spa, brunch, whatever those housewife ladies be doin’.
You’re about to be a West. We good. And I got some people over at Sleighton Central University, if you’re really interested in the school shit.
I’ll hit them up tomorrow to see what we need to do to have you enrolled in the fall.
But fuck a job,” he said the word with his nose turned up in disgust.
“You’d really do that for me?”
“We ‘bout to be married, right Peep? What nigga wouldn’t want his girl to be her best self?” he answered like it was just so simple, and maybe for him it was. I had been trying to save up enough money for years just to be able to get into a few basic courses.
I tried not to get mushy, so I just pulled him in for an appreciative kiss.
“So, is it my turn to ask a question now?” I asked.
“Fuck, here you go… What is it?” he huffed under his breath. We paused again as the waitress brought our food in. Once she was gone, I continued since it seemed like we were more interested in each other than the fine dining experience he was paying for.
“So, you said you weren’t in love with the two women you were in a relationship with… Have you ever been in love?” He paused and looked off, taking his time before he answered.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t even know if I know what that shit means. I know I just don’t go around saying that shit to people,” he answered.
“Not even your family? Your mom? Your brothers?” I asked curiously.
“Nah, after Pops died… Mama never said that to us. I mean, I know we all have love for each other, but we don’t just go around announcing it. Love is a weakness. Weakness can get you killed. I can offer protection, stability… but I don’t think I’m capable of the love shit.”
I sat there staring at him digesting his words until he chuckled and looked off.
“Don’t be lookin’ all sad and shit. Trust me, a nigga didn’t miss out on a thing.
” I didn’t answer, instead pulling him in for another kiss.
We started on our dinner and shifted to a much lighter conversation, quickly converting back to our regularly scheduled banter and arguing about the silliest things.
“Gotdamn, girl! If having a wife means I gotta split all my food with you, I may need to reconsider this whole wedding thing.” He laughed as I stole another bite of his lobster before returning to my own plate.
“You’re the one who wanted to sit over here,” I said with a shrug.
“You right. I got another question. What do you smell like right now? What is this?” he asked as he buried his entire face in the crook of my neck. My body overheated and started glitching at the feel of his warm skin on mine.
“I-um… Uhh. A mix of body butters and oils… My dad really never liked for me to wear perfume. Said it was for whores.” Heat flooded my face as I recalled how crazy I let that man talk to me for years. Brick pulled back just enough to give me an ugly frown.
“First of all, fuck him. But this right here works Peep. Gotdamn.” He was on me again, lips dancing against my neck in a way that felt like we were breaking all ten of The Commandments at once.
“Brick…” I pulled back and looked at him nervously. “Are you drunk?” I hadn’t seen him drink much, and he was fine when he was driving, but I was confused.
“Why would you ask me that?” He frowned.
“I... You’re not usually like this… with me.” I felt stupid for having to explain it. I spent all day arguing with Eden about how this was all for show, and he was making me doubt everything with each touch of his lips.
“Like what?” he asked as his fingers danced across the bare skin on my shoulder making me shudder.
“Do you like me?” I asked, whipping my head around to face him. That was a mistake because we were way too close already, and now we were nose to nose.
“Gotdamn, girl!” He laughed and looked off. “I know I’m bad at this, but I brought you out, got you flowers… Should I have bought jewelry?” he asked.
“No, I’m good. I just-… I thought you were doing this to keep up appearances for the wedding. I didn’t know you were for real.”
“Damn, you didn’t wanna come out with me for real, Destiny?” He put his hand to his chest like he was genuinely hurt, which made sense when I considered the fact that he had probably never been told no by any woman except for his mother his whole life.
“No, I… I do, but I need you to know that I’m not just about to jump into bed with you because you took me out and bought me a bowl of pasta.”
“My future wife said she wanted her husband to be patient… I’m working on it. I know you out here tryin’ to honor God and shit. We can take it as slow as you need to.” He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss to my palm, making me gulp.
How slow did I want to take it?
“And it's not just because I'm dressed… like this?” I asked, gesturing to my chest. His eyes lingered there for a split second before returning to my face.
“You think I pulled up on yo’ ass in the middle of the night to ask you on a date because I don’t like you, Peep?
I can’t lie, I’m really enjoying how you put that shit on tonight, but I caught myself liking you before I even realized it or bought this dress…
which is wild to me because you be dressing like a Vacation Bible School Teacher sometimes.
” He laughed and threw his arms up when I hit him.
We were having such a good time together when I saw a rush of bright red walking into the doors of the private room and stomping right up to us.
I instantly realized that this was the same girl from our first encounter.
She was walking so fast that her breasts nearly spilled out.
The dress looked just like one of the floss ones that he sent over to my apartment, and my insecurity reared its ugly head.
Did he want me to dress like that?
“Really, Brick?” she asked, throwing her hands on her hips.
I raised my brows, looking between the two of them curiously.
I saw a flock of her fellow birds standing at the entrance to our room talking and giggling.
“This is what the fuck we doin’ now? I can’t get a meal from Bennie’s Burgers, but you out wining and dining fat bitches?
” I narrowed my eyes at her, sat up in my seat, then turned to Brick to see if he would handle it.
If she wanted it, I had exactly what she was looking for, but I was curious to see if he would truly stand on his word of not letting anyone try me.
“Mina… what the fuck are you doing right now?” he asked in a warning tone.
“And I hope you know he was just fuckin’ on me earlier this week!”
“And he wouldn’t even bring you out?” I asked, resisting the urge to shoot a glare in Brick’s direction. “Meanwhile, I won’t even let the nigga touch me, and I get whatever I want from him,” I chided, holding up my hand that was wearing a million dollars’ worth of proof.
Was it petty and completely insane to be arguing with a woman over what my sister would call “community dick?”
Yes.
Was it worth it to see the way her face cracked when the diamond sparkled in the light?
Also yes.
This time, she went completely silent as her friends whispered behind her. If looks could kill, the glare he gave her would have had her laid up in the front of somebody’s church by morning.
“Mina.” His voice sounded nothing like it did when he corrected me. My body tensed involuntarily because he was scary. “When the fuck has it ever been okay for you to disrespect me like that?”
“I—” Her bottom lip quivered as she started tripping over words. If she hadn’t just played in my face, I would have felt bad for her but screw her.
“Nah. You know who the fuck I am. You know how I deal with disrespect, so you know I’m not having it towards my family, fiancée included. I’d suggest you start by apologizing to her, then end it by walking the fuck away while you still have a choice to do so.”
“I… I’m sorry,” she mumbled, not looking in my direction.
“Did I tell you to apologize to me or her? Look her in her face and make sure the volume of the apology matches the volume of the disrespect.” The way he snapped at her made me jump, but I held my poker face.
“I sincerely apologize… I hope you two enjoy your night.”
She bit her lip like she wanted to say more, but ultimately decided to be smart, turning and rushing out straight past her friends and out of the building. Once she was completely out of view, his jaw unclenched, and he turned back to me.
“Peep… I’m so sorry about that.” He sounded genuine, but the mood was ruined. I sat there facing forward, nostrils flared holding onto all the animosity he’d just released.
“I’m ready to go,” I barely whispered.
“Baby, you didn’t even finish your food. Don’t do this.”
“I’m not hungry anymore. You can either take me home, or I’ll call a car,” I said simply, keeping my voice even and denying him any eye contact. He sighed in defeat before tossing his napkin on the table.
“Okay.”
I didn’t say another word as I gathered my bag and stood up before he could even attempt to pull my chair out.
I brushed past him and stomped out past all the restaurant patrons who had undoubtedly heard that entire exchange.
He trailed me with a pitiful look on his face as if I was the one who ruined our night.
When I got to the car, I tried to open my own door, but he wouldn’t even unlock it until he was able to open it himself.
I stayed silent, pushing his hand away when he tried to help me inside.
He paused on the driver’s side to send off a text, and I rolled my eyes.
The fact that he had the nerve to be texting other women mid-argument with me had me ready to go home and never speak to him again.
“Destiny, I’m sorry,” he said again once he was in his seat and had started the drive back to my apartment.