Chapter 14 #2
“Damn sure not acting like Blue right now. She listens and keeps me calm. Navie likes to play stupid ass games.”
His accuracy forced me to adjust in my seat and pass the phone to Ward. From what I could hear, Treason wasn’t yelling, and Ward didn’t seem affected if he was. They spoke in a coded language briefly before Ward hung up.
“Did he fuss at you?” I questioned after he ended their brief call.
“Ain’t nobody worried about Tre fussin’ but you.”
“That means yes.”
“He reminded me to take care of the precious cargo.”
I smacked my lips, impressed by his loyalty. I didn’t have a friend in my life I could rely on. There was only Rayven, and even Sloane robbed us of a normal sister dynamic. Somebody had to be the adult because she failed to do it, making Rayven feel more like my child than a sister to lean on.
We stopped for food, talking about nothing and everything. Who knew he’d be the bright spot in this circus that had become my life? Ward took me to the nail salon to get my nails fixed, and I even talked him into a pedicure. He complained the whole time, but it was free entertainment.
We pulled up to a boutique with clean white brick, fancy gold lettering on the windows, and not a single person inside who looked like they’d ever had to check a price tag. Ward parked without a word, but he didn’t move.
Instead, he leaned back in his seat and nodded toward the door. “Go inside and pick up your man’s order.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Running his errands is your job now, too. It should be under your name.”
That was Ward. He provided just enough information to pique your curiosity, never enough to make you feel comfortable. I stepped out, confused and not in the mood for more surprises, especially not the kind that came in pretty boxes with strings attached.
The boutique was as quiet inside as it looked from the outside.
“Hi there. Can I help you?”
“Hi, I’m here for pick,” I said, still unsure. “It should be under Navie Dixon.”
Her eyes lit with recognition, motioning me to follow her. She grabbed a box from beneath the counter. Small. White. Tied with a soft blue ribbon.
“Here you are, Miss Dixon. I personally helped Mr. Westbrook pick it out. He was so excited.”
“He’s quite the charmer,” I smiled, scribbling my signature on the dotted line. “You can open it here if you want,” she offered gently, but secretly, I think she wanted to see my reaction.
I nodded, sliding the ribbon off, and lifted the lid. Inside was a charm bracelet. Thin, gold, elegant with two charms. A tiny tennis racket and an R that held no significance outside of Rayven. Maybe .
“So?” he asked casually when I climbed back in the car.
“You already knew anyway.”
“It’s my job to know everything going on.”
“Really? So, how good are you at your job?”
“The best.” He shrugged, but there was a hint of softness behind the smirk. “I told you to cut my dog some slack. He’s not like the nigga’s you’re used to.”
“And what kind of nigga’s am I used to since you know so much?”
“Disappointments.”
Ward pulled off, and I eyed the box again. I wasn’t sure what category Treason fell into, yet. Something else I wasn’t used to was Treason on the couch when I stepped off the elevator. It was far too early in the day for him to be home.
“Don’t walk in this motherfucka smiling when you banged on me earlier and showed your ass,” Treason fussed, climbing to his feet.
“If I break out trust and believe I won’t do it with Ward ,” I groaned.
“How the fuck did I get in it?” Ward questioned while I stood chest to chest with Treason.
“Life isn’t just tennis dates and picking up surprise gifts. It’s dangerous shit going on, so when I call or text, you answer.”
“When you make a promise, keep it!”
“Shit happened, and I apologized. I can’t focus, worried about you.”
“You wanted to play boyfriend, so it’s on you to figure out how to keep promises. All this fussing over nothing, I should’ve run off.”
My head was spinning with emotions I didn’t know how to regulate.
“I dare you. Give me a reason to turn this shit up a notch.”
“Please don’t threaten me with a good fuckin’ time.”
Treason’s mouth twisted into a sour grin, but there was no time for him to lay into me.
“Aye, Mom is on her way up,” Ward announced.
“Who’s Mom?” I asked.
Treason walked to the security screen on the wall while I flipped between him and Ward.
“Mine.”
“What? Why is your mom here?” I asked, trying to control the panic in my voice.
“I don’t know. Her name is Inez. Play it cool, she can smell a lie a mile away.”
“Of course she shows up when you’re getting on my fuckin’ nerves,” I mumbled as Treason walked toward me head-on.
“I thought you liked your back against the wall,” Treason challenged, kissing my neck, forcing a tiny whimper to leave my lips. I made the grave mistake of inhaling his cologne, which made my head woozy from the intoxicating scent. “It’s showtime, Pippen, show me how good you are.”
The elevator opened, and I cleared my throat, praying for a short visit. I was at max capacity and didn’t know how much more fake smiling I could endure.
“Hey, Mama, it’s good to see you. I was just on my way out,” Ward said, smirking at Treason and me standing in the kitchen.
“ Stay . You haven’t seen Mom in a while,” Treason insisted through gritted teeth.
“Next time. I’ll let the three of you get acquainted.”
“See you, Darren. Tell your mother I asked about her,” Inez waved, and the closer she inched, the weaker my knees got.
“Yes, ma’am.” Darren hopped on the elevator, leaving me between Treason and his mother.
“There’s a lady of the house now. You can’t just pop up, Mama,” Treason chastised.
“A new girlfriend and already a lady of the house. Wow, I’ve missed a lot,” she replied, setting the bag on the counter in a dramatic tone that made Treason kiss her cheek.
“Mama, this is Navie.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” I blushed, waving.
“It’s nice to meet you, Navie. Please, everybody calls me Inez.”
“What brings you out on a school night?” Treason asked, peeking inside the bag, but she swiftly popped his hand, making me laugh.
“My son, who didn’t have a girlfriend, never cancelled Sunday Brunch. Especially not multiple Sundays in a row. I figured you’d be hungry, but if I knew there was a lady of the house , I would’ve been less worried.”
“It’s no problem, he’s all yours. Please take him off my hands,” I replied as Treason parked behind me, draping his arms around my shoulder.
“If he’s getting on me about popping up, he’s all yours, baby.”
“How lucky am I?”
She laughed at my sarcasm, but Treason’s hand gripped my neck, reminiscent of the night we met. There wasn’t a plot twist attached this time, just him claiming my lips as his own.
“Very lucky. I hope you know that, too,” he repeated, smacking my ass.
Suddenly, I felt like an embarrassed teenager.
“Give it a rest. You can have her back after I leave,” she ordered.
He complied, slowly backing away like the distance killed him. There was no back talk or sarcasm that made you want to punch him. Just space to breathe while standing in the kitchen with my fake boyfriend’s overly friendly mother.
“You want some, too?” he asked, making her swat at his aggressive affection.
“Move, boy! I’ve been wrestling kids all day, and now here you come!”
“Next time, call first,” Treason shrugged.
“It’s fine, really,” I replied, bulging my eyes at him.
“It’s okay, baby. He’s right. I should’ve respected his space and called first. Just remember that when you come home and find the locks changed.”
“You’re a single woman living alone. I need a key for emergencies,” he insisted.
“ Somebody does need a key. It doesn’t have to be you,” she replied, giving me an exaggerated look that pissed Treason off. He loved bending and manipulating the rules, but hated it when it was turned against him.
“Who the hell else will have it?”
My hand covered my mouth, trying to control the joy in watching him, so irritated, especially because Inez was so unbothered moving around the kitchen.
“I don’t care how grown you think you are. Watch your mouth before I pop you in it.”
Treason kissed her cheek and retreated, showing yet another side of him. One that I could see myself falling for.
“What’s in the bag?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Leftovers. I thought maybe you’d be hungry, but it seems like Navie has everything under control.”
For once, it didn’t feel like Treason was purposely annoying me. He was just a man who had been loved properly in his element. Brushing past me in the kitchen, dropping words of encouragement in my ear that were damn near erotic. You’re doing so good , had me clenching my thighs together.
Treason fumbled with my fingers while on the couch listening to his mother complain about a teacher that should’ve been fired long ago. Affection was as natural as breathing to him, but inside, I was ready to explode any second.
“Excuse me, I have to use the bathroom.”
I quickly rushed through Treason’s room and locked myself in the bathroom.
Sitting in the living room with my fake boyfriend’s mother felt too normal.
She didn’t have a weird affinity for her son that made her passive-aggressive.
She was sweet, adding to the normalcy that had me hiding in the bathroom.
How fucked up was I that normal had sweat beading on my forehead.
Most people hated loneliness, but I loved it. I thrived in it because there were no conditions or disappointment. Loneliness felt safe, but I was never alone long with Treason lurking.
“Blue,” his voice called out, accompanied by a soft knock.
I took a deep breath and yelled, “Give me a minute.”
He refused, knocking again firmer, forcing me to yank it open. Whatever witty remark he planned died on Treason’s lips, looking at me. Stepping inside, the pads of his fingers brushed across my cheek, causing me to back away.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just need a minute,” I replied, swallowing my nerves. “I’m fine.”