Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
MYTHIC
I was so close to slicing that nigga when he called my woman baby girl.
I was able to calm down, convincing myself that that was probably just the way he talked.
I wanted to snatch that card off those flowers and read it so bad.
I probably would anyway. Maui was mine. If he wouldn’t have made shit right by speaking to me and rectifying shit about how he only offered his sympathy to Maui, I probably would have said something before he left.
When he kissed her forehead, I could feel the heat encompass my ears.
I wanted to get at him, but Maui’s condition came first.
I hoped I didn’t have to see him anywhere without her. Cementing my place in her life was of utmost importance. She said she only saw him as a friend, but I felt like something more had happened between them, especially after the rodeo when he helped her in Bali’s vehicle.
Now, Maui was looking insecure because of Vanessa.
She didn’t have a thing to worry about if she chose to continue to pursue a relationship with me.
I was in love with her and her only. I’d never even been in love before, but just the way her lil ass ruled my thoughts and calmed my spirit, I knew she was the one that would make me a better man by her mere presence.
She looked away from me and was playing on her phone. “Maui, what’s up?”
“Nothing.”
She said nothing, so that was what it was gon’ be. She couldn’t be upset about something she already knew about. Clearly, Caleb had a mother that I once fucked. I supposed she felt uncomfortable just like I did when Shaydon was here.
“Has my dad or brother talked to you about what happened?”
“Besides that lil talk in your hospital room at the clinic, naw. My guess is that they still don’t want us together. The question is, are you willing to choose me over them again? I saw how hard it was on you last time. Our baby is no longer here to solidify our connection.”
“You think that’s the only reason I wanted to be with you?” she asked.
I lowered my head. “No, but I believe that would have been the only reason they would have accepted my presence in your life. Now that baby girl is gone, even after me fucking Adrian up and putting my life on the line, they don’t want me with you.
I love you, baby. Unfortunately, I’ll have to accept whatever your decision is. ”
“Do I have to make a decision now?”
I lowered my head and stood. “You just did, baby. I’ll be back tomorrow morning if you’re still here.
” I walked closer to her bed and slid my pointer finger down her tear-stained cheek.
“I love you so much, Maui, but I won’t force you to be in my life.
I can, but I won’t. I want you to be with me because you are that sure in our love, despite the naysayers.
I’ve treated you better than I do my own damn mama, and I love the fuck out of her. ”
I leaned over and kissed her lips as she silently stared at me.
Pulling away from her, I turned to walk out of the room as the door opened.
Mr. Storm ducked slightly as he walked through the doorway.
I nodded and walked right past him. My heart felt like it was fucking bleeding.
She’d pierced my heart. I was tired of being hurt because she couldn’t follow her heart.
I was no longer involved in bullshit. I had a past, as did everyone else, but I came from a good family.
They knew that. My foundation was solid.
I called Epic to see where he was so he could come pick me up. He said he would be in the area today, but I wasn’t sure what time he would be in Beaumont.
“Hello?”
“What’s up, nigga. Where you at?”
“I’m still at home. You need a ride?”
“Yeah.”
“Carter is in Beaumont getting his tires rotated. See if he can scoop you up.”
“A’ight.”
I ended the call and called Carter Legend. He answered on the first ring. “You need a ride?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“I knew Epic brought you to the hospital last night. I’m about to leave Modica Brothers. I’ll be there in a few minutes. You at the front entrance?”
“Yeah. I’ll be sitting on the benches near valet.”
“A’ight.”
I ended the call as I stepped on the elevator to head down.
When the doors opened, I came face to face with Seven.
Even after I let that muthafucka shoot me and saved his fucking life, I still wasn’t to be trusted.
I didn’t like his ass, but I allowed all that shit to happen to prove I could be trusted with one of their prized possessions.
Maui Henderson. What the fuck for though?
They still didn’t approve, and I knew how hard that was on Maui last time.
I walked right past him like I didn’t see him, making my way outside.
I sat on the bench, wishing things were different.
I fell for a woman that wouldn’t choose me.
Her family was coming around last time until that bullshit came up.
They would probably do so this time just to see her. I tried so fucking hard.
“Mythic!”
I looked up to see Ashanni coming my way.
I gave her a head nod and looked the other way.
I didn’t feel like talking, nor did I want to see anyone connected to Maui right now.
Getting back to Liberty was my main priority right now.
I had a lot of business to handle anyway.
I had to clean my house, because I was putting that shit up for sale.
As long as I was living right, my parents didn’t mind me crashing at their place until I found another one.
I honestly wasn’t in a hurry to find another one, because I didn’t trust my fucking self to continue doing what was right.
I guess I shouldn’t be upset that they don’t trust me either.
When I saw Carter Legend pull up, I stood and made my way to his truck and noticed Ashanni was still standing there watching me. Carter waved at her and took off as soon as I got in. “What’s up? You look pissed.”
“I don’t wanna talk about it right now.”
“Well, Bali and I still aren’t back together. These Henderson women are on my last fucking nerve. I try to be cool and shit, but what does what happened between you and Seven have to do with me? That’s stupid as fuck.”
“They feel like if it came down to it and you had to choose sides, you would choose mine. I’m sick of this shit.
I know I was a fuck-up, but why can’t people see the man I’m becoming?
I sound like a lame ass nigga, man. Maybe I should go back to how I was, give them what they expect. I should have let that nigga get shot.”
Carter was shaking his head as he drove.
“You don’t mean that shit. If you didn’t truly want to save him, you wouldn’t have.
Mom and Dad raised us to be decent men, and that’s who you are at your core.
This thug ass nigga ain’t the real you, Mythic.
Who you were with Maui was the real you.
I bet that shit came natural and didn’t require any effort, did it? ”
I looked out the window, like I was taking in the scenery or some shit, then slid my hand down my face. “It didn’t take effort, but none of that shit matters. We aren’t together, and her family still doesn’t want her with me.”
“She went against them before. What makes you think she won’t do it again?”
“She was miserable. For two whole months, I catered to her needs, served her like I was her fucking slave, letting her know how grateful I was for her presence. I fell in love with that woman. I’m so sprung I can’t fucking see straight.
She needs her family, and I feel like they know that.
So as long as they aren’t with us being together, then we won’t be. ”
“I hate that shit came up. It seemed they were giving in when they came to dinner that day. How you think he found out that shit?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t even care no more. I’m sure it was one of those Andersons that told him.”
“He so fucking hot headed. Maybe if y’all can talk and squash shit, it may get the family to do the same.”
“They gon’ have to make the first move on that.
I ain’t kissing no mo’ ass. Fuck that. We were raised to be decent men, but we wasn’t raised to be pussies.
I apologized. That muthafucka almost blew my arm off with that .
357. Then I saved his fucking life! I’m done trying to prove myself to people who are still stuck on who I used to be. Fuck them.”
Carter nodded. With as angry as I was becoming, my heart was still hurting. I needed Maui, but somehow, I would have to find a way to go on without her.
I decided to go for a ride on Blackie before Vanessa and Caleb got here.
I needed the peace horse riding gave me.
My mind had been in complete turmoil for the past week.
Apparently, Maui was now in my past, and there wasn’t a thing I wanted to do about it.
I could go there and beg and plead for her to take me back, but I refused to go out like a sucka.
Been there, done that. I’d been ignoring texts and calls from Ashanni.
Maui was a grown ass woman. She could speak for herself.
She knew my standpoint when I left. She knew I still wanted to be with her and how much I loved her.
I wouldn’t answer for none of their calls.
Just hers. She was who I wanted to hear from.
The rest of those muthafuckas could go to hell as far as I was concerned.
For my mental and my heart, I needed to be done with them.
I rubbed my hand down Blackie’s neck as he started a slow trot.
Lately, whenever I’d gotten on, he’d just walk.
I needed to pick my adrenaline up without letting anger lead the way.
This was the best way I could think of to do that.
Otherwise, I’d end up in Nome, fucking shit up. I was pretty sure Maui was home by now.