I sat back in my seat, dissecting my uncle’s words. Marquise was too blunt, too open and honest with me to have an ulterior motive. He did say we wanted me, but I dismissed it. My phone vibrated repeatedly, but I didn’t move to respond.
“How do I know the difference?” I asked.
“I think we know he isn’t trying to be your friend. But for argument’s sake, when a man changes on his own accord and resists boundaries, it’s a clear indicator. Ask yourself, would he blow up anyone else’s phone the way he’s doing yours?”
Uneasiness settled within me as I reflected on our short two-week friendship. Marquise was mean and demanding when we met. Judging from the baseline, I couldn’t tell if any change had occurred. To keep myself safe, I needed to reinforce my boundaries.
“Probably not, but in all fairness, he was difficult when we met. I already put him in his place,” I said.
Uncle Maalik leaned forward with a tight brow. “What do you mean—you have to tell him off?”
I rolled my eyes at his overreaction.
“Things were a little rocky, because he didn’t know how to express himself. He was not disrespectful, but we needed to identify that I am a friend and ally. I repeat, he was not disrespectful. He is a good person and friend,” I said.
Uncle Maalik sat back in his seat and sucked his teeth. When my phone vibrated again, I chuckled before I powered it off.
“Don’t run off telling your brother anything. By the way, he has a new number,” I said.
“Eldridge loves you, Erin. You are the only thing keeping him from falling completely into the dark. After your mother left, I agree he grew a little darker. Consider talking to him again,” he said.
I sipped my water as I weighed his words. Did I miss my daddy? Yes. But he scared me to death with his gun. I couldn’t believe he had a street name with bodies attached.
“I don’t know what to think,” I said.
We finished our lunch with laughter, and as I waited for my uncle, I approached the bar.
“He is a sports attorney, and he loves seafood,” I said to the woman and passed her Uncle Maalik’s number.
Marquise
“Oh shit!” Malcolm said between hard laughter.
Watching him lean over the bed holding his stomach added to my anger. Mid-conversation, Erin completely stopped texting me. I practically had to pull the information out of her about meeting her uncle. She wouldn’t budge on the name because I would’ve hit Ivey for the info.
“Bro, calm your hothead ass down. She is with her uncle. It’s rude to talk and eat,” he said.
I sucked my teeth and continued to text Erin. As my best friend, she should answer the phone when I text and call. During my treatment, we usually text each other but I didn’t bother when the time was up. Three hours for lunch was excessive, even for Erin’s unique eating ass.
Me
ERIN.
Me
What kind of friendship is this?
“Dude, relax. Your girlfriend gon’ call you back,” he said.
I scoffed at him calling Erin my girlfriend. The thought crossed my mind a few times until it came out during our conversation. Sexually, I wasn’t attracted to anyone else. She was the woman I wanted and apparently my dick was short-circuiting on anyone but Erin.
“You better stop playing before somebody snatches her up. Mom is tired of you slinging dick all over the county,” he said.
I ignored Malcolm, kicking his leg on the way out the door.
“Get your head in the game, Marquise. What the fuck?” Malcolm said, tapping my chest.
It was the second quarter, and I had three fouls and a tech. The only thing I wanted to bounce was Erin’s phone against this hardwood floor. Before the game, she couldn’t find her fucking phone.
