He pointed to the passenger side, and I angled my head.Why are you leaving with him?I squared my shoulders, walking his direction but breaking out into a sprint. Marquise caught me with no effort escorting me to the passenger side.
“Get in or I’ll call everybody on this phone,” he said as he opened my door.
I rolled my eyes and climbed inside, yanking the seat belt over my shoulder. Marquise circled the front of the car sitting on the driver’s side. He pushed the start button, and the seats moved.
“Malcolm been driving my shit,” he said, as he re-adjusted things to his liking.
I rolled my eyes, not being able to fully appreciate the maroon leather interior and tinted windows.
Marquise handed me my cell phone, and I snatched it from his hand. He chuckled as I turned away.
“Even when you’re mad, you’re beautiful,” he said, and we pulled out of the parking spot.
Me
Jhae, why didn’t you help me?
I texted as we pulled onto the freeway.
Jhae
How? Shit, I was stunned.
“Bestie, you need to talk. It’s too quiet,” Marquise instructed.
I twisted the knob, increasing the volume of the radio station. With one button, he turned it off, leaving behind silence.
We hit traffic, bringing us to a standstill. Marquise didn’t allow me to breathe before pulling me to him.
“Erin!” he yelled my name.
He cupped my chin, turning my face to him. “I know you ain’t mad because I helped you get rid of Noah’s punk ass.”
“No, I’m mad because you violated my space. Do I touch your phone when those whores message you?” I questioned.
I heard his phone going off last night on a bathroom run. He was dead asleep. I could’ve read the home screen, but it wasn’t my place. He sat his phone in my lap.
“The code is 000214 Khaira’s birthday. Have fun,” he said.
Beep! Beep!
The horn sounded off behind us. Marquise moved an inch before returning his attention to me. I sat his phone in the cup holder lending him the respect he didn’t give me. The remainder of the ride to wherever we were going was spent in silence.
We pulled onto what I assumed was a college campus with its tall glass buildings mirroring each other in style. The shoe statue in the front exposed this was a business. Pulling into the parking garage, Marquise backed into a VIP spot near the door. I unbuckled my seat belt, only for my body to be moved toward him. Glaring up into his unserious brown eyes, anger still coated my skin.
“I’m sorry for invading your space. I should’ve called him from my phone,” Marquise said.
Before I could object, he pecked my lips twice. The quickness in which he moved didn’t allow me to savor the taste or the texture of his lips.
“Don’t be mad at me. You got me acting soft, and it’s annoying,” he said.
I moved forward and kissed him again but deeper. Our tongues rolled as we tasted each other. My body heated as we shared our first moment of intimacy. He broke our kiss, and I exhaled, realizing I gave into my desires.
“Best friends don’t kiss,” he said.
“You inviting other people into our friendship?” I countered, and he smirked.
As soon as I said those words, instant regret covered me. The lines I worked hard to rebuild this past week were gone.
