“Jhae, we want the album,” Madison said before she ended the segment.
My phone rang twenty minutes later, and I hightailed it to Marquise’s room.
“Did you have to tell the world our business?” I said.
“Let me post it to my social media pages,” he said, and I giggled as I propped my back against his bedroom door.
“I owe you an apology,” he said, and I remained quiet. “Erin, I have some things I need to work through. Stick it out with me. I need to respect your job. If I cross the line, curse my ass out,” he said.
I closed my eyes, imagining how his face looked. Odds are, he sucked in his bottom lip and released it slowly.
“Okay, keep it real with me and I’m here,” I said, thinking back to what Jhae had said.
She confirmed it wasn’t my job to fix Marquise, but I could stand beside him.
“I miss the hell out of you. I want you to come home,” I admitted as I flopped down on his sectional.
“I miss rubbing your fat ass at night too,” he said.
I cackled at his comment to stop myself from crying. If he heard me sniffing, I wouldn’t hear the end of it.
“Don’t be touching on my ass while I’m asleep. Friends don’t grope each other.”
“Ah. Other people still finding their way into our business?” he said, and a smile stretched across my face.
Chapter Eleven
Public and Private
Marquise
“What happens if you allow them to go unprotected? Can you trust that you equipped them enough to make a good decision?” Dr. June asked.
This was my third session with her this week. Once again, tears flowed down my face. She was asking me to let go, and I didn’t think I had the willpower to do it.
“Son, allow us to protect you,” Pops said on the video visit.
I called him after my second visit, apologizing. Dr. June informed me I put him in my protective bubble. Asking for Khaira all the time was rooted in my trauma.
“Pops, she’s asking me not to care,” I said to the screen.
I could tell from the background Pops was in his office. Thinking back, I can’t believe I objected to him joining the family. He has been my rock in ways Mom couldn’t and didn’t understand.
“Dr. June is asking you to care differently,” he said, and I wiped away a tear.
“I don’t know how to,” I said.
Dr. June gave a warm smile before she spoke. “Allow me to help guide you to a healthier way of caring. It will take time. You will not change overnight, but the work must be done. My request of you today is to talk to Malcolm and explore his reasoning for talking to Toni. You are to listen, ask questions, and support the decision.”
“I got you. Haven’t I kept my word?” Pops followed.
“Thank you, Pops,” I said.
“Good work, Marquise. The only person you’re allowed to protect isyoumoving forward. I’ve informed the family that you have resigned from your role as protector.”
I chuckled at her comment, but I was scared as hell as I said goodbye. I fell back on the bed to gather my thoughts before I hunted down Malcolm. This conversation could wait, but I wanted to get it over with. I hadn’t held my woman for six days. I was sexually deprived, and we played Houston that night. The last time we played them, I got a tech for roughhousing with Brock’s big ass.
The sound of the door opening pulled my attention. Malcolm pretended to run at me with his arms up, mimicking a wrestler. I rolled out of the way before he made it to the bed. We did this as kids until one of us got a black eye. Mom chewed us out over the phone, but Granny saved the day. Malcolm had me locked in a bear hug before I could fully leave the bed.
