Before the second quarter ended, Erin had returned to her seat eating a bag of gummy candy. As long as she remained on the sideline, we shouldn’t have any problems.
After the game, Malcolm hovered over me with his signature smirk as I finished getting dressed. I slipped my shirt over my head and sighed as I gave him the attention he desired.
“Don’t be mad at me because your player ways are coming to an end,” he said.
I brushed my faded beard with my hand before I addressed him.
“I’m not a player. I consider myself a person who offers equal opportunity to any woman who volunteers as a willing participant,” I countered.
He scoffed at my comment. “Whatever you are is coming to an end. Erin fucked you up when she left. Even Pops saw it. Ivey already hit me with a bet. Mom will be happy when you make the announcement that her son is no longer a hoe.”
Malcolm never cared about how I chose to spend my time. I tried to explain to him not every woman wanted to be married and cooped up in the house. Women used me the same way I use them. I’m not ashamed to say I’m a sneaky link for a few women. It is what it is—sex with no emotional strings.
“We’ll see how long you’ll be an equal opportunist. Erin will be in our condo quite a bit,” he said.
A sinister smile stretched across his face as he awaited my reaction. I thought about her smooth brown skin and curvy waist and my breath hitched. Everything about Erin’s aura pinched at the closed parts of me. I knew without anyone saying it, getting involved with Erin went against my mantra of no personal sex.
“She is fine but nah, I’m good. I have plenty of women to keep me occupied,” I said.
Malcolm shook his head from left to right, chuckling. “But do they feed you, tho?” he questioned.
“If I need a therapist, I can call Dr. June,” I countered his statement, and he shrugged.
“I betta not catch yo ass downstairs knocking and beggin’ on her door,” he said.
Change and new people in my space triggered uneasiness, but I couldn’t deny my desire to see her again.
“Earlier you asked me to look out for her. Which one is it?” I questioned and Malcolm clapped his large hands together with excitement.
“I believe she is the one,” he said, and I scoffed.
Erin
Being in the elevator with Marquise unsettled me. He was a bigger asshole in the car as we migrated down the street to the condo. For some reason, he refused to sit next to me. Malcolm cackled as he sat in the front seat with the driver. Whatever his problem was, he needed to figure it out. I played on my phone, sensing his gaze the more we climbed to the next floor.
The doors opened to my floor, and I nearly ran out before Jhae stopped me.
“Erin, I want to show you our condo just in case you need something.”
My skin crawled at the thought of being on this elevator any longer with Marquise. The last place I wanted to be was in his personal space. I turned to Jhae, wanting to decline, but I struggled to find the words.
“Yo, either you’re coming or you ain’t. Either way, get out of the door,” Marquise said.
I narrowed my eyes before I stepped back on the elevator.
“What the fuck is your problem? Why do you have an attitude? Did I sleep with you in a past life or steal your money or something? You could ruin a climax,” I said with heated anger, and the elevator went silent.
Marquise smirked before turning his attention back to his phone. I snapped my fingers twice to regain his attention.
“I asked you a question. What did I do to you?” I demanded an answer.
“Aww shit. I can rock with you,” Malcolm said, and I regretted my temper getting the best of me.
Jhae hid her face in Malcolm’s arm as she giggled.
“Man, get y’all little weird ass friend before I hurt her sensitive feelings,” Marquise said.
The bell to the elevator beeped, opening the door to the cream painted hallway. Marquise beat everyone off, walking toward the door.
