“I ain’t worried,” Faith shrugged, “I just want to make sure you’re good and you’re getting the good.”
“I’m getting it. All of it.” Krista emphasized. “So, don’t worry.”
“I’m not.” Faith quickly finished the client’s hair, who paid and left the salon. It only left Faith and Krista alone. “So,” Faith began cleaning up her station, “a certain somebody is alone tonight.”
“Girl, didn’t I tell you I was fine?” Krista interrupted.
“No, I ain’t talking about you soon-to-be-cat lady,” Faith grinned, “I’m referring to Tony.”
Krista’s posture straightened upon hearing her ex’s name. Tony D’Amato. The youngest brother of all five. He was younger than Krista by a few years but his maturity made him seem older than her by several.
She’d known Tony since he was a prepubescent kid, and treated him as such. Even when he started to fill out his clothing more and spent more time on his appearance, he was always Eli’s little brother to her.
As he became older and more confident in his masculinity, Krista noticed the change within Tony. Around his brothers, he was the lovable goofball brother who never shied away from controversial opinions, and often getting popped in the back of the head because of it.
He was the homie that gave his last dollar to his frat brothers and friends. He was the activist that often gave children and teens haircuts and manicures if they did well in school.
Around women, however, it was a completely different ballgame.
He was smooth as a quiet and raw sexuality emanated through him. His voice was soft baritone that demanded attention before it was freely given. He treated every woman as if she was the only one on Earth and never gave anyone a reason to feel insecure.
It was no wonder Tony once had a harem of his own, with many flings in different zip codes.
He was just the generous and friendly Tony who had a crush on Krista, but never acted on it.
Until one night he wasn’t.
After a game of truth or dare with too much liquor flowing between both parties, Tony edged out of the friendzone and right between Krista’s legs. It was the most wild sex Krista ever had. It was the most raw and passionate; a flowing yin-yang between them. Whatever he gave, she took. Whatever she threw back, he welcomed.
For a solid year, they were one of New York’s finest. They were city royalty and often bragged about each other on their respective social media pages. They made hood chic fashionable, with matching Timbs and faux fur coats. They may have overdid it with the PDA posts but it didn’t matter to them. They loved each other and that was that.
Until it wasn’t.
Krista betrayed Tony in the worst way other than cheating and theft. In fact, she could probably say Tony would’ve preferred Krista stole or cheated on him than what she’d done.
That was two years ago and he barely started talking to her again. He seemingly moved on and as she. He kept a relatively low profile on his Instagram page, only promoting his barbershops and his growing sneaker collection. Sometimes, he posted a funny meme he’d seen. Other times, he posted a pic with one or more of his brothers and friends.
What was worse was Krista stalked him like a depraved ex, wanting to know what he was doing and who he was doing it with. She could still smell his scent in her closet, on her sheets, in every place she went to.
No mention of any girlfriend. There were no rumors of one, neither.
Krista sighed and shrugged. Maybe it was for the best. Tony had moved on and their relationship, while it wasn’t the friendship she wanted, she would have to settle for a cordial hello and goodbye whenever they saw each other.
“That’s nice,” she managed to say.
“Yeah, well, maybe you two members of lonely island can meet up with each other.” Faith encouraged. “And see if there’s a second chance for you two.”
“I doubt it,” Krista could still remember the ice in Tony’s demeanor when she saw him over Christmas. She was pretty sure there was no love left.
“Who knows?” Faith finished the cleanup and locked up the shop. As always, a police officer escorted the ladies to their awaiting cars. “I still say give him a chance.”
“I’m not the one who needs to give anyone a chance,” Krista reasoned, “it’s the other way around. And if he hates me like I think he does, he’ll never forgive me.”
After Krista went home, she quickly got ready. Her driver was going to arrive at any moment and take her on her solo-but-not-pathetic-date-even-though-every-one-in-the-universe-has-a-date Valentine’s dinner.
She was not going to become depressed about it.
She turned on the TV and casually flipped through the channels, trying to find something to kill the time when she stumbled on an episode ofMartin. The flashback hit her like a ton of bricks.
