“Ain’t no fucking but! You can take me back home because I already told you that I'm not trying to be out in public like that. I knew this was a mistake.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Niggas don’t listen.”
In an effort to calm himself down before responding, Logic rubbed the back of his neck and focused on the road. If Tyler had been anybody else, he would have put her pretty ass out of his truck for yelling at him. He didn’t play that shit, and in due time, she’d learn. Tyler was fragile though and he could tell he’d have to take a different approach with her. Stopping at the red light, Logic turned slightly in his seat.
“Rah and C are cool. Their families will be there, strictly on some chilling shit, but if you don’t wanna go, then we don’t have to. Tell me what you wanna do, baby girl, and I’ll follow your lead. I’m just trying to kick it with you.”
Taken aback by his response, Tyler clamped her mouth shut. She didn’t know why she thought he was going to turn up on her, but he didn’t, and now she felt stupid for yelling. Logic was patiently staring at her, awaiting her response, and she was sitting there pouting.
“What’s up, baby girl? Tell me what you wanna do?” Logic repeated, this time he tapped her thigh, forcing her to look up at him.
“We can go,” Tyler stated.
“You sure?”
“Yea, but I need to go change. I don’t have a swimsuit or anything.”
“No need. I’m going to run my sisters to the mall.”
“As nice as that sounds, I really don’t want to walk around a crowded mall.” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“I got you, baby girl.”
“Didn’t I tell you I don’t like that phrase?”
“You did, but I'm trying to change what those words mean to you. I’m sorry for every fuck nigga that let you down, but when I say it, I mean it,” Logic promised with a wink. “Just tell me what size you wear, and I’ll handle the rest.”
“See, there you go, doing that smoldering thing, saying the right things. It’s almost like you’re trying to make me fall for you.”
“I’m just a real ass nigga and you don’t have to be all hard with me.” He glanced at her before looking back at the road. “Let me take care of you when you’re in my presence.”
Logic words felt like a heated blanket, causing Tyler to shift in her seat. “You’re not all that,” she denied, turning to stare out of the window.
Logic didn’t respond because they both knew it was a lie. Did he have all the fancy shit she had grown accustomed to? No, and he didn’t need any of that shit to make himall that. Logic was that nigga even if he was rocking Walmart shoes with a Family Dollar jogging suit. The nigga didn’t even have a haircut most of the time, but there was something about him that Tyler couldn’t shake. What Logic possessed couldn’t be bought in a store. His calm demeanor, his take charge mindset, and his ability to make her feel safe by using words made him all that.
“You was about to fight me, huh?” Logic asked, breaking her thoughts.
“As long as you know,” Tyler simpered.
???
When he pulled up at home, Logic ran inside to gather his siblings while Tyler sat in the car. Nerves ripped through hercore as she chewed on the tip of her nail. Anxiety had her heart in a vice grip, and her body felt heavy. Tyler's first thought was to reach for the mint can, but she only had three pills and didn’t know the next time she’d get more. She wasn’t fucking with Dexter or her aunt, nor was she about to go looking for some on a street corner or college campus.
“You got this,” Tyler coached herself. “You’re not a fucking addict, you got this.”
The words soothed her heart but did nothing to cure the waves of nausea that kept hitting her or the tingling in her legs. She was jonesing… bad. Closing her eyes, Tyler begged for strength and a sign that everything was going to be ok. Just as she opened her eyes, Logic opened the car door.
“You good?” he asked, sensing that she was a little off.
“Yes,” she lied, but hoped she would be as the day went on.
“Aight. Look, I gave them a pep talk, but I cannot control what comes out of their mouth. Sage might stare at you, Spice is mean, and Shugg is going to grill you.”
“Should I be scared?”
“Nah, they’re protective but harmless.” He smiled as the back door opened.
“Hey girl, hey,” Shugg greeted as she slid in the truck. “I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Shugg.”
“The one that tried to smother me?” Tyler arched her eyebrow.
