“That’s because your bossy ass never let anyone do anything that you didn’t approve of. It was easier to go along with whatever you wanted than to argue.”
“I wasn’t that bad.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“What do you think you’re doing, Chris?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“With Angel. She’s a sweet girl.”
“What do you mean, what am I doing? Dating her.”
“She’s Jeremiah’s ex. You’re dead wrong for that.”
“Look, don’t come over here judging me.”
“I know what you’re up to.”
“What am I up to, Erica?” I asked in a resigned tone.
“You’re trying to make me jealous.”
I chuckled. “Everything isn’t about you, beautiful.”
“Funny, that’s not the way that you behaved in the past, now is it?”
“It was about you—when it was about you. I’ve moved on, Erica, and I don’t feel the same way anymore that I once did where you’re concerned.”
“Is that what you tell yourself to make you feel better about what you’re doing?”
“I’m not doing anything. And as far as you’re concerned, a man can only take so much. When a female places herself in a position to use, manipulate, and make a fool of a man, one day,he’s gonna wake up. And when he does, the respect, the love, and the care he had for her is out the door. And one day, she’ll realize that she lost the best thing that ever happened to her. I was your best thing, Erica. Too bad you waited too late to figure it out.”
“And I was yours. Getting with her won’t get back what you lost with me. She’s not me, and she’s never gonna be me, Chris.”
“You’re right, she’s not you. And that’s exactly why I’m getting with her, because she’s everything I want and need in a woman. You weren’t my best thing. You tore me down, complained about everything, and never appreciated me. I never want to involve myself with a female like you again.”
“So you go after your boy’s ex?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “It’s not about his ex. It’s about seeing a woman who was always a godsend, a good friend, and a kind, compassionate, and caring soul. It’s about loving a woman who has only good intentions and sees the good in others around her. It’s about being with a woman who is not only a good woman, but an excellent mother.”
“I notice that you keep saying ‘woman’ where she’s concerned and ‘female’ where I’m concerned. What are you implying?”
“I don’t have to imply anything, Erica. Take a look at your actions. They tell a story that words never can tell.”
“Yeah, you’re on some stupid shit. It’s about time for me to bounce. I have a family to take care of and not a pre-fabricated one either,” she stated, grabbing her purse and standing up.
“Erica. Wait.”
She stopped but didn’t turn around to face me.
“I know you didn’t come here for us to go back and forth, at least I want to believe that you didn’t. And while we just did that because that’s who we became, I believe we’re better than that. I’m sorry for the role I played in our demise and in the argument we just had. But we spent three years of our lives together. Andfor me, most of them were good. Let’s not walk away from each other with hate and tension between us. You made your choices, and I was cool with that. I haven’t bashed you for them or anything. You hurt the fuck out of me, but I didn’t drag you. I told you how I felt, and I let you be great. Why can’t we just have peace between us?”
She inhaled deeply, and her shoulders slumped. Turning around, she answered, “Because you lied to me.”
“About what?”
“I asked you back then, when Jeremiah used to tease you for having a crush on his girl, if you felt some type of way about her. You said no.”
