It was Malik’s guilty conscience playing with his mind and his eyes. The Eastover breeze, the sounds of the waves and his guests enjoying themselves wasn’t enough to pull him out of his jealousy-induced delusion.
“Malik,” his name was crooned and a set of manicured hands massaged his shoulders. The diamonds from the tennis bracelet and promise rings gleamed against the setting Eastover sun. A romantic scene if he was paying attention. “Malachi is down, are you ready? Reservations are in an hour and you haven’t moved.”
Joanna nuzzled her face against him, trying to catch a glimpse of what on his phone was holding him hostage, not allowing him to be present on their vacation. This was the third year they’d taken this trip and this was the first year he wasn’t all over her like he typically was. Joanna bloomed off of the stolen affection. Affection that wasn’t hers to have. It belonged to Emani. It was supposed to belong wholly to her and for the last three years, he’d been giving them all just enough to keep them on the hook.
Joanna’s envious eyes caught a glimpse Emani at homecoming with a smile on her face that wasn’t manufactured. She glowed between Carson and Ashton and before Malik jerked the phone out of her view, a video of her laughing and dancing with Ashton.
“Looks like she’s having fun,” Joanna said passively, as Malik shook her hold off of him. “Is that why you can’t spend time with your son, or me? You’re stalking her.”
Malik’s face frowned as he locked his phone and stood up. “My fiancée?”
Joanna looked up at him. “Funny how she’s the fiancée and I’m wearing your ring too. I have your son.”
“And the vacations and the house and the car and the career. You want to point out what else you have? I take care of you don’t I? Don’t question me about what I’m doing. Don’t.”
Joanna bit her lip and fell back. “Fine. Sorry I said anything. Are you coming to dinner or staying here with Malachi?”
“Malachi don’t even talk, what am I staying here with him for?” Malik asked before walking into the house. He was back in his phone watching Emani come alive again and hating every second of it. Emani alive meant she would wake up and come to the realization that she didn’t need him or anyone for that matter. Emani partially in her power was threatening his existence. Her in her full power would blow every part of his fragile masculinity out of the water.
From the house to the lounge, he watched images and videos of Emani at the step show dancing with her friends and other members of her sorority. What was bound to send him back over into the deep end of blowing up her line was Emani in a haze of joy and working her hips against Jahlil. If he saw it. It was Joanna pulling the phone from his grip and kissing his neck.
“I’m right here, baby. Focus on me,” she crooned. Joanna reminded Malik why he kept her around. She provided the escape he needed. Sandi sat by and watched how Joanna pulled Malik’s attention all on her. Janet sat comfortably. Malik could be with anyone but Emani, she had her reasons. She’d never admit it out loud. Janet knew the moment Malik brought her around that Emani wasn’t going to be a woman that he could contain. She was too big for him, the weight of who she was – too heavy.
Joanna on the other hand – easy, compliant, and complacent. She wasn’t going to demand more from Malik or push him to be a better man and that left Janet in control. Emani threatened her control. Two things were going to happen if this marriage between her son and Emani happened – she’d make him a better man, push him to better heights or he’d do what his father had done to her – break her. Janet couldn’t have either. Control nor her conscience would allow it.
What the four didn’t fully grasp was that everything done in the dark was coming to light, whether they liked it or not. And when deceit sparked the flames, everything was going to burn down. No one would be left to blame but themselves.
16 /EMANI
“I toldy’all I was the baddest, ass move like the phattest. Niggas trying to tag it and bag it. Way the waist winds, I’m a savage. Grab a hold when I look back at it. Grab it. Act like you know what to do with it,” Emani’s voice pumped through the speakers of the party.
There was a sea of college students and alumni doing exactly what Emani’s lyrics provoked. She rapped her lyrics, danced alongside Donnée while indulging in shot after shot. There wasn’t any worry about cameras and what could possibly go wrong because for once, she was having fun that wasn’t dependent on the optics.
Ashton drunkenly slid behind Emani as she twerked to the beat, holding on to her waist.
Playfully, she threw over her shoulder, “Boy, I’ll break your little ass.”
Donnée giggled. “Don’t hurt him, E!”
“Carson, be useful and hold me up!” Ashton shouted over the music, immediately realizing Emani was right. “Matter of fact, Jahlil, bring your big ass over here.”
“I’m not helping you with shit but a toss over the fuckin’ rail,” Jahlil muttered, just as enticed with Emani as everyone else. Difference was, he knew how to handle her. Then at least. Emani was a grown woman now with curves and territory he hadn’t explored yet. But he wanted to. Needed to but pacing was important. If it were up to him he’d snap his fingers and the years of them apart and strained would be erased.
“Your man is a hater, E,” Ashton grumbled, being graced by the bounce of Emani’s twerk.
“Aight now,” Jahlil muttered. Those two words rested against her ears and spirit like it was a reclamation of the space that was always meant for him. There would be no other man in the world to make Emani take heed.
“Alright, that’s all you get,” Emani said, laughing and moving away from Ashton, who was grinning at Jahlil like he’d won a prize. “I told you, you couldn’t handle it.”
“Might want to tell his little ass who can,” Jahlil muttered again, making her look up at him and chuckle.
“You can’t either.”
“How much you tryin’ to put on that, E?” Jahlil asked, craning his neck and locking eyes with her.
She creased her brows, trying to keep the intrigue off of her made-up face. “You can’t afford the thought of having me again. You’re blocking my view.”
Jahlil bit a smirk and nodded. “Open up.”
