Glimmer knew him well enough to know he didn’t mean to come off as challenging, but he was worked up at the moment. She couldn’t blame him. This whole situation had her looking at her dad sideways too. It was something she didn’t want to worry about that night though.
“It may have been a long time since I’ve seen Juke, but I know his love for Glimmer hasn’t changed.” She cut her eyes at Gideon before she focused back on Glimmer. “My point is, you have people around you who adore you, including this big ass nigga behind me.” She inclined her head toward Gideon and cracked a smile.
Glimmer didn’t smile back, but her tears slowed some. Her heart felt broken, but having Charlene there definitely took the edge off.
“Thank you,” Glimmer uttered.
Charlene pulled Glimmer into her once again. Glimmer breathed her perfume in and was transported back to her childhood. Charlene was the reason Glimmer became fascinated with smelling good. The woman always smelled warm, like vanilla and amber.
“I know what can make you feel better. How about a home-cooked meal?” Charlene suggested.
Despite her misery, the corners of Glimmer’s lips tugged up. One thing about Charlene was she could cook her ass off, and everyone loved her cooking. Her father used to cook for her when she was growing up, but not even he could hold a candle to Charlene.
Glimmer nodded. Charlene gave her shoulder a squeeze before she stood and pinched Gideon on his bicep. He didn’t flinch or even make a face. He simply stared down at Charlene helplessly, as if she had the answers on how to deal with his wife after what he did and what she had to witness.
Charlene’s eyes softened, and she reached up and patted his cheek. “Big Henry had me in the room when some wild shit went down exactlyonetime. He never let it happen again. Most women aren’t built to see the shit y’all do. All I can tell you is to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Love on her and listen to her.”
Charlene didn’t whisper as if Glimmer wasn’t in the room. She spoke clearly and intentionally so they could both hear. She patted his chest before she walked out the door.
Gideon looked at Glimmer guiltily. Fresh tears fell from her eyes as she averted them. Gideon sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Baby . . .”
“Not right now, Gideon, okay? I just . . . I need a minute.” Glimmer finally looked into his eyes, and her heart broke. He looked like a lost puppy with his brown eyes and deep frown. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she needed a moment to sort through her mommy issues before she focused on her marital issues. “Can I just have the night, Gideon? I’m not mad at you, but I just need to be by myself right now. I can go to a guest room—” The look he gave her made her pause. “Or not?”
Gideon leaned over and grabbed the back of her head. He kissed her forehead and then her cheek and then her lips. “Get comfortable. Enjoy your night in our room. I’ll take a guest room, but we need to talk about this tomorrow, okay? You ain’t alone anymore. Ain’t no dealin’ with this by yourself.”
Glimmer nodded and looked down at the bedspread and whispered, “Okay.”
“I’ll bring you a plate when Mama Charlene is done cookin’. You need anything else?”
Glimmer thought about it for a second. With a lump in her throat, she puckered her lips and leaned her head up toward him. Gideon’s somber expression lightened slightly as he leaned down and kissed her once more.
She offered him a sad smile. “I think I’m good now.”
“Come find me if you need more.” Gideon walked out of the room.
When the door closed and she was finally alone, Glimmer lay down, right on top of the comforter, and let out a sob.
Surprisingly,Gideon slept in late into the afternoon the next morning. The day before had been a lot on everyone, and Charlene’s food definitely gave him the itis, so sleep came easily to him. He felt a bit guilty for sleeping like a newborn, though, when Glimmer was clearly going through it.
As he flipped the last waffle onto the plate and buttered it, he wondered if Glimmer slept well or if she stayed up all night crying. He’d taken her a plate after Mama Charlene finished cooking the night before. Just because he needed an excuse to lay eyes on her again, he went back into the room to get the plate an hour later. His baby had to have been hungry because she ate the whole thing. When he asked if she wanted more, shedeclined. That was the extent of their conversation. He respected her wishes to give her a night, but it broke his heart.
Part of him felt like she needed space fromhim. The other part of him really hoped that wasn’t the case.
“Lemme get some,” Rome said as he plopped down at a stool by the center island of the kitchen and reached out a hand toward the pile of bacon Gideon made.
Gideon slapped his hand away. “Get back, nigga. Ain’t for y’all.”
Rome’s brows rose in amusement. Anyone else might have cowered at the tone of Gideon’s voice, but VK knew Gideon. He wasn’t a threat for real. Not to them, at least.
“Fuck wrong wit’ you?” Rome asked.
Haze walked into the kitchen and clapped Rome on the back. “Give that man some grace today, dawg.”
Rome raised his hands in mock surrender and rose from his seat. “He ain’t gotta be stingy wit’ the bacon. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
Rome walked out of the kitchen grumbling. Haze chuckled and sat on the seat Rome just left. “Why you in here bein’ stingy?”
