Rhapsody, when I came in to get my nails done the other day, I was in such a bad place mentally. By the time I left your chair, I felt so much better. You didn’t do anything extra special. You were just warm and positive, and that was all I needed. Thank you so much. – Gail.
“Wow,” I blinked back tears. That was the last thing I expected. Gail was a regular client, and I loved her. With a big smile on my face, I observed the flowers. They had to cost a pretty penny. If only she knew how much that made my day.
The bell above the door chimed, and I looked up with the smile still plastered on my face. It quickly vanished when I noticed Jeremiah. I wanted to scream because every time I thought he had finally left me alone I got a rude awakening. His scowl deepened when he saw the flowers.
“I really can’t believe you, Rhapsody. You really got me out here looking like a fool. There’s no way you moved on that fast. You fucking niggas at your crib, getting flowers and shit, what’s good?”
I drew back with a frown. My next client was coming at any moment, and I didn’t do unprofessional. “Jeremiah, I have really been nicer than you deserve. The fact that you’re still pretending that you didn’t say the things you said are really blowing me. I have a key to your house! I walked in, and you were in the bathroom on the phone. I heard everything you said. You’re not attracted to me, and I don’t even make you hard. Whoever you were talking to you called her bae. Now please get the fuck out of my shop.” I was so angry that I was on the verge of tears. Maybe I should have just burst in the bathroom that night and beat his ass, so we could skip the denial and games.
My words had Jeremiah’s stupid ass looking like a deer caught in headlights. After hearing proof, all the aggressionand hostility were gone, and he was looking dumb in the face. “Rhapsody, I ca-“
“I don’t give a fuck nigga,” I snapped. “I promise you I don’t. You shouldn’t be subjected to someone that you aren’t attracted to. I gained weight, right? You deserve to be with a woman that can give you an erection so by all means please go.”
Jeremiah pushed out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand down his face. “Just let m-“
“Get out!” I screamed so loud my throat burned. “That’s all I want is for you to leave.”
My chest heaved up and down. I refused to let Jeremiah see me cry, but I was close to breaking. The games he was playing were annoying. I just wanted to be left alone. Not gaslit and lied to. With a defeated look on his face, Jeremiah turned and left the shop. I prayed that he felt more than defeated. I prayed he felt like the jerk that he was. If he didn’t want me that was fine. But I refused to be harassed and hounded when I let him leave without putting up a fight. If he thought I would cry and beg, he was dumber than I thought. Yes, I was a little insecure about my weight, but I wasn’t a dick dumb ass broad.
My client entered the shop, and I had to put on a smile. Money over bullshit.
Melody eyed me skeptically. “What?” I widened my eyes and threw my arms up.
“I just don’t believe you.”
“Okay well, I said yes, so I don’t know what else you want me to say.”
“I’m just shocked. I like single Rhapsody. You’re real adventurous and what not.”
“I gotta make a few things clear though,” Melody groaned from my words. “I don’t know if Blaze knows this Maurice guy, but if he’s friends with Ryan there is a chance he does. If Ryan nor Maurice knows about me and Blaze, I’m not going to tell him. But I don’t fuck friends, so I hope he knows that this double date is only happening so I can accompany you. If he’s going to be expecting ass or tripping, I’m not going.”
“Oh no it’s not like that. Maurice is visiting from out of town. I think he’s from Detroit. Ryan just wants us to hang out.”
“Okay cool.”
“Speaking of Blaze,” Melody wiggled her brows. “What’s up with you and him?”
“Nothing really. I talked to him yesterday, but the last time I saw him was when we had sex and that was almost a week ago.”
“So, do you not like him…” her voice trailed off.
“I do like him. I like him a lot, but neither one of us are looking for anything serious, and I’m not trying to deviate from that. Hearing the things that Jeremiah said hurt me so bad but when I thought about it, some of the same things he said about me, I said about myself. I used to beat myself up, talk negative, frown at my reflection. I wanted him to accept what I didn’t even accept myself. He could have gone about it a different way, but that’s neither here nor there.”
I pulled my legs onto the couch and sat Indian style.
“I just want to have a better relationship with myself. Male centered women give me the ick. And if I do get in another relationship, it will have to be with a confident man. A man that will understand if I want to go on a solo date or a solo trip. It’s not about being sneaky or cheating. I’ll just never again lose myself to the point where a man doing me wrong makes me feel like death.”
“Okay sister dropping the gems!” Melody clapped, and I laughed.
“I’m just saying. Most healing comes after we’ve gone through something terrible. Growing and healing is a lifelong process though. I just want to be intentional. When another man comes along and I’m happy and, in a relationship, again, I don’t want to stop growing and pouring into myself. But trust me when I say it’s hard not jumping on Blaze a few times a week.”
“I can look at the way he walks and tell it’s good.”
“Good?!” I screeched. “Baby, that dick is superb. I’ve never had anything like it. Compared to him I have to give Jeremiah a strong five.”
“Damn!”
“And I was actually crying over him sleeping with another woman. Unless he learned some new tricks, I came out better with Blaze. Whoever she is, she did me a favor.”
