“Your brother is very sick, love.” She sighed, sipping her champagne. The tech had finished her pedicure, and she was now waiting for me. The shop had begun to get a crowded, and I knew she was ready to leave. My mother hated noise and chaos. “You need to let his words roll off your back, Blossom. Just like the things he said about TJ. There’s no way you believe that, right?”
Dragging my eyes over to hers, I was met with her questioning glare. My mother loved the ground TJ walked onand felt as if he was the perfect man for me. I tried my best to keep her out of my business, but when she started asking me what I was waiting for in terms of planning the wedding, I felt the need to let her in on TJ’s absences and Rowan’s accusations.
“TJ has been pretty much nonexistent in this relationship for months, Mom. Whenever he has time to sit and have a conversation with me, he and I are going to have a serious talk.”
“No time like the present…” she stated, grinning sneakily. “That man loves you, and if you don’t tighten up and love himproperly, you’re going to find yourself out here single. Talk to your man and make this right.”
Before I could ask her what she meant, the doors to the salon chimed, and in walked TJ. Dressed in Polo from head to toe, he looked very handsome. He and I hadn’t spoken in days because when he finally decided to call me, I no longer wanted to have a conversation. Stepping aside to let the girl who came in behind him pass, he looked around until his eyes found mine. Hands in pockets, he walked over in my direction, his jaw ticking with each step.
“Hey, baby.” He hovered over me, causing me to grimace. “So is this what we’re doing now?”
“Now isn’t the time.” I gave him a warning glare. The last thing I wanted was for the salon clientele to be in my business. “My mother and I are busy and?—”
“Your father is outside to pick me up,” Mom chimed in as she slid her purse strap up her shoulder. “I called TJ here because you two need to talk and plan this wedding. It’s time to grow up, Blossom.” She walked over, kissed my cheek, then hugged TJ. “Be a good son and come pay for your mother-in-law’s service, dear.”
Nodding politely, he and my mother walked in sync up to the counter, where he paid for her pedicure with a smile. While the tech finished with mine, I watched their interaction inannoyance. Seeing him grin in her face, I knew he was pulling her in with his charm. His friendliness was a complete contrast to JJ’s.
Wait, why is he on my mind? Why am I comparing the two?
“He must be a really good man if your mother is going to bat for him like that.” The girl beside me snapped me from my thoughts as she watched my mother and TJ embrace before he walked her to the door. “It must be nice to have someone that the family loves.”
“At the end of the day, you have to love and respect yourself more. Your decisions have to be ones you can live with, not decisions for the ones around you.”
Nodding her head, she said nothing else. Regardless of the relationship he had with my parents, I wasn’t going to settle with TJ just to say I had someone. After another fifteen minutes with the tech, I was walking out the door.
“You’re welcome,” was the first thing he said as he held the door open for me. It had started to drizzle, and I was pissed that my hair was getting wet. “And where are you going with these little-ass clothes on? You’re trying to get another man’s attention?”
Glancing down at the simple cropped sweater and leggings I wore, I huffed in disbelief. “TJ, what are you doing here? It’s my off day, and the last thing I want to do is argue with you about something as simple as leggings.” Reaching my truck, I glanced back at him. “Why are you here?”
Hovering over me, I could see the annoyance in his eyes, and I knew it was killing him to keep quiet. He didn’t have the right to be mad or feel a way about my short tone. I was about over him and his bullshit, and if he knew like I knew, he would fix it quickly.
“Look, baby… I didn’t come here to argue.” He stepped toward me, placing his finger under my chin to bring my eyesto his. “Let me take you to grab a bite to eat, and we can talk… Please.”
Scanning his face, I could see the deception clear as day. He was hiding something that couldn’t be masked. Maybe it was time to have the conversation we needed to figure out where we would go from here.
“Okay, let’s go.” I closed my truck door, stepping from his space. “We can walk over to the hibachi place.”
Making the short walk across the lot, we entered the restaurant and were seated immediately. It was a buffet-style restaurant, so as soon as she took our drink orders, I was on my feet, piling my plate.
“Damn, lil’ mama! Who the fuck are you feeding?” I paused from scooping my rice and locked eyes with a cute guy. “You gone fuck around and be Tammy and Amy’s third sister.”
“Boy!” I chuckled as I stacked the steak bites on my plate. “It seems to me like you’re going to be the baby brother with everything you have on yours. Let me be me.”
Laughing at my response, he said nothing else as he continued to plate his food before walking back to his booth. Once I was done, I slid back into my own seat across from a pissed TJ.
“What the fuck were you and that nigga talking about?” He mugged, pointing behind me. “You know him?”
“Does it matter?” I asked as I began to eat. This food was so hot and fresh, I couldn’t help but moan. “You can’t get mad if another man is paying me attention. Hell, you’re not.”
These past few months with TJ have had me acting out in ways I wasn’t used to. I was a chill person who rarely cursed, but these days, between him and Rowan, that was all I seemed to do.
“I’m sorry about not spending as much time with you, Blossom.” His glare turned sorrowful in an instant. “Work hasbeen kicking my ass, and it’s hard for me to find a balance. You’ve been busy with work and Stacy?—”
I stopped him with my palm up before he could muster up that lie. “Neither has anything to do withthis. No matter what I have going on, I always have time for you, TJ. You don’t take me out, spend time with me, hell… you don’t even call. Shit, maybe Iamin a relationship with Stacy after all.” I shrugged at his annoyance as I resumed eating. “She’s the one who’s been here for me, listening to me vent. If you don’t want this relationship, we can end this now. Before I sit up and wonder why my so-called man wasn’t coming to see me or answering my calls, I wouldn’t have one. Being in a relationship and alone will never be the move for me.”
Placing his chin on his fists, he stared at me in silence while I ate. He could hear me or not, but I meant every word I’d said. There were men I met daily who would probably treat me better than him. Suddenly, my thoughts were filled with JJ and our previous encounters. That man was something else; I could feel it. The way his energy consumed me was scary and intriguing at the same time. Shaking my head, I tried to clear my mind of him.
How can I sit here and tell TJ to do better by me when I’m thinking about another man?
