She twisted the rings on her fingers while looking down at her heels. “I saw Leo and my ex-best friend last night at the spa together. Seeing them only confirmed what I already knew. My husband left me with three kids for my best friend and had the nerve to tell me she’s pregnant. We got into an altercation, and me and my cousin got banned from the spa for a year. I just—I messed up last night. I was a little buzzed, hurt, and pissed off, and I just needed to feel something.”
“Humph.” I waited a minute before I spoke because I felt used. Disposable. Like she didn’t mean what she said last night. “So, we’re back to this place again?”
“What place?”
“This employee/boss shit? That’s how you playing it?”
“Basil, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like, Alicia?” My voice raised a little because I felt a little hurt by her actions. I took a breath because I had no right to raise my voice. I knew what this was, but I hoped last night meant more to her than this.
In a calm voice, I said, “You telling me about you seeing your fuck-ass ex with your fuck-ass ex-best friend, and now you’re pressing pause on us again like you didn’t just cum on my dick ten times last night.”
“Please don’t be upset. I told you I wasn’t ready for a relationship. It’s only been three months since that bastard broke my heart and left me with three kids. I’m just trying to figure this shit out. I thought we agreed to be friends.”
“Yeah, you put that boundary between us, then crossed it last night when you had sex with me. Now you think you can just close the box you opened whenever you feel like it? How is that fair to me?”
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away from me.
You know what? Fuck this.
Iput on my clothes and grabbed my shoes to put them on. She stood near the door with a sad look on her face, and that was the last thing I wanted for her. I got myself into this. I knew she wasn’t ready, and because I really liked her, I thought it would be easy to help her get through her pain.
Obviously, I was wrong.
I couldn’t allow another woman to hurt me because they were hurt. This was on me for having high expectations for a situation that hadn’t truly healed. I wasn’t even mad at shorty for pulling away. I just wished she hadn’t put that good-ass pussy on me before she did.
“I’m sorry,” I offered. “I’ma give you your space, baby. I knew it was too soon, and you wasn’t ready for me. I should havestopped you last night, but I didn’t think you were going to use me as a rebound to get over seeing your ex with his mistress.”
“Basil, don’t do that. You were not a rebound.”
“I was, and I’m okay with that.” I walked over to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go back to how things were when I first started. You need time to heal, and I don’t want to be another nigga that makes you feel unworthy. You have a good day, baby.”
She didn’t say anything as I walked out of her room. When I made it downstairs, I went into the family room, where the kids were watching Jools TV and dancing to the song on YouTube. I gave them all hugs and told them I’d see them in the morning. Of course, Carsyn and Chloe had questions, asking why I wasn’t going to church with them, so I had to tell them I had something important to do. They bought it, and I was thankful for that.
I grabbed my satchel, gathered the finance statements I was looking over last night, and walked out of the front door, running into Ms. Anika on the way out.
“Hey, Basil. You coming to church with us? It seems like you’ve been missing the last couple of Sundays.”
I gave her a hug and smiled at her. “Nah, not this Sunday. Got a few things to do today before I start my work week.”
“Oh, okay. Well, we miss you coming. Don’t make it a habit. Come back sometimes.”
“I will. I promise. In the meantime, send one up for me, please?”
“You got it, baby. Have a good day.”
“You as well.” I bid her adieu, hopped in my truck, and started the engine. I looked over and saw Alicia standing in the doorway and staring at me. She diverted her eyes when her moms made it to the porch, and she plastered a smile I knew wasn’t real on her face. I pulled out of her driveway and headedhome to shower and change, with the smell of her on my chin and hurt feelings.
I walked into my parents’home and spotted Siori in the living room, watching TV while playing with her dolls. Her face lit up upon seeing me.
“Uncle Baye!”
She moved with hurried feet toward me, and I opened my arms to receive her. It was just what I needed after the morning I had. I had intentions of going by their house after I left here, but I was glad I didn’t have to.
“Hey, princess. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Can we go back over Ms. Alicia’s house? I want to show Chloe my new dolls. Mommy let me buy her one and Carlee a teddy bear!”
