The way her voice broke crushed me. When she turned to walk back over to the service bay, I didn’t try to pretend that I didn’t hear her conversation.
“You good, habibti?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes before forcing a smile. “I will be.”
It was a blatant lie. I hated that some people adapted to disappointment by pretending not to need anyone. I hated that there were probably so many times when no one showed up for her that she thought she had to do it all alone. I didn’t mind talking, but I needed to actually show her what I was about.
“Come with me,” I said, motioning with my head.
“Where are you taking me now? I really need to go get my daughter.”
“I’m not asking you, Jameela. Just walk to the front with me. I promised to take care of it for you. Let me do that.”
She hesitated but didn’t put up much more of a fight before following me onto the showroom floor. The smell of leather and greedy salesmen turned my stomach as we walked deeper into the room. She stopped walking before I did. The gentle tug of meholding on to her hand stopped me in my tracks. For a second, her eyes skirted around the room then landed on the sign in front of us.
“Nicholas, don’t try to get me a rental car. It’s not like I have anywhere to go.”
I looked back, turning to face her before I replied. “Jameela, at some point in your life, someone made you feel like you were asking for too much when all you needed was the bare minimum. Taking care of you and making sure you don’t want for anything is my bare minimum.”
“How may I help you guys?” A salesman walked over, interrupting our exchange. I was grateful because that was all the explaining that I planned to do.
“I want the black-on-black Infinity QX80. Make sure it’s fully loaded.”
“Right away, Mr. King,” he said before scurrying away to fill my order.
Either I was crazy or Jameela’s hand went stone cold inside mine.Surprisingly, she didn’t snatch away.
“Wh-what are you doing, Nicholas?”
“Making sure my lady and her little one have a reliable way to get around.”
“I told you it’s not necessary for you to waste your money on a rental. I’m good with bumming rides for a few weeks.”
“I’m not getting a rental, Jameela. I’m buying you a car. You heard Gerald. It’s only a matter of time before there’s something else wrong with your car. I don’t need that kind of stress on you, knowing that I can do something to prevent it.”
“What are you talking about? I can’t let you buy me a car, Nicholas. There’s no telling how much you’ve already spent on me and my friends.”
“I’m not worried about the money, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
She caught me off guard when she tightened her grip on my hand and snatched me through the open doors of somebody’s office and slammed it behind her.
“In my experience, the only men who say they don’t care about money are the ones who are into illegal shit. I tried to ignore your comment last night when you were smoking on the balcony of the hotel, but now you’re just willing to buy a car on a whim. Are you a drug dealer or something, Nicholas? I can’t have that around my daughter.”
I burst out laughing at her question. It wasn’t just the way she asked the question. The look on Jameela’s face was priceless.
I sighed. “Habibti.”
“Just tell me, Nicholas. It’s not like I would be surprised. You’re throwing around money like confetti. My college boyfriend was just like that. I know the signs.”
“Jameela, I’m not a ‘drug dealer’,” I said, using air quotes.
“That’s not funny, Nicholas. You were so vague and elusive when I asked what you do for a living, I have no choice but to think the worst when you’re tossing around money like it’s nothing.”
“I work hard and play even harder, on the rare occasion that I get the chance to unwind.”
“That’s not answering my question, Nicholas. You said something about gambling. Is that what it is? Are you like a card shark or something?”
“Why can’t I just be an honest hardworking man?” I asked her.
