“I don’t have an attitude.”
“So, what do you call this silent treatment shit?”
She’d folded three shirts before she responded, “Me not having a word to say to you until I figure out what I wanna say.”
“If I knew what the issue was, maybe I could help you sort through what it is you gotta say.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “You’re really pretending like you don’t know what the issue is? That’s concerning, Zeus.” She sighed. “Just go back to bed. I’ll bring you up something to eat in a minute.” She stood from the sofa, clearly aggravated.
“I can’t read ya mind, Pen. Either you gon’ open ya mouth and tell me wassup or I’ma assume you’re being difficult for no damn reason.”
She whirled around and snapped her hands to her hips.
“The fact that you’re acting as if being shot is an everyday thing for you bothers me. If you don’t care about your life, just say that so I can walk away from this relationship before I end up hurt.”
As she ranted, I walked up on her until she had to look up to see my face. Damn, I loved how tall my woman stood. She hadno idea how I fantasized about her thighs being wrapped around me.
Taking her chin in my fingers, I said, “Just say you love me and can’t live without me. That’ll go over a lot better than you actin’ like I’m not shit.”
She smacked my hand away. “See, you play too much. I’m being serious.” The look in her eyes said as much. “You literally think this is a joke.”
“I don’t think it’s a joke. Every time pain slices through my arm, I’m reminded that it’s not a joke.”
“So, why are you being so nonchalant? You really don’t care if you die, Zoo?”
“I do care, shawty. At the time, all I was concerned about was makin’ sure Brooklyn was good. The last thing anyone wants to deal with is a nigga filled with guilt. They’ll become someone you don’t even recognize. If something ever happened to one of my cousins, and I was able to prevent it and didn’t, death would be better for me. I couldn’t live with the guilt, and I’m sure I’d take my anger out on any and everything that I could.”
Pen blinked back tears, piercing my heart.
“I get it okay,” she uttered. “I guess I just thought… Never mind.” She went to walk away, but I stopped her, pulling her into my arms.
“You think being in love with you should make me think about you first? I get it. Baby, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you the same as with my family. Me not thinking about my actions had nothing to do with me not thinking about you and everything to do with stopping what I knew was about to happen. I apologize for bringing doubt and worry to your mental. Right here, I take it back, okay? Just like always, I’ma carry whatever I have to, to make sure you’re straight, happy, and at peace.”
“Just so we’re clear, I’m not upset that you jumped in front of a bullet for Brooklyn. Even though y’all fight like two lil’ dick horses, I know y’all love each other.”
My face balled up. “Why you thinkin’ ‘bout his dick, though.”
Exasperated, Pen threw her hands up and stomped towards the kitchen.
Hot on her heels, I said, “You betta answer me, Pen. I’ain playin’ wit' you.”
“Zoo, shut up and go back to bed while I fix you some food.”
“I’ain gon’ nowhere ‘til you answer me. You think my dick little?”
She turned her nose up while looking me up and down. Without saying anything, she smirked.
“The fuck that mean?” Now, I was irritated. “And anyway, you’ve only seen my dick, so what’s really good?”
Pen busted out laughing while moving to the refrigerator. “I think you should go back to bed.”
“Don’t deflect. You normally ain’t on the hush-mouth, so speak up. We got a problem?”
Closing the refrigerator door, she turned to me still smirking. “You do realize, you’re being irrational, right?”
“Penelope.”
She sauntered up to me, her eyes fixed on my mans behind the ball shorts I wore. Bringing her body flush with mine, I enjoyed the way her cheeks tinted when she felt how hard I was.
