He stepped forward and I backed up. “Tell me what I can do. Tell me how I can fi?—”
“This wasn’t one time. Hell, not even twice. This is a lifestyle for you. You broke my trust, Nathanial. And I don’t kno—” I started twisting the engagement ring on my finger.
“No, don't take that off. It’s yours. Take some time baby, please. I fucked up and you have every reason to leave me, but please don’t give up on us.” He stepped forward, grabbing my hand, stopping me from removing my ring.
“I fucked up, bad. Just give me a chance to try and fix it.”
I madeno promises to stay with him or even forgive him. I left with the ring on and my burger in hand. I didn’t want this damn burger, but wanted to get as far from him as possible. The moment I stepped out of the building, I tossed the burgerinto the garbage.Was it possible that my heart hurt so bad my appetite had jumped ship?
After I left I didn’t immediately go back to my car, but instead I went to the grocery store right up the block. The last thing I needed was alcohol right now, which was why I was bypassing it. Instead, when I was inside, I went straight for the carton of Leeland ice cream from a small, family-owned company just north of Hollis, far into the Bluffs. I’d only come across the ice cream because one night Knockout and I were out late looking for sweets. Well, I was having a menstrual craving and needed ice cream to go with my double fudge brownies. We ran across the brand while looking for one we knew and it just so happened the cashier was talkative and almost talked us into purchasing one of every flavor.
“Thought we rectified this, shorty? You can’t stand in the middle of stores crying.”
I swiped the tears from my face and turned to face him. Though I had only been in his presence once, I knew his voice from anywhere. Call it muscle memory. “I wasn’t crying, I was um?—”
“Crying,” he finished before I could find a lie.
“Well. And why are you walking up on random people anyway?”
A deep chuckle escaped his lips. “You ain’t random. I know what your pussy tastes like.”
I swallowed hard and glanced around, noticing it was only him and me in the cooler area.Thank god.
“You wanna talk about it?” he asked, his voice not masking the concern his eyes carried.
I shrugged. “Probably, but to this pint of ice cream.”
He nodded. “I know a place.”
I looked at him skeptically. “Um.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I ain’t letting you in my pants this time.”
I laughed so hard I had to look around while he smiled, amused as well. He had a natural mug that fit, but somehow, when he smiled, that seemed to fit as well.
“You coming or what, mama?”
In his presence I continued to shock myself. I didn’t hesitate but instead nodded. Just like that night in the elevator.
With my ice cream in hand, I followed him to the counter where the cashier and a big burly guy were standing. It was then I realized it was only us in the small store.
I placed my ice cream on the counter behind his plethora of water and Rice Krispie Treats. He reached down and pushed it toward his items, then pulled his card from his wallet and swiped it once she had rung everything up.
“I could’ve paid for my own ice cream,” I said once we were out of the store.
“Probably. But you didn’t have to.” We followed the big burly guy who I assumed was his security to a black Tahoe. He then opened the door for me to get in first then Indiri. Who was he that he needed security?
“I thought you were from Chicago.”My eyes glossed the empty enclosed rooftop before they landed back on him.
He nodded. “I am somewhat, but my pops was from here. Raised me most of my childhood here, then we moved to Chicago, then back here after my uncle died. Why do you ask?”
“Because only a native knows the cut spots in Watertown and has the balls to even come here.”
He shrugged. “Watertown ain’t bad. It’s just a place with rich history rooted within a lotta folks that look like me and you.”
“I agree.” Watertown was what some people would call Briar South’s biggest eyesore. In some cities, the waterfront was the pride and joy, but here it was folks’ biggest fear. Briar South had been founded over two hundred years ago, with settlers deciding to put the savages—as they called them—on the waterfront and living themselves further into safer parts of the city after several deadly floods. Back then the water was unruly and broke through every barrier created, so it was nothing for the city to flood. The water never forgot that. When they settled people who looked like me there, funnily enough, the levees held. The barriers stood unbroken for decades. Per my grandmother, the water had calmed itself, dampening its rage for when people who didn’t belong came and tried to claim it again. They said the water knew who it was meant to keep.
“Now, are you about to tell me why you were crying in the middle of the store? What that nigga do now?”
