“I want a way out, safely.” Nas tilted her head, giving me a somber expression. I hadn’t even talked to the girls about leaving Quincey, yet here I was, seeking counsel to end my marriage that the public saw as picture fucking perfect.
“Safely? Is everything okay? That nigga not putting his hands on you, is he? Because, girl, I stay str?—”
I laughed, waving my hand, cutting her off. Nas was like Hollis, gun ready to empty a clip on a muthafucka with ease.
“No, he’s not that crazy.”
“Give me some time though. I’ll find something. Do you need anything else in the meantime?”
I shook my head. “Like what?”
“Restraining order for protection, bodyguard, safe house? Shit, you said he not hitting you, but we know these Wilsons don’t move with the poise they pretend to possess in public. If we get to digging, I want to make sure we keep you safe at all times, Johnni.”
My mouth opened and closed. “Oh, no. Physically I’m safe.” Her shoulders relaxed while she offered a small smile.
“Okay, if anything changes, please don’t hesitate to call me. I don’t know a lot of people, but I know the right ones to help.” I pressed my lips together, giving her a small smile back.
“Thank you, and if you see Hollis or Mickey, please don’t mention this.”
“Girl, of course not. I’m not breaking my client confidentiality for no one. Quincey couldn’t even walk in here and question me on shit.” We shared a chuckle because I knew her words were true.
I stood to leave.
On my way to the parking lot, I bumped into a scent I immediately recognized, freezing as my eyes dragged up his body nice and slow to his handsome smile and fine ass face.
“My, it must be my lucky ass day. First you come over and use me for my body, which I normally wouldn’t mind, but then you dip out before God could call the sun. Now, that hurt my feelings. I even had breakfast plans for us. I think you gotta make that up to me too, Lourdè.” I smiled hard as hell while I put my hand up, blocking the bright ass sun, getting a glimpse of his pearly whites threatening to further blind me.
I heard his words and yet mine didn’t come out when I opened my mouth.
He smirked.
“And now you ain’t got shit to say to me which is wild when we both know you’re not the quiet type,” he joked and that was all it took.
“I got words. Like why do you insist on calling me Lourdè when you know my name is Johnni?” I asked a dumb question, knowing I had grown to love the way this man said my middle name. It was like he put power behind it which was hard to explain.
“I gotta stand out to help you remember I ain’t like the usual.” I blushed again because he damn sure wasn’t like my husband.
After a brief pause, he spoke again.
“So back to you making shit right with me again, let me properly handle aftercare and take you to breakfast.” He held out his hand and I took it as a dare to match his energy. Creeping over to his house for a fuck session was one thing, allowing another man to take me out was another. Yet, without any hesitation, my hand moved to fit into his. The electric current that stayed flowing down my spine whenever he touched me sparked and this time I knew he felt it too.
“Leave your car, you riding with me, love,” he said, leading me to the passenger side of his truck, opening the door to lift me in.
We made it to Morningside in a booth sitting across from each other.
“So, I guess it’s time to actually have a conversation, huh?” I said as Courtland went for his cran-apple juice.
“Yeah. There’s a lot I don’t know about you, and if we gon’ besneakingaround, a heads up on your situation would be nice. I mean, for real, I don’t care, especially after I met your husband. But at least let me know what I’m signing on for dealing with you.”
I nodded while my hands smoothed my hair, accepting his reasoning for wanting a deeper dive into my life. It made sense and was only fair to Courtland with all things considered.
“Well, for starters, I meant what I said about my marriage not being a factor when it comes to us. Quincey and I are open. We have rules, of course, but he’s not something to worry about, especially if we stick to Seventh Heaven and only on weekends.”
He snickered. “Wait, stick to Seventh Heaven…like only seeing each other there?”
I licked my lips while I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Yeah, last night I’d stepped outside and said fuck the rules, but I still wanted to move with caution, especially until Nas could find something to set me free. I knew that contract was full of rules and regulations that if I was caught cheating would be deadly for not just me but Courtland too. And even if I didn’t know him beyond the dick he delivered, I would never put his life at risk for it.
