“Babe, please stop. You know I don’t think you’re a whore, my fist in that muthafucka’s mouth should tell you that. But the house is better, especially right now. C’mon Josie, we don’t act like this. We’re a team. I meant what I said the other night. I only want you to win, at everything. I talked to the warden, as you called him, and negotiated on your behalf.”
“I didn’t ask you to do that and unhand me.”
When Quincey leaned down and bit my shoulder, my reflexes had me hitting him.
“Q, if you don’t get off me, I’ma fuck you up. It’s too early and I need coffee.”
“Not until you agree to talk to me. I’m trying to make it right, damn. I keep fucking up with you lately and I hate this shit, Josie. Can I try? I even got coffee from Brewed Bean, along with the blueberry lemon scone you love.”
I scoffed as I huffed, crossing my arms the best way I could since Quincey still had me trapped in his.
“Ugh, fine, Quincey, but you don’t have much time. I have an hour before Kimmie will be here and I still need a shower. If you wanted to really talk, you should’ve woke me up earlier.”
“And get a worse response? Josie, I am no fool when it comes to the amount of sleep my wife needs. Let me escort you to the bathroom. We can start in there and finish with your coffee on the patio. The sun is out but the temperature is perfect.”
He kissed the same spot he bit then pecked my lips and led me to the bathroom.
“Talk, Q, your time is ticking,” I said as I began to relieve my bladder.
“Of course. Well, I talked to the warden and I was able to get Mama back on your schedule full-time. But win or lose, Josie, this is the last year for both of you. Once I’m in the Senate, your focus will need to be on your coaching career and us working on a legacy.”
I stopped mid-wipe to hold his gaze, then released a few chuckles.
“Wow, so the tradeoff was me hanging up my pageants altogether to push out a baby. Quincey, since when are babies on the table? We had an agreement, no kids. How is this going to work?”
“Da—” I waved my hand, cutting him off from saying that name. Quentin wasn’t my damn dad.
He grunted, but continued, “The warden feels like it’s time, that we should’ve started. Honestly, his plan was for this year.”
“This year!” I shrieked, now washing my hands so I could handle my face and teeth.
“Again, what about our agreement? We both said no kids when we got married. That was one of the reasons—” I was cut off by Quincey’s words coming with groans attached to them.
“I know… I know…I know, but things changed, Josie. What more do you want from me? I said I support you. He agreed to Mama coming back so you could finish strong this season and I said I would only need you when you’re available to kiss ass and make a poor man like me look good. But I’ma need you to be the wife you agreed to be when we got married. Do you remember your vows?”
I did, especially since we said them to each other on every anniversary since.
“Quincey, I promise to be a devoted wife to you, to be at your side, through the good and the bad and whenever you may need me. To honor and carry your name with pride and love. To let you lead while Ihumblysubmit. I trust you with my heart, my body, and my soul. From now until the end.”
“Til the end. This is me leading and you trusting me. I need you, Josie.”
There was a pregnant pause while I washed my face, looking at myself in the mirror long and hard, wondering how my own words were coming back to haunt me.
This was never the life I wanted.
I loved my husband, but lately Quincey had been making it hard for me to remember that, especially when him and his fucking daddy got to play master of how my love flowed between us.
I rinsed my face, then started on my teeth.
I heard the shower start. I looked up to see Quincey using the back of his hand to test the hot water.
I spit out the toothpaste in my mouth so I could speak.
“I get to pick my building and who works for me, Q. The warden nor you will have no say in my baby, my business nor the one I will push out. And if you ever use my words meant for love against me again, I will say fuck all this shit and leave you, Quincey. Oh, and I’m going to the club this weekend.” Besides having Mama Steph back, the only relief I saw was being back with Courtland. Mentally, I was counting down the days.
Quincey chuckled while I went back to brushing. I felt him on my back, so there was no need to wonder how close he had gotten since I put my head back down.
“No you won’t. You can never leave. I love you too much, Josie, to ever let that happen. I’ll book a room for this weekend. Now, hurry down. Mama and your coach will be here soon and I don’t want you practicing on an empty stomach, babe.” He kissed the top of my head, then left the bathroom.
