“Alright, we got an hour. You’re driving.”
“Are you serious?”
Lando kept asking the same question over and over again after I told him about Lourdè and me. We ended up swinging by Spirits and just getting a bottle and coming back to my house. This topic of information was too sensitive for a public setting.
“Yup. For the better of four months now, ya know give or take a few days. When we first started fucking, I knew then that I’d jumped into some shit I wouldn’t be able to leave. Shit. if I’m being honest, I knew the day I caught her ass off that fucking stage. The second my arms had Lou in them, I didn’t want to let go, but I did. Then fate pushed again, and instead of fighting it, I fell.” I chuckled, thinking about that day that now felt like a distant memory in the story of us.
“But she’s already somebody else’s. She’s married.”
I waved him off, taking a sip of my Cognac.
“A minor problem in a temporary situation.”
“Pfft… do you really believe Johnni is going to leave her husband? They might be open… Well, shit, closed now, but let’s be fucking serious. You said she’s been with him all her life. Those types of people have fun and play around when they can, but they never leave, Tunk. Don’t get caught up falling for a woman whose comfortable lifestyle will have you behind bars, buried six feet under, or worse, stuck in a triangle of playing with your feelings.”
I listened, really trying to see Johnni in the light Lando was painting her, but it was hard.
I shook my head.
He pulled out his phone, typing until he presented a picture of Quincey and Johnni together, all smiles. They actually looked happy.
“What the fuck that mean?”
“This is an image of a happily married couple who likes to spice things up in their marriage by opening the door sometimes.”
“Pictures say a thousand ass words, and trust, none of theirs says happy or in love. I can’t say too much other than they ain’t the typical couple. You don’t see what I see when I’m around them. He’s not a good man to her nor for her. This nigga treats her like a possession or property. She jokes that she’s a trophy but that’s exactly what he uses her as. A shiny award to show off to his dog ass friends to help him look better,” I said, finishing the last of my drink to wipe the nasty taste from my mouth that talking about his bitch ass left behind.
He huffed, locking his phone.
“Fool, all that shit could be an act on her part. She knows you’re watching. C’mon, Tunk, you’re trained to see through bullshit. You letting pussy cloud your mind right now when it comes to this situation.”
“Naw, it ain’t on her, it’s him. I’m telling you, that muthafucka ain’t it. These conversations happen when she’s not around.”
He blew out a breath.
“I don’t know, man.”
“Can you just support me? Damn, I need my brother.”
“I’ma rock with you no matter what, you know that. But this? C’mon nigga. I’m a married man who can’t afford to side with you having an affair with a married woman. So if Liv ever asks, I told yo' ass hell the fuck no. But as your brother, if you’re for real about taking her, you gotta step up your game by showing her that your grass got flowers and shit in your yard.”
I laughed. “Fool, I do got flowers and shit. But trust, I’ve gotten creative. We’ve been at this for a long time.”
“Well shit, I guess, professional side nigga,” Lando said, causing me to burst into laughter while I snatched the bottle from him.
A couple days later,I planned another date for us to spend time together outside of the house. I was parked outside early, calling her phone.
“Good morning, baby, come outside. We got plans.”
“Courtland, I have prac?—
“Nope, not today. It’s just me and you. We need a day before this pageant next week and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Two minutes later, she came bouncing out of the house in a yellow dress, giving me golden sunflower views as the sun hit her skin, glistening.
“Good morning, Queen Lou.” I grabbed her hand, leading her to the back seat when she shook her head. I smirked as I cleared my throat, opening the front door.
“Good morning, Chief. Are you going to tell me where we’re going today?”
