“Thank you, babe.” I welcomed his hand at the back of my hand, completely forgetting that I still hadn’t switched back to my wedding bands from him until he said something. Courtland’s ring had been my new favorite piece that I never took off.
“Hmm.. this is new. Did we upgrade your ring without me knowing?” He frowned, examining it further. I tensed as I looked over my shoulder at Courtland who was behind me. Even though Judge and Jury were both in attendance tonight, on top of the additional security Quincey had here, he refused to not be by my side.
“Oh! Um…yeah, I saw it the other day when I went shopping and couldn’t resist. Do you like it?”
Johnni, now I know you've lost it.Did you just ask your husband if he liked your engagement ring from your boyfriend?
Or is it fiancé?
Yeah, that might have been a lot.
Quincey snickered lowly. “Yeah, real nice. That must’ve been the day you went missing for hours and I couldn’t see you on the map. Hmph…it’s funny. You’ve been doing that increasingly, Josie. I hope it’s just so you can spend my gotdamn money like it’s yours and not anything else.” He spoke through his tight smile as he shifted us so he could wrap his arm around me.
“I told you my phone died, Q. And what else would I be doing? It’s not like I’m ever alone these days. You can always call your guard dog if you wanted to keep tabs. I’m sure you pay him well to tell you my every move.” I went to step away when he grabbed the back of my arm, keeping me next to him.
“Ay yo, let her go?” Courtland said all too quickly, which had Quincey flashing a comical expression that said nothing was funny. He loosened his hold but kept me close.
“I hired the muthafucka, yet he thinks he works for you. That’s cute. Don’t fucking play with me, Josie. I can smell some bullshit going on with you and I don’t give a fuck for how long, but you had your extra fun. End the shit before I start to pay attention for real and I would hate for whoever it is to come up missing or something. Your need to deliberately disobey me is not about to cost me my gotdamn election.” Quincey’s voice went up a few octaves as his tone became stern.
“Can we not do this right now? People are staring, Q,” I pleaded, glancing around the room to see a couple eyes on us. He cleared his throat, turning me so my back was to them and facing him. His grin was now wide with pure fury in his cold dark eyes.
“Then I suggest you smile pretty for the cameras, honey, and do your fucking job as mywife. You’ve been forgetting your reason for being here. It’s not for the name, but to be what I need when I fucking need you.” He leaned down, kissing me gently on my forehead. This time when he shifted us so the room could see me, I saw Courtland’s tightly closed fists and squinty eyes that were as menacing as Quincey’s just were. He stepped forward and I quickly pushed my hand out, stopping him.
I smiled as the photographer working the party called out to us.
“Mr. And Mrs. Wilson, how about a shot of the happy couple?” I put on my best face as the flashes began. And as soon as they stopped, I stepped away.
“Go freshen up and come back ready to work the fucking room. Oh and take that gotdamn ring off and put your wedding bands back where the hell they belong. Won’t another man ever take that spot.”
At this point I knew my marriage was over, but never did I think the day would come when I would lose my best friend too. This election was turning Quincey into someone I no longer recognized or wanted to be around.
I wasn’t perfect, again the ring on my ring finger and baby in my stomach reminded me of the part I played in our decaying marriage, but my love for Quincey had never been in danger of disappearing until now.
Courtland was hot on my ass.
“Lou, how am I supposed to protect you when you won’t let me be your man and handle that bitch ass nigga?” he asked as soon as we made it to the ladies room. He came inside with me, locking the door to keep everyone out.
“Because you can’t handle him, Courtland, especially not here. Can you be realistic right now? Yeah, security might work for you, but those men are the least of our problems. Quentin won’t hesitate to have you taken away from me, or worse, make you suffer.”
“Baby, the only one who’s gon’ be suffering is that muthafucka if he ever calls himself holding you the way he did out there. I keep telling you I don’t give a fuck about that nigga nor his bitch ass daddy. Behind mine, my sanity is off. I’ll act a fool in here. You more concerned with putting on a fake ass smile to see he’s only using you.”
“Courtland, that’s not fair. I don’t want to fight you too.”
He lifted me onto the sink, stepping between my legs.
“Lou, we’re not fighting, baby. I’m just trying to get you to see the truth that’s so clouded with lies. Q don’t give a damn about you beyond what you can do for his image. He doesn’t care that he hurt you over and over again, only how them niggas are praising him. I keep telling you. I live to serve you, to protect you, to love you. That’s how any man stepping behind you should be. And it’s clear that nigga is sucking his own dick.”
His voice was strong as he got closer to my face, making my heart pound wildly as I reached for his suit jacket, tugging him toward my lips.
I pecked them lightly as a round of knocks sounded from the other side of the door. Of course he ignored them but I knew we had to exit the bathroom.
“Then as my man, take me home…with you. I need you to hold me, Chief.” After Quincey’s power move tonight, I no longer had the energy to play pretend. All I wanted to do was go lay up and eat cake.
There was a pregnant pause before he stepped back, grabbing me around my waist to pull me down.
“Okay, Queen Lou.”
That was all he said as he led me out of the bathroom where I noticed the same lady from the last fundraiser standing and waiting. I still didn’t know her name but of course she knew mine.
