“No. You were the only one who could make that difference. But why do you think I can?” she demanded.
“Miss Tegan, anyone can give me a job, but you’re the one I disrespected, humiliated, and terrorized. If you can see me differently, then anyone can, and it will make me feel better about myself . . . seeing myself through your eyes in a positive light.”
“First, you need to learn to see yourself differently. Once you see yourself as a positive, peaceful person, deserving of the best of everything, then you will put that energy back into the atmosphere and attract it back. You have to be the person you want others to see you as.”
“I know, Miss Tegan, but I also know that getting you to see me differently is half the battle.”
She sighed and nodded. I glanced up from my phone as they sat in silence for a while. They appeared to be in a stare-off, and neither one of them were backing down.
Just when I started to put my phone away, Baby sighed. “Okay, I’ll give you a chance.”
“Thank you, Miss Tegan. I promise that you won’t regret it. I’ll work my as—butt off to prove to you that I’m worth the risk.”
“You’d better,” she replied, standing. “Because if you mess this up, the last thing you’ll have to worry about is my boyfriend over there. I’ll be ready for you the next time,” she warned with a serious expression.
He grinned broadly at her, extended his hand, and then became surprised when she grabbed him and hugged him.
I listened as they set up times for him to come and work with her, before he turned to face me. I stood. “A’ight, man. I’ma hold you to everything you promised her,” I expressed to Hollis.
“I know, H-Town. I don’t take that lightly.”
“A’ight. Get on over there to the shop. JC is waiting for you.”
“Thanks again, Miss Tegan, H-Town.”
We both nodded and watched him run across the street.
“Thank you, Baby. He really is a good kid,” I declared.
“I can tell. He’s just got some things to work through.” She paused, still staring out the window. When she inhaled, I knew something important was coming. She wagged her finger and declared, “But I’m not lying. If he fucks up, I’m fucking him up.”
“Ohhh, shit! My sweet, sugar girl just came hard as hell,” I replied, cupping my hand against my mouth and chuckling.
When she crossed her arms over her chest and turned her lips down, I knew she was serious.
“Seriously, Baby, I got you, and I won’t let him let you down. I’ll always have your back.”
I pulled her into my arms again, and I kissed her sweetly and slowly.
“I love you, girl. You’re definitely a keeper.” My heart swelled at what she’d just done for someone she didn’t have to give a second chance.
“I know,” she replied. She smiled up at me sweetly before we kissed again.
“I’ma make it up to you tonight after work.”
“I’ll hold you to it, H-Town,” she teased.
I laughed, kissed her again, swatted her ass, and then left to head across the street to get my day started. I felt like the sun was shining down on me. Everything was right in my world, and I couldn’t be more thankful for my community.
It meant the world to me for Hollis to have this shot, but it meant even more for my girl to feel safe and protected.
18
TEGAN
FORGIVENESS – ONE MONTH LATER (MID-MAY)
Life had been good for Harlem and me. We spent a lot of time together whenever we weren’t working, and we did our best to align our schedules without making it unfair for our employees. More often than not, Harlem scheduled his clients around my schedule so that I didn’t have my employees working all the time or the worst shifts.
