Amir took the keys, and I watched him walk to the door and unlock it. As soon as I saw the door close behind him, I pulled out Jada’s phone and put in the passcode.
The phone unlocked, and I went straight to Messenger and called that nigga back.
I stared at the screen as it rang a few times, and then I saw the number start showing, and before that nigga could speak, I did.
“You thought you were up one because you got my baby mama to give you MY woman’s lo? All you did was sign that girl’s death certificate. Go ahead and tell your niggas to put your picture on a shirt because I am coming for you, Gio.”
The nigga never spoke, but I heard him breath then the line went dead.
That nigga was a bum, a clown , a nigga that wasn’t worth living, and I was finna dog walk his ass. I was more than ready.
Chapter 11
Truth
Iwas tired, and I didn’t want to fake it with Gio anymore. I wanted to go back home. I missed my girls, my man, Amir. And I was tired of crying in silence.
One day, Gio left me in the house all day. I tried every door and window to get out. Everything was locked from the outside. I decided not to cry, and to be honest, I was tired of doing that. I took advantage of the time that I had alone, and it was kind of nice, but it wasn’t home. It wasn’t my normal. It didn’t feel like the treat it was supposed to be, but that made me decide to be honest with Gio when he did come in.
For most of the day I was lost in my thoughts with the TV playing in the background, trying to figure out what was gonna be the best way to tell him, what was gonna be the softest.
I made a script and repeated it over and over again, but for some reason, I felt like that shit was gonna send him over the edge.
I was low-key scared of Gio a lil’ bit, and I had never been scared of that nigga before, but he wasn’t the same man I was with for years. He is the hurt version of himself who says he is good when he really is not.
I walked into the kitchen for a lil’ break and some water, looked in the fridge, and realized that nigga had the fridge and freezer stocked up, and I smiled to myself.
I knew what I was gonna do.
I pulled out all the food I needed.
Steak, lobster, potatoes to make homemade mashed potatoes, butter, and some broccoli. I looked around for the seasoning cabinet, and once I found it, I pulled out all that I needed, and I got to cooking.
I took my time getting the food together. In my head, I was calling it my farewell dinner.
After everything was done, I went upstairs and got changed into one of the dresses he bought me, and did my makeup and my hair. I finished just in time for him to walk through the door.
“Islah?” Gio yelled out for me.
I smiled in the mirror and took a deep breath.
“You can do this. This ends today,” I said to myself.
I walked outta the bathroom and out of the room and down the steps. He was standing at the bottom of the steps, licking his lips and smiling at me.
“Damn, baby girl! You look good,” he said as I reached the bottom of the steps.
“Thank you, Hun. I cooked dinner. I just have to drop the lobster; come sit down.”
Gio followed me to the kitchen and took a seat at the island while I turned the stove on.
“So, how was your day?” I asked.
“It was good, made some money, seen some people I haven’t linked with in a minute.”
I nodded. “That’s good. I am proud of you.”
He smiled at me like a child smiling at his mom when she praised him. I could tell I was breaking him down.
