Page 62 of About the Green

Disgusting.

Pervert.

She’s not just a girl as she’s said. She’s not oblivious to how she shows up in the world. As a woman who danced for a living, reveres women in the field and dresses in a way that begs for attention… Begs to be touched. If not voluntarily, then to be paid to touch—then why would she then be upset for them to fall for the trap she laid?

I’m missing something. I know I am.

My thought to call Geno and get his opinion cuts like a knife when I remember exactly why I can’t. He’s gone. Long gone and I don’t really know who I could talk to about this more. Redd is sick of my baseless accusations and is overall, not a man to discuss your personal life with. He doesn’t respect boundaries.

This isn’t just about the harm that Nina could cause the family, it’s about the harm she’s causing herself in turn.

It is personal.

More than.

I’m in my feelings, drinking alone, thinking about how I can save her from herself. That wasn’t in my job description. It’s an obsession I’ve been fanning on my own. A raging fire that I’m trying to see through and I can’t.

Why won’t she pick up the phone?

Tossing the empty beer bottle in the can, I return back to my place and keep dragging every detail under the microscope.

If she’s not going to help me get there, I’ve got to get there on my own and then grab her to join me.

Why be upset that the fish took the bait?

Why kill the fish if you don’t wan’t it?

Couldn’t you just throw it back?

My head swims with the fish analogy and I’m no closer to what I’m looking for.

I try texting her once more, hoping these words will reach her wherever she is. Hopefully reach her before she strikes again.

Vert: I’m not givin up on you. Come see me when you need this.

If that’s not enough to get her to answer, I’m gonna grab her and show her exactly how dedicated I am to getting to the bottom of this.

Rolling a blunt and stepping out side to smoke it, I’m close to calling her again. My time is running out here and I want answers before I’m back home.

More mellow than I’ve been all day, I come up when there’s a knock at my door. My package must be here.

Turning the lock and opening the door, my package is there. But there’s someone holding it for me.

Chapter 24

I thought I’d be back to myself by now, but I’m not.

Puffiness and swelling in my face is still evident no matter the amount of ice rolling I’ve managed to withstand.

Gonna just have to ride this one out.

The only place I can think to go outside of the club is Liezel’s. She doesn’t have to dance or take clients at the club as often now that she’s running it but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s at home anymore. It’s lucky that she was here.

“So how is everything going?” She asks, clearly seeing the state of me in her doorway. I don’t answer her, so she keeps talking when I flop onto her couch. “Well, I just made a decision to marry a man. Can you believe it?”

I look at the golden woman in front of me. Who even on her off day, looks like you should be paying her just to talk to you. “No, I can't. Feels a lot like giving up.”

After locking the door she walks over to where I’m laid out. She takes my hand, her eyes softening as she looks at me. “You know, in my mind I still think that you're only sixteen years old, but it's been a while since you've been sixteen.”