Giving him my first genuine smile, I grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the floor pallet. I knew Chandler wasn’t into rap music much, so I opted to come when slower R&B music was scheduled to play. With an eight-year age difference between us, our tastes were very different, but I figured this was something we could both enjoy.
“Thank you for giving this a chance, Chan.” I shoulder-bumped him as we began to paint. The canvas was already outlined for us, and all we had to do was paint based on the colors matching the numbers. “I was hoping that we could chill tonight and get to know each other a little bit better. If we’re going to be married, the least we can do is attempt to like each other.”
Chandler and I may never love each other, but we could at least be cordial and respectful. I prayed about the situation, and as much as I wanted to be a brat, it was time for me to grow up and be the woman my family knew and needed me to be.
“Who said I don’t like you?” he asked as he sipped his wine. “What kind of cheap—” My scowl stopped his criticism, and he changed his tone, not wanting to upset me. “I mean, damn… this is good.”
“Liar!” We shared a laugh as the host walked around and asked everyone if we were okay. Telling her we were, I continued, “To answer your question, I know you don’t like me, Chan. If you did, you wouldn’t disregard me and talk to me theway you do. I know this isn’t a marriage that neither of us wants, but we can both do our part to make it tolerable.”
Sipping my wine, I swayed to the sounds of Summer Walker. As I listened to her sing about girls needing love, I couldn’t agree more. All I wanted was to be loved and cherished, but I knew I was not going to get that from Chandler. I would settle for us being friends, but he would have to show me more than what he had lately.
“I know I haven’t been the easiest man, and for that, I’m sorry.” He gripped my chin and turned my face to meet his. “Let’s start over, and I promise you… I will be a better man, Mi. Just give me a chance.”
Tracing my bottom lip with his thumb, we stared at each other momentarily before he leaned in and placed a kiss on my lips. It was our first natural kiss, and I often wondered how it would be. Sadly, I felt nothing. Pulling back from me, I stared into his eyes and hoped to see some truth in his words. I wanted to see any inclination that this was what he wanted. Yet, I didn’t see hope or admiration. I saw lies and deceit. Something told me at that moment that no matter what he said, it would never be anything more between us than business.
“Finally!” He smirked, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. “You’re just as sweet as I thought you were.”
Blushing slightly, I went back to painting. The picture of the beautiful bouquet was coming to life before me. As I continued to sip my wine, I noticed Chandler and the lady next to us share peeks at each other. Her snickering began to annoy me, and I wanted nothing more than to put my hands on both of them. Once she reached over and placed her hand on his knee, I’d had enough. Taking my dirty paint water, I splashed it on both of them.
“Ahh!” she shrieked, hopping up from the floor, causing the room to go silent. Chandler, shocked, said nothing as he looked from me to his drenched face.
“Are you fucking crazy?” he finally spoke through a clenched jaw.
“I am.” I nodded as I peered up at her and sipped my wine. “For you to sit here and flirt with him when you see me here is nuts. Paint stains will come out of that ugly-ass sweater a lot easier than blood will. Be careful, hoe.”
Winking at her, I down the rest of my wine and stood from the pallet. By now, the music had been lowered, and we had the attention of everyone in attendance.
A now fuming Chandler glared up at me, and I could see the murder in his eyes. “Noemi, have you lost your fuckin’ mind?” He sneered as he stood to his full height. Water dripped from his face, and his Versace shirt was ruined. “How dare you embarrass me?”
“So you flirting with Aunt Ella is cool… since it was embarrassing me, it was okay?” I chuckled humorlessly as I gathered my things. “You know what, Chandler? I’m about sick of you and this entire engagement. You’re a fuckin’ joke and a sad excuse for a man. Let one of your other hoes take you home. Bye, nigga!”
Placing my purse on my shoulder, I fought the tears as I held my head high. I could hear him calling my name behind me, but I refused to give him another minute of my time. I was beyond humiliated, and I needed to get away from him. This vacation couldn’t come fast enough. I needed time away from my reality before I did something bizarre. I was hoping for clarity and praying for my sanity. I needed the time to check my emotions because I was at the point where I’d rather be stripped of everything I had than spend the rest of my life with Chandler Gourneau.
“Damn,Uno! Ever since you got your little mayor job, wife, and kid… you never have time for us anymore.” Wild started with our oldest brother as soon as he sat at the table. “Speaking of AJ, Uncle Wild is coming to get him soon. The last time I watched the baby at the store, I had all types of bitches hitting on me.”
Today was one of the rare ones where we all had a little free time in our schedules and decided to link up for food and drinks.We could have easily kicked it at Club Honey but decided to chill at this hood burger spot instead. We’d come in right before the evening crowd, and I was glad. Although I wasn’t worried about anyone in this city fucking with us, crowded spots that didn’t have our security in attendance always kept me on alert. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy my food had this shit been packed.
“Man don’t be using my nephew to mac on those skeezers,” I said causing us all to chuckle.
The waitress came over and placed our orders on the table. Her eyes lingered between each of us before they landed on me. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled on it before switching away.
“Gone and get her number so we can get some free shit, bro.” Wild elbowed me and smirked before giving his attention back to Uno. “Like I was saying… I need my boy to come through so he can help me find him an auntie.”
Aiden Josiah, or AJ, was the light of our family. When Harley told us she wanted him to have Wild and I’s initials, you couldn’t tell us shit. Between all of our parents, plus us, we were always fighting to spend time with his little ass. Now that he was nearing the age of one, he was the boss of us all.
“Harley is going to kill you.” Uno waved him off and chuckled as he got comfortable in his seat across from us. “What’s the word, though? Y’all boys all right?”
“I’m still fuckin’ these hoes and getting this money.” Wild wiggled his brows as he sipped his beer. “Since you’re no longer on the market and your boy here acts like a monk, there’s plenty for me to choose from.”
“Man… I swear you care nothing about your health.” Uno chuckled as he sipped his own drink. Dragging his eyes to me, they lingered before he continued, “How’s business? We haven’tspoken much since your impromptu trip to Florida. You want to tell us what that was about?”
Glancing between my brothers, I said nothing as I continued to eat my fries. I’ve never been one to speak on my personal life, but this was my family, and I trusted them. Plus, these past few days, I’ve been in my head about a lot of shit, and I needed help on sorting it out.
“Mimi was going through some shit, and she needed me to come through. I kicked it with her for a few days to help her get her mind right.”
“Meaning you went to Florida and fucked that girl?” Wild raised his brow at me as he bit into his burger. “Didn’t Dre say she’s engaged?”
She is engaged, but she didn’t love that nigga. I couldn’t explain the pull I have to Noemi, but I felt the need to fix whatever wrong needed to be right when it came to her. Her being engaged meant nothing to me when she didn’t want any dealings with the man. However, I didn’t say any of this to my brothers.
