“What are you doing? Are you trying to get me killed? He has cameras everywhere!” He cocked his head to the side and stared at me. “If Damien had you come here to test me, then he really is a crazy fuck!”
“Test you?”
“Yes! Having you come on to me so he can have a reason…” My voice trailed off as I shook my head. I was talking too much.
“Reason to what?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest.
“Nothing. Just don't do that, okay? It’s highly inappropriate.”
“You sure?”
“Truce… Just have a good night.”
I pressed the button for the elevator, and the doors opened. I stepped on, pressing the number to the second floor. As the doors began closing, Truce placed his hand between the doors to stop them.
“You were crying and looked like you needed comforting. I should have asked, so for that, I am sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Yeah, well… be more mindful next time.”
“You have my word. And, Jela?”
“What?” I answered with more attitude than intended.
He stared at me for a moment before he shook his head. “Nothing. Sleep well.”
He removed his hand and allowed the doors to close.
My heart was beating hard in my chest. Truce being here wasn't going to work. He had to go, or that escape plan was going to happen a lot sooner than I thought.
The Next Morning
I got into defense mode as Dame tried to drive hard to the basket. He went in for a layup, but I blocked it, grabbed the ball, and dunked it, earning me the win.
“I told you, you can’t fuck with me!” I chuckled, palming his head.
He knocked my hand away as I laughed. “Whatever, nigga. That was luck.”
We were currently in his backyard on the full-court basketball enclosure, playing a friendly game of twenty-one. He was breathing like a wild bull, I’m sure, from not working out enough and smoking. I made it my mission to work out everymorning to stay in shape. I was damn near forty years old, so I knew as I aged, so would my body.
During my exploration last night, I discovered the gym and court. When I heard the music coming from the other end of the basement, I walked down the hall and noticed Jela inside the dance studio. I wasn’t trying to be a creep, but her movements pinned me in place as I watched her body contort as if she had no bones. I could tell she was in her element because she never noticed me standing there.
The way her ass bounced so effortlessly had me imagining her bouncing them on my face. I knew what I was feeling for her was wrong on so many levels, but I couldn’t help but want to know her story and fuck the sadness out of her heart. When she beefed on me last night for touching her, I knew I had to take my ass to bed.
I had a conference call this morning around seven about getting shit together at the company after the holidays, and I spotted Dame walking through the doors looking well-rested and changed. I wrapped up the call, then made his ass change and come shoot some ball with me before Jela could see him.
“I think I’m going to go ahead and find me an apartment,” I told him as we sat on the bench.
“Why? What happened?” he asked.
“Nothing, nigga. I just feel out of place here. Like I’m taking up space.”
It wasn’t the whole truth, but there was no way I could stay here with Jela. She was doing shit to me, and I didn’t even know her for real. I didn’t want to hurt my brother, so I needed space from her, or this shit was going to get messy.
“Bro, I’m sorry about what I did to you the last time you were here. I feel like you took that job in Detroit to get away from me for fucking Melody. I know you said you forgave me, but I don’t believe you. I wanted you to stay so we could hash shit out.”
Why the fuck did he have to bring that shit up?
Yeah, I was fucked up behind my brother fucking my girl, but the truth was, Melody just wasn’t the one for me. She had the potential to be more, but we weren’t together for that long for her to break my heart.
