Page 16 of Embrace

“She can have your toxic ass. Lying ass, cheating ass, bitch ass nigga!” Jakayla shouted at our retreating bodies.

“I’ll turn around and beat her ass right now,” I announced.

“She’s not worth it. My wife doesn’t need to stoop down to the low level of these miserable, bitter bitches.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t say another word. I didn’t keep up with all the women Blaze had prior to our wedding. He’d never been one to settle down for long, and I didn’t fault him for it. The women he attracted weren’t worth building a foundation with. Similarly to the men I’d been with previously. Even still, the situation had me livid.

When we got to Blaze’s black Camaro, he opened the door for me and waited until I was situated to close it. When he got to his side of the car, he placed our plethora of bags into the back seat before he climbed in. The engine roared, but we didn’t move.

“Are you okay?” he asked. He placed his hand on my thigh and rubbed the skin gently.

The feel of his hand on me sent shivers down my spine, but the anger was too intense to subside completely. My eyes rolled with annoyance. “Do I look okay?”

“Whoa. Don’t aim your anger at me. I didn’t do anything wrong.” He halted his caresses as he lifted his hands in surrender. His innocent and taken aback look almost had me laugh.

A sigh slid from my lips as I tried to calm myself down. “You’re right. It’s not your fault. You had no idea the bitch would be in the store. However, I don’t want to deal with disgruntled exes our whole marriage.”

“I ain’t expect this to happen, and I don’t think it will happen again. I hardly see women I’ve fucked or dated in the past after a breakup. Chop this up to be a one off.”

“It better be. The next time, I might not spare a ho,” I warned.

He licked his lips. “I’m not even gon’ hold you, Su. Yo’ gangsta side kind of turning me on.”

I chortled. “Get the hell out of here.”

“I’m not me when I’m hungry.”

“Let’s get you something to eat immediately before you turn into a rabid dog.”

He barked which made me cackle like a hyena. Blaze always knew how to cheer me up. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed into the direction of Cheddars. For a moment, we drove in a comfortable silence with only sound of the radio shuffling through his rap songs.

“Thanks for having my back,” I blurted.

“Su, you were my best friend before you were my wife. Nobody is going to disrespect you in my presence. I’m gon’ always stick up for you and defend you when I can.”

“I appreciate you, B.”

He stretched his lips into a kind smile before he rested his right hand on my thigh and rubbed his fingers on the exposed skin. I relaxed in the seat and welcomed the warmth of his touch. What did the future have in store for us?

FRUSTRATIONS

“What’s up, Boss?” Rontre, one of my head mechanics, answered the phone.

I owned my own auto shop where we did everything from auto body work to oil changes and state inspections. I’d gone to college to get a degree in business to learn how to run my own company while I also learned the art of being a true mechanic.

My love for cars developed when I was a young boy. My grandpa and dad would have me out working on the old pickup truck with them on Saturday mornings. We’d even make a day to go out to the wrecking yard and collect parts. I always thought it was fascinating to get parts from broken cars to put into our truck.

Within six years, I’d gotten Snow’s Car Center up and running. Since the grand opening, I’d seen a steady income. I had folks all over the city coming to get work done by the best hands for the job. Under me were six other mechanics who specialized in different things. Rontre could change oil in under ten minutes and a tire in under five. He was the stand in manager while I was gone.

“Yo, Ron. I got married yesterday, so?—”

“What!” Ron shouted. If I wasn’t trying to get through the call quickly, I would have laughed at his genuine shock.

“Nigga, you heard me.”

“Say it ain’t so, Boss! You let one of these Houston Hoodrats take you out the game?”

I shook my head at his choice of words. “No, nigga. I didn’t marry aHouston Hoodrat.I married my best friend.”

---