Page 21 of Save Room for Us

“He wasn’t always like that.” She stared out of the window. “He used to be nice, ambitious, and he was possessive, but in the good way us women find sexy.” She pondered for a moment. “It wasn’t until I started to kind of come into my own and get more successful in work and my life that he began to switch up. He would get mad and say I was purposely emasculating him over the smallest things. Then it went from yelling at me to a slap here and there.” She shifted in her seat a bit, and her body language went from relaxed and playful to tense as fuck.

Noticing, I said, “You scared about that nigga waking up from that coma?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I am because I know he could and will track me down. And he doesn’t give a fuck about the law and this court case, that’s the thing about Cedric; he has nothing to lose if he doesn’t have me.”

“Don’t trip on that nigga waking up. Now you got protection,” I let her know.

I felt her look at me, so I glanced from the road momentarily.

“I appreciate all that you’re doing to help me, but it’s not necessary for you to get in the way of Cedric. When I say that man has nothing to lose, I mean it. This is someone who choked me in front of a police station when I tried to go in and report him.”

Nodding, I said, “I get you, but I wasn’t asking for permission or approval. I was letting you know. If that nigga wakes up and come knocking, it’s gon’ be the last time he knock on any fucking thing.”

I wanted to murk that nigga now, have one of my niggas creep into that hospital and inject some shit into his IV, but Bashar let me know that would put Anastazia in a worse position, causing her charges to graduate to murder instead ofattempted murder. Therefore, I didn’t wanna turn her blessing of not killing him into some way worse shit.

“Hmm, well, how will your funny looking little girlfriend feel about that?”

I laughed, not expecting that shit to be her response.

“Don’t matter, and she not my girl. She the homie. Remember?”

“Let me guess, Asif. You take her out, sleep with her, probably raw?—”

“You a muthafuckin’ lie.” I interjected, making her snicker. “If you think I’m going naked head in a bitch I won’t even kiss in the mouth, you crazy.” I switched lanes as she doubled over in laughter.

“Well anyway, what else? Oh yeah, and you probably allow her to claim you. So, mix sex, buying her meals, and letting her tell people or act like you’re hers, and I’m sorry to say, but you have a girlfriend. You niggas do all that then get confused when she becomes attached.”

“I’m a gentleman, what you expect?” I chuckled as she sucked her teeth. “If a woman is kind enough to let a nigga hit, I can at least buy her a meal.” I glanced her way to see her shaking her head as she watched the road. “Whether it’s a jump off or a good girl, I try to treat women with a certain level of respect. Same time, I’m honest, and I tell Milan, as well as other women, what the deal is, explicitly, so if they choose to run around acting like my fucking missus, then that’s on them.

“I’m a simple nigga. What I say is what I mean; ain’t no underlying shit to it. By saying that, when I pop out with my wife, she can’t say shit.”

“Niggas.” She giggled. “If you wanna keep fucking her, you may want to dial it back on being my protector, because she hates me already.”

“I don’t give a fuck what Milan hates, same way I don’t give a fuck about getting permission to body yo’ funny looking ass baby daddy.”

Anastazia erupted in laughter, making me snicker a bit as I pulled up to my whip.

“See, you do like her because you’re defending me calling her funny looking.” She beamed… beautiful as hell.

“Nah, only woman I’m worried about defending, outside of family, is you.” I brushed my finger under her chin, making her lips part, but no sound came out. “Come on.”

We both hopped out, me holding the door open for her to get in on the driver’s side. Once I shut the door, she rolled the window down.

“What are my hours?”

“You’ll be on call, love.”

“Oh.” She gripped the wheel, turning away from me for a second before regaining eye contact. “That will be kind of hard with a toddler.”

“Work with me, and I’ll work with you, aight?”

“Alright.” She nodded. We exchanged smiles before she quickly turned away from me. “Okay. Bye, Asif.”

“Bye, beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes but was unable to hide her smile or the slight red tint to her cheeks as she pulled off.

Anastazia might not have been in the mood for a new nigga, but she was about to get one.

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