Page 134 of Roulette: The Madam

“She’s a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul.” I sighed. “She’s also a lost woman with a lost soul.”

“You’re right. But, I have faith she will find her way. I pray for her healing every day. Several times a day. Allah will dissolve her pain and restore her completely.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

We bathed in silence for seconds on end. Just when I prepared to end the call, again, his voice appeared.

“I miss you, Princess.”

The truth was, I missed him too. Deeply. Madly. Confusingly. I wanted the space his absence provided, but simultaneously I wanted the comfort his presence provided.

“I would’ve much rather heard those words from your mouth the first time I answered the phone.”

“I know,” he responded, lowly.

Four seconds passed before I could get the words out of my mouth.

“I miss you, too.”

“Do you mean that shit or you’re just prolonging this conversation?”

“I wanted to hang up twice already. I’m not prolonging this conversation. You are.”

“I am,” he admitted. “Did you get your roses?”

“Yes. I did. They’re beautiful. The other ones are still alive.”

“That’s okay. I wanted to double up while I was gone, just in case they died.”

“Admittedly, I like when they die. There’s something so beautiful about a rose’s death. I haven’t figured out why, but–”

“You’ll have a lifetime to do so. Because they won’t ever stop coming, and they won’t ever stop dying.”

“You’re right.”

He’d made his point clear. He wasn’t planning to let me go any time soon. In fact, he wanted to do life with me. Yet, the words never came from his mouth.

“Stay on the phone with me until you’re home.” Israel yawned.

“You’re tired.”

“Not too tired to make sure you make it home safely since you’ve run off my fucking back up.”

“He’s a snitch.”

“He’s doing his job, Princess. That doesn’t make him a snitch.”

“In my book it does. Make it clear to him that I’m not the job. You are.”

“How is she?” He changed the subject, uninterested in the direction it was headed.

“She’s fine. Happier. Better. Just jolly all around.”

“That’s my girl.”

Israel’s love for Malaya was apparent. He loved her loudly and she was a reflection of that.

“She has a new wardrobe, new skin routine, and a set of temporary lashes on those pretty eyes of hers. She scored majorly in the confidence category today.”

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