Page 106 of Until the Ink Dries

“Ugh, I really have to pee for your information, Mr. Davis.”

I laughed as I swept the room.

“Mmm hmm, if you say so. I’ll have the door unlocked by the time you get here. I can’t have my woman shitting on herself.”

She groaned and then laughed. “You get on my nerves real bad.” she told me in between her giggles.

“I doubt it. You told me you loved me and now I don’t hear nothing else.” I joked.

“Bye, Mr. Davis. I’ll see you when I get there and then we can discuss this selective hearing you’ve got.”

I shook my head. “See you when you get here. Drive safe.”

“Always do,” she responded before ending the call.

I walked to the front of the shop and unlocked the door. I highly doubted that anyone would stop by this late. Not to mention, we used up about that whole ten minutes she asked for on the phone. I walked back to the supply closet to swap out the broom for the mop.

The bell chimed over the door, letting me know Willow had gotten here. The thought of her had me smiling, and I hadn’t even seen her yet.

“Damn, you made good time,” I called out, still inside the supply closet.

I walked out and made my way to the front. I froze because I couldn’t believe my fucking luck. I slowly walked behind the counter.

Tierra stood still in front of the door. Hair tangled. Eyes glassy. Something in her hand—something metal, but not clear. Could’ve been a blade. Could’ve been nothing. Her mouth twitched like she was trying to hold a thought still long enough to speak it.

I didn’t reach for the gun in my waistband. Not yet.

“I thought we were gonna figure it out,” she said softly. “You said that to me. That night. In our bed.”

My pulse kicked. I eased a step back toward the silent alarm under the counter. “Tierra, that wasn’t?—”

“You said it.” Her voice sharpened. “You looked me in my face and said it wasn’t over. But then you threw me away for her. You think I don’t see you playing house like I never existed?”

I craned my head to the side, trying to see the same woman I once was fond of. But the woman who stood before me today was a version of her that I never thought I would see. This woman had lost her damn mind.

“Tierra, be real. Us being a family was never going to happen if you didn’t want Charlie. You know that.”

Her eyes began to twitch, and her shoulders lifted and lowered dramatically.

“You don’t know what you’re saying! I love Charlie!” she yelled.

I kept my mouth closed, not wanting to anger her a second longer. I just needed to keep her emotions down until the police got here. I also knew I needed to keep her talking.

“What’s Charlie’s full name?” I asked.

Tierra finally met my eyes, hers wild and looking around the room like the answer was going to pop out at her. Like I had it written somewhere in here to give her some kind of clue. But I didn’t.

“Tell me, Tierra. You love her. Tell me when she was born? What’s her favorite color? What does she do when she is sad? What’s one thing she doesn’t play about?” I asked.

I knew she couldn’t answer a single question. She lost herself in her fit to have me. I wasn’t and would never be on the table for her.

She gripped her hair and pulled as if it would give her all the answers. She screamed and began pacing.

“Why do I need to know those things to love her! I gave birth to her! She is mine and so were you, until that stupid bitch came around.”

“Watch yo’ muthafuckin’ mouth, Tierra. You lost it all long before Willow came around. Be real with yourself, you lost it to your selfishness, your drugs of choice, and liquor. You don’t get to blame anyone else besides your damn self.”

She shook her head while gripping both sides with her hands. I knew she didn’t want to hear the truth but too damn bad.

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