Page 6 of A Toxic Redemption

For the past twenty years, he's been a mechanical engineer at a manufacturing plant back in Brooksdale, and he's been thinking about retiring soon. At only forty-five, he said he's ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor, and I'm all for it.

"Sasha and I are going out of town this weekend. It's nothing too extravagant."

"You know it's okay to love her openly, right?" I reassured him as I pulled up to my apartment complex and parked in my designated spot. Although it's been three years since I moved here, I still love this place. "It's okay to want to be more than her sneaky link."

"I don't know what that is, baby, but I assure you it's not sneaking when you're grown." I nodded and agreed. "How was work today? Sales good?"

"Yes," I lied. "Everything is fine, daddy. Business is booming as always."

Business was good, but not enough to keep me afloat. I was barely making enough to cover the suite rent, but I wouldn't bother him with that. I'm going to figure it out and hopefully sooner than later. The last thing I wanted to do was fail or have my father worry.

"That's good to hear, baby. Listen, let me close down here so I can leave. Come visit me soon, or I'm coming to see you. Got me?"

"Yes, father." I giggled.

We spoke for a few more minutes before we exchanged 'I love yous' and disconnected the call. Making sure I had all of my belongings, I exited the car and made my way toward my unit.

"I thought I left you in the lot of my job, and why did you follow me here?" Monty came up behind me as I unlocked my door. "I told you I hate pop-ups. Plus, I literally just told you what it was with me and you."

"I know." He stuffed his hands in his joggers and peered down at me. "Since dick is all you want from a nigga, surely you won't mind if I make you cum after a long day."

With a smirk, I unlocked my door, peered over my shoulder, and allowed him in. A nut or two doesn't sound too bad. Once I'm done with him, I will send him on his way. Maybe this time will be the last. Monty can't seem to keep his feelings out of the equation. The last thing I need is yet another man crashing out behind this pussy.

"Lori, I don't care about any of that. I told Monty what it was when he started dealing with me. Him catching feelings is more of his problem than mine," I expressed as I rolled my eyes.

Here, we are supposed to be vibing at her favorite Mexican restaurant, yet I'm sitting in this booth trying to explain to my best friend why I don't want to date anyone. If I knew this lunch date would turn into a lecture, I would have stayed my ass at home.

"Friend, I just don't understand the problem." She paused her rant when the server placed a skillet of fajitas in front of her. This girl ate Mexican so damn much that it was ridiculous, but Iwas right here taking it down with her. "That man likes you, and he's a good look for you."

"He's a good man, Savannah. a real good man," I mimicked one of my favorite movies to her displeasure, but I didn't give a damn. "Monty will make some woman very happy, but it won't be me. He came over the other night, and before he dropped the draws, he was whining and complaining about us being together."

I frowned in disgust because he pissed me off that night he followed me home from work. My pussy wouldn't even get wet because of all the complaining. I sent him on his way without getting a nut, and that was the last time I talked to him.

"When and if I decide to be with someone, it will be because it's what I want to do and not because of how others feel. Damn, if you feel like the nigga is all that, you be with him."

The conversation was low-key pissing me off, and I was seconds away from turning up on her ass. If I were to be with this man and dog the fuck out of him, I would end up being the bad guy. Shit, maybe that's what it will take for her to leave me alone.

It's not that I don't want to be in a relationship. It's just that I don't want to deal with the heartbreak and lies that come with it. You give your all to a man just for him to cheat on you and have you looking stupid every time you turn around doesn't sound too appealing to me. Those reasons alone will have me doing fifteen to life, and I'm way too cute to go to prison.

"Bitch, I cannot wait until the man of your dreams comes along and sweep you off your dusty ass feet," she huffed as she sipped her margarita. "Anyway, do you want to go out tonight? I want to go pull up on Bino. I gotta keep that nigga on his toes."

I chuckled as I listened to her talk about dating Khalil's cousin. I'm not sure if you would call it dating because all they do is fuck and argue. That's another reason I don't want to be in a relationship. All the drama and unnecessary shit is a turnofffor me. Seeing what love and the hurt from it can do through my father's eyes let me know it was nothing I wanted in my life.

He would deny it until he was blue in the face, but I know part of the reason my father was closed off when it came to relationships was because of the things he went through with my egg donor. How was it possible to hate a lady I never even met? The way she had my father fucked up was something I would definitely swing on her about if I ever met her.

"Did you hear me?" Lori snapped me from my thoughts. I turned and faced her and was met with an angry glare. "Bitch, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry." I took a bite of my steak quesadilla. "I was thinking about how I should have stayed my ass at home instead of coming here." I covered my mouth and giggled at the disdain on her chubby face. "I'm kidding, friend. If you want to go and pull up on Bino, we can. Just know I'm not helping you fight tonight. You two do the absolute fucking most, and I don't have time for it."

While we ate, we sat and caught up on things we may have missed with each other during the week. Lori was a student at Willow Springs University majoring in nursing, so her schedule was the most hectic out of the two. I acted as if going out tonight was an inconvenience to my life, but deep down, I welcomed it. I've been living here for three years, and I feel like I barely get out and know anyone outside her, my usual customers and my cousin.

For as long as I can remember, my father, cousin, and best friend tried to persuade me to move to Willow Springs to pursue my dream of opening my own bakery. The drive back from here to my hometown of Brooksdale was a little over three hours, and I wasn't too fond of being away from my father. At twenty-three, he decided it was time for me to branch out and live out mydreams of opening a business. They all initially felt this was the perfect time to do it, so here I am.

"Oh, you know Bino has a cousin." She glanced my way for a split second as she continued to eat.

The lunch crowd was thinning out, and I was glad. These people were loud as hell for no reason. I guess tequila shots will do that to you.

"He's crazy as fuck, but I think you guys will get along really well. Torturing niggas and keeping them in their feelings is the only time you seem to be at peace."

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