Page 45 of Divine

I could feel the heat radiating from my collar as I crossed the relatively deserted room. When I reached the door, I grabbed my helmet from the rack and slipped it over my head as I headed out of the gym. Divine’s voice came in loud and clear through my built in Bluetooth. I waited for her response as I hopped on my bike.

“Damn, daddy. I came for the lobster and scallops. I wasn’t here to bust it open on the third date.”

My throat constricted hearing her call me daddy, but I didn’t let on. I needed to focus on getting to her.

“My love, you should have known that if the man was taking you to a hotel for dinner, he planned on taking you upstairs and having you for dessert. Don’t play naïve, baby girl. I know them boys trained you well. You know the third date is the bust it open for a real nigga date. Besides, y’all have been communicating for months.”

“Just because you fuck your hos after the third date doesn’t mean that every woman is going to open her legs for you after three steak dinners.”

“I don’t date, but if I did, you already know I’m smashing something after the first night. I don’t care if we ate at McDonald’s.”

She waited until my bike fired up before continuing the conversation.

“Stop playing around, Lee. I’m down here sitting at the bar drinking watered down sangria. His ass is still upstairs with bubble guts from eating so many crab puffs. I want to be long gone when he gets done shitting.”

“So you telling me you gon’ leave that man while he’s got nausea, heartburn, indigestion, an upset stomach, and diarrhea?” I joked.

“No you did not just use the whole song while I’m in a crisis?”

“You said you were tired of hearing my theme songs.” I laughed.

“Aw, man, here his ass comes.” She sighed.

“I’m on my way, D. Stay right there.”

“How the fuck you gone just leave a nigga and come back to the bar?” I heard a male’s raised voice.

Who the fuck is this nigga yelling at?

“Sir, please get out of my face. I have no idea who you are,” Divine stated.

“Oh, you don’t know me, but when you were ordering seventy something dollars’ worth of food, you knew exactly who I was.”

“Here. If you’re that fucked up about seventy dollars, here’s a hundred. Keep the change and have a good night.”

“Don’t engage with him anymore, Divine. I’m on my way,” I advised.

“I’ll send you my location. Call me when you’re outside.”

I wanted to tell her that I already had her location but decided against it. It had been months since I’d convinced Psalm to give me access to her location for emergency purposes. After he sent me the location for her cars, he turned around and gave me access to the tracker on her phone too. As long as it was powered on, I knew where she was. I had been on edge ever since she called herself dating. I didn’t mind keeping it a secret from her folks, but I needed to know her whereabouts at all times.

“You can let your nigga know that you’re at the Four Seasons about to get fucked!”

I increased my speed before I jacked my front tire up, popping a wheelie and cat walking my bike down the freeway in the direction of the hotel where Divine and her date were.

“Don’t hang this phone up, Cookie,” I warned.

“I’m not hanging up. Please don’t call Syre.”

“I’m not calling anyone. I’m on my way to you.”

I worked for Syre, but I was off the clock. Divine and I were friends beyond the scope of my job to protect her. She confided in me and trusted me with things she didn’t feel her brothers and cousins would understand.

I didn’t want to break that trust, so most of the things she shared with me stayed between us—like the dates she snuck out on when she was supposed to be doing inventory or out with Candice. As long as she was safe, I had her back. Tonight didn’t sound like one of those times.

My heart sank when the call either dropped or Divine hung up the phone. I couldn’t be sure which was true. Instead of wasting time calling her back, I raced to her even faster.

“Thank you for being a friend,” I sang under my breath as I tore down the street to her.

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