Page 58 of Tarek

“Not like you did this morning on wobbly legs.”my brain whispers. Gramps turned back around, and I scratched my forehead thinking about the way I snuck out of Nowhere. I found some of Tarek’s ‘ spare clothes in a drawer. You would think I would just leave; no, I wrote a check of $10,000.00 for my night at Nowhere. With all the alcohol and food that we had when we went upstairs, I didn’t want Tarek to feel like I was loafing off of him.

Luce, reluctantly let me leave, she even arranged for one of Tarek’s drivers to get me home safely. Shaking my head, at the memory of me sneaking out of Nowhere. My heart was in my throat as those gates opened. I had no idea what he would do if he got up and I wasn’t there.

My car was returned to me this morning in mint condition. But here is my problem, Tarek hasn’t called or text me all day.

It’s not like I should care much, but it’s like I didn’t exist. Like he got what he wanted and now he has moved on to the next one.

Again, it doesn’t matter, it’s only 6:15pm. Closing my eyes I refocused. This is not a relationship. He doesn’t belong to me. Penny he doesn’t belong to you. I don’t want to belong to him. I had great dick and now I am in my feelings …a little. I don’t need to speak to him. My phone buzzes in my pocket, excitedly I pull it out only to realize it was a text from my mom.

Mom

Don’t forget your brother’s fund raiser is on Saturday and it’s a formal event.

Did I forget about Archer’s fund raiser? Yes, I did. See this is why I don’t get clouded with men. I forget important things like the fund raiser for my sweet brother.

It doesn’t take me long to get my coffee and head home. I ordered a dress from a boutique that my mom and I have an account at. I made arrangement with my loctician for a wash and a re-twist. My luck fell when I tried to get my esthetician, she told me she was in Jamaica on vacation. I called four different estheticians; one has covid, the other is moving her shop, one can only fit me in at nine tomorrow night when the gala starts, and finally the last person didn’t answer.

I need to wax my body, my legs, eyebrow and my coochie could do with a light wax. I am not a DIY girlie, but there is nothing YouTube can’t teach me. I placed an order on Amazon for a non-strip coconut wax.

8:30 p.m. still no call, no text, no nothing. My thumb hovers over Tarek’s number. All I had to do was press it and I could talk to him. But does he want to talk to me? I don’t want to appear desperate.

Exhaling I close my phone repeating the words in my head. “If he wanted to, he would.” I will soak in the bathtub, read my E. Howard book and chill for the rest of my night in my pjs.

* * *

TAREK

“Let me get this straight, she left you a check on your nightstand and fled?” Dax asks as he sips his whiskey.

“Don’t forget she also hasn’t called to thank me for her car repair either,” I add. At the very least, a ‘Hey thanks for saving me from a blown-out transmission’would be nice. But no, nothing. It’s 10:48 p.m., and her name hasn’t flashed on my phone screen for the day.

Jasper chuckles. “The car that you tampered with?”

My eyebrows furrow, my temper begins to simmer. “Who’s fucking side are you on?”

“I’m trying to understand why this shit is bothering you.” Cole chimes in, as he stands by my window overlooking the garden to the back.

“Because he realized that she fucked him, then she paid him like a hoe and left. It’s like she reverse Uno’d his ass,” Jasper lays on my leather sofa in my office, throwing and catching a stress ball.

“Reverse uno? She didn’t fuck me. I. Fucked. Her.” I declared, swallowing the bourbon in my glass. Dax, ever the enabler silently picks up the decanter and refills it. I feel a surge of irritation for uttering those words.

“Who fell asleep first after the session? You or her?” Cole asks slapping Jasper’s foot to make him move over.

I dig into my drawer, and I pull out my pack of Treasure London cigarettes. As soon as the bud touches my lips, the bitterness bites and it feels like it’s burning. I snatch the ciggy away and shove it back into the box. I have only known her for a few days and she’s already altering my vices.

“The fact was it wasn’t just a session; we had sex about five times that night,” where is fricking Rhet when you need him.

“And then… you fell asleep.” Jasper responds, his legs resting casually on Cole’s.

Ok that does it, I grab my post it noted pad and launch it at Jasper’s head.

“Ow! Fucker. Hold up. I can’t call you fucker, can I?” Jasper rolls over just in time, and I pick up another Post-it and send it spinning to his chest.

“I wonder, if or when she says, ‘I love you’. Will you go running as you usually do?” Cole asks as he brushes the invisible lint off his pants leg.

“He’ll give her the Tarek special. A necklace with a side of a white pill,” Jasper says flinching as if he was waiting for me to throw something at him again.

The pill, I just realize we had sex more than once last night with no protection. I wait for the panic to set in and nothing happens.

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