Page 25 of He Thugged Me First

“Has to be. I’m not the type to sell females dreams. Things are what they are.”

She nodded, chewing on her food. “Less complications and baggage.”

I nodded in agreement as I pulled my food out and started to eat as well.

“You know I used to want the white picket fence and happy family. Marriage was this big thing on my list, but things changed. I changed. Somewhere along the way, my priorities changed.” She looked down at the jewelry on her finger blankly.

“You just ain’t being loved right, G. I mean, dead ass if a nigga ain’t got you climbing the walls at one touch, then why you with him? You gimme that comfortable shit, but I don’t buy it.”

She looked up at me with a somber expression. “Me neither. It’s just the word that my therapist and I agreed on.”

I shrugged. “Therapist?”

“Yes. Someone to listen to me whine about all that I’m afraid to say to anyone else.” She laughed while popping some more food in her mouth.

“See. Yeen being loved right, G.”

She damn near coughed her food up while she was swallowing. “What does that mean?” Now she was peering at me with questioning eyes.

I set my food down and walked around the counter to her. “You see, when you’re loved right, you don’t need all that extra shit.” I stepped between her legs for the second time today. I allowed my hand to rest on her collarbone as my thumb pressed firmly into her neck, making her tilt it to the side. “When you’re loved right, you don’t need anybody but the person loving you to listen to you.” I leaned in and licked her top lip before crashing my lips into hers. Who the fuck was she or I kidding? This was right, and neither of us could deny it. So why try?

MECCA

Imagine me, loving you like you love me.

“So you gonna tell that nigga to stop hitting the line or do I have to?—”

“The violence, Kasair. Must you be so brute?” I set my vibrating phone on the coffee table and turned back around in his arms. Somehow, I had found comfort and peace inhaling his scent and being under him. At first, I hated it, but then it was this. Exactly three days ago, he’d professed his love. Seventy-two hours ago, he was there in all the right ways. No matter the reason behind it, I saw the sincerity, the fear, and even the anger brewing within. He thought I’d chosen another over him. He believed that I was done, when in reality I could never besuch. I just hoped this was a milestone and not just the end of something.

“Don’t, Mecca.”

I giggled before, kissing his chest. “Oh, I get it. You’re selfish, and you want me all to yourself?”

“If that shit ain’t obvious, I don’t know what is.” He had such a hard time talking about his feelings, but I knew him enough to know what he was feeling. At least I hoped I did.

Exactly four thousand three hundred and twenty minutes ago, we had embarked on this journey. In no way was it physical, but it was mental. I had known this man my whole life, but I’d never felt like such a stranger to him. This side of him was different. The way he held me was even different. It was like he was afraid I’d leave him.

“Sarcastic ass, I’ll tell him when he gets back into town. Exactly what am I telling him? That I’m entangled or?—”

“Keep playing with me, Mecca.”

I giggled even louder because he really wasn’t playing. “Oh, you myboyfriend-boyfriend?”

“I’m glad you’re on bullshit. Now watch that nigga come up missing because you wanna be funny and shit.”

“Nope. I’mma have fun with this. There’s no reason for that man to come up missing if I’m laid up in my intimates under you, right?” I asked.

“Nigga still calling ya phone.”

“So? It’s a free country.” I shrugged and kissed his chest again. Having him here like this had me thinking of all the wrong things, especially because my sister was in the room next to us. I could hear her toys hitting the toy box, so yeah, she was still up.

“You telling me if a bitch hit me up right now, you woul?—”

“There is a difference. Only one of us is actually a ho. I, on the other hand, have no problem letting him know.”

“Don’t speak educated to me, shorty. You fucking stuck, so do me a favor and handle ya shit before I lose my shit.”

“Good talk. Now can I have some?—”

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