Page 13 of The Heart Of A Real Woman
“I don’t wanna argue with you. This shit's stupid.”
“It’s not an argument. It’s me trying to make things clear.”
At that point, I shut down on her completely, growing quiet.
“You know what… You got it. Just take me back to Katrina’s.” She smacked her lips as she sat back in the seat and folded her arms.
“I thought you wanted to chill at the park after we eat.”
She had spent the night at her cousin’s place just so she could sneak and be with me. There was no way I could get her from her crib. Her parents were strict as fuck. Katrina’s single mother was always working, so there was more freedom over there.
“No, that’s okay. I changed my mind.”
I pulled at my chin hair in frustration, trying to figure out what to say. “At least let me take you to get food first, Mary.”
“No. And whatever it is that we have going on is over with.” She shot back, so fucking stubborn. I’d learned that about her too, over time.
“Why you doing this? We were good.”
She didn’t respond, and the rest of the drive was quiet as fuck, especially when she drifted off to sleep. In the stillness, I felt aggravated. Not with her, but with myself. Eventually, I said fuck it and busted a U-turn, but it wasn’t to take her to her cousin’s.
Mary didn’t wake up until the car came to a complete stop thirty minutes later. Rubbing her eyes, she asked, “Where are we?” Her gaze darted around, taking in her surroundings. “Moses, why would you bring me to a motel?”
I removed the keys from the ignition and met her gaze. “I wanna talk to you about some shit.”
“I don’t want to talk. I want to go to my cousin’s house.”
“Shorty, get out of the car.”
“I’m not sleeping with you, Moses.”
I turned to her, my brows furrowing.
“What type of goofy ass nigga you take me for? Whenever we agree that you gonna open your legs for me, I’ma make the day special, knowing it’s your first time. Give me more credit than that. I might be guarded, but I treat you with respect, Mary.”
She turned her gaze away, processing what I’d just said. I didn’t give her a chance to sit with her thoughts too long.
“Get your purse and come on.” I hopped out of the driver’s seat and stood in front of the car, waiting for her.
She smacked her lips but got out too. As soon as she reached me, I grabbed her hand and led her to the rundown suite.
Once inside, she stayed by the door, looking around. I could see the confusion and disgust all over her face.
“You wanna know why I never told you where I live, Mary?”
Ignoring me, she continued to survey the room. I followed her gaze and watched it land on the T-shirts and basketball shorts scattered about before finding a couple of pairs of my shoes on the stained carpet. As smart as she was, I knew it was all clicking to her—if it hadn’t already. I often wore the same shit, but I made sure to keep my things clean as best as I could, so it wasn’t so bad.
“Mary?” I called out, trying to draw her attention. “Look at me, baby.”
“Yes?” she replied, finally pulling her eyes from my sneakers.
“Did you hear my question?”
“I did,”
Silence filled the room as we stared at one another. Her eyes remained locked on me, but I could tell she was still weighing the situation in her head.
“I never told you where I stayed because the shit’s embarrassing. This is where I live. A fucking motel.”
