Page 2 of Broken Clocks
“He’d have fucked you once.” I wiped my mouth. “But Angel’s his one and—”
She shoved me. Hard. I stumbled back, still grinning.
“Why do you keep mentioning her?” Charmaine’s voice splintered.
“Becauseyoubrought up Cassius. Cassius wasn’t giving up Angel for anyone. Not even you,flower child.”
A tear slid down her face. She swiped it away like it offended her. “You treat people like they’renothing. Like none of this is real.”
I shrugged. “It’s not real with you. I treat everybody else great.”
“Fuck you, Silas. You heartless motherfucker.”
The door slammed hard, the framed photo of me and Ekon rattled on the wall.
Then there was silence.
I made my way to the bar and poured vodka into a glass, let it burn my throat on the way down. My living room smelled like her patchouli oil. I hated that shit.
I called Angel.
She picked up on the second ring. “Baby momma,” I drawled.
A sigh met my ear. “Silas,what? Your child just drew on my walls.”
“I’ll come get him if you hate him.”
“Shut up. Why are you calling me?”
“I finally got rid of Charmaine.” Ice clinked as I swirled my drink. “You gotta block her now.”
She gave me a dry laugh. “Again? When y’all getting back together this time?”
“She hit me.”
“Youearnedit.”
“She said she could’ve had Cassius.”
“No, she didn’t,” Angel said in disbelief.
I chuckled. “Yes, she did. And even after that, I tried to let her go gently. But she got on unruly and ‘I gave her ass back to the streets roughly.’” I said mocking Naomi voice for the last part.
“She was good for you…”
"So? None of that matters if I don't want her. Good for me isn’t the same as right for me."
Ekon’s laughter bled through the phone. Angel muttered,“Boy, if you don’t—”before sighing. “Goodbye, Silas. I hope this works out for you.”
The line died.
I finished my drink, stretched out on the couch.
For the first time in a year, I could breathe.
The silence didn't judge me. The walls didn't expect anything from me. I was fine by myself for now because I knew —somewhere out there, she had to exist. A woman who'd understand when I called Angel "baby momma" instead of clutching her pearls. One who'd understand that loving Ekon like my own didn't make her less important.
Chapter One- Eshe
