Page 8 of Desperate Measures
“If that’s how you feel,” I said coolly, “again, it is what it is. But let me tell you something. Zahara has never told my secrets, big or small, to Jahsir. And that’s herblood.”
“Hmph. Is that right?” Venus said, turning to leave. “Well. I’ll let y’all have your little reunion. I’ll go home to Rashad and see whathe’sgot waiting for me.”
“You're going home to him, huh?” Zahara laughed, and I knew why. “Hey, Venus,” Zahara called out, casual as ever. “How’d Rashad find out about the boutique?”
Venus stopped with her hand on her hip. “From Jahsir, or Crimson-” she stammered. “Who the hell else?”
Zahara raised an eyebrow as her lips curved into a smile. “Hmm. Nobody. Nobody at all.”
The silence after that was extremely loud. Venus rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out of the sockets. Then she stormed out the door, taking that envious, devious energy with her. The door closed behind Venus with a sharp chime. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating. Zahara didn’t say anything, just went back to piecing together my mannequins. I leaned against the counter and rubbed my jaw. I was clenching it the entire time. I guess I didn’t realize how mad I still was. Not until she walked in like nothing ever happened.
Way too much time had passed since the night we played cards and the robbery, the one thing she never mentioned. Not once. But now she showed up wanting to wish me well, fuck outta here. I wanted to think she meant well, but the whole throwing what she did back in my face shit blew me.
Venus would really have people thinking I was out here bogus, and she was taking care of me. And now that I think about it, Venus always added a little shade with her sunshine. It was like she silently enjoyed my suffering. Calling me broke in aplayfulway. I tell people all the time, there’s some seriousness to every LOL. Hindsight is 20/20, and Venus was no friend of mine.
I sighed as I walked toward the dressing area. I gave myself a once-over in the vintage mirror Zahara picked out. The beauty I saw staring back at me had a second chance to come out on top. I needed to stay grounded and away from any and all negativity.
“I don’t want her energy in here,” I said softly, more to myself than to Zahara.
Zahara didn’t look up, but I could hear the agreement in her quiet hum. “You know how I feel about her, aside from theRashad stuff. Venus was always super sneaky to me; she literally came out of nowhere. I'm glad you are not messing with her anymore. Real talk,” she said. “You good?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”
“About her?”
“About everything. So much has happened over the past several months.” I said.
Quite honestly, I didn't hate Venus. I wasn’t even angry anymore. I was primarily … disappointed, not in her, but more so in myself. I had a knack for spotting energy vampires. My guard was down, and I got too comfortable. But I’m not getting caught slippin’ again, I refuse to.
We switched up the music. Somehow, Crime Mob was no longer fitting my needs. I then sat in the low hum of the boutique for a while. The candle near the register still burned, its clean linen scent still in the air. Tweets’ voice floated gently from the speaker, wrapping the room in peace. It felt good to be in a space that reflected who I was becoming. I released anger, and I wasn’t holding any grudges. I was healing, in my own space and time.
crimson
. . .
The rain tapped lightlyagainst the tall windows of the loft. They were steady and calm. Moonlight came through the glass, catching parts of the furniture, creating shadows across the loft. We were tucked into bed; our bodies loosely tangled under the comforter. Scarlett was curled up near the edge of her crib, already asleep. I shifted slightly, resting my head against Jahsir’s chest. My fingers traced shapes on his skin.
“I haven’t felt this good in a long time,” I whispered. “I really think the boutique was what I needed to feel alive again.” I paused, brows knitting together, realizing that it may have sounded weird. “Maybe not alive exactly, but something that gave me my drive back. You know what I mean?”
Jahsir looked down at me as his hand brushed gently up and down my spine. “Yeah. I do. It’s easy to get lost in the noise, the hustle, and the stress. That’s how people forget what they dreamt about in the first place. But I couldn’t let that happen to you. I had to help bring them to life. Especially since my absence nearly took you away from them in the first place.”
I blinked up as my eyes strained to connect with him in the dim moonlight. I realized he’d been harboring some guilt. “Jahsir. Thank you.” My voice broke just a little. “I don’t thinkI’ll ever be able to thank you enough. How could I ever repay you?”
“You don’t need to thank me. I take care of you because I love you.” He paused, his tone softening even more. “All I need is your love and trust in return, that’s all I ever needed.”
I looked at him for a long moment with my hand now resting over his heart. “I trust you.”
“But,” he added with a playful glint in his eye, “if youreallywant to thank me, take a trip with me, no questions asked.”
“Where?”
“Red, I just said no questions asked,” he whispered. “You trusted me with your dreams. Now it’s time I showed you mine.”
crimson
. . .
I hada lot of firsts in one day. I knew Jahsir had connections and a little bit of cash. I didn’t know he had enough money to put us on a private plane. First-class treatment for ten hours had absolutely spoiled me.
