Page 27 of Always Been You
“Don’t get quiet on me now that I’m in your face. I got you something.” I said, getting closer to her. I reached into my pocket and brought out her favorite.
“Ooh, no, you didn’t! A Whatchamacallit! I can’t believe you remembered that!” She wasted no time opening it.
“That old ass candy!”
“Where did you get this? It is hardly in the stores. I look for it every time I am in Kroger.”
“Damn slow yo greedy ass down before you choke. You gotta go to the hood and get those. Back over where we grew up.”
“Well, that explains it.”
“Don’t worry. I got you. I’ll keep them on me.” I laughed, but she didn't.
She turned to me, her attitude evident on her face. “Marcos, look.” She sat up and looked at me straight in the face. “What we had was special so please don’t come around me if you plan to be on bullshit because I can guarantee you I do not have the time. You know what I deal with firsthand. We can be cool, but this thing that you are pushing, it takes a lot to get this type of access to me.”
“I’m pushing what I always have. You different, Dyami, and you always have been. I’m man enough to take what I want and do what it takes to keep it. There won’t be room for anyone else to get your attention because I promise I’m not losing you this time. So why don’t you tell me what you need? Tell me what you want, Dyami.”
“We're cutting the bullshit, right? So, let’s do it. I am here because I want you, so tell me what requirements you have to make that happen.”
She rolled her eyes in response, and I urged her again. “Tell me,” I spoke firmly. After a few moments of her thoughts swirling in her head, she honored me with an answer.
“I want what any woman wants. Loyalty. Somebody who’s not going to play games with me and hide shit. I want a commitment. A marriage and eventually a family. The simple things that are, for some reason, too hard to come by. I know I’m not an IG model with a BBL that seems to get all the attention nowadays, but I do know what I deserve. I don’t want to be treated like an afterthought. I want time, most importantly. Ihave so much shit going on. I want someone to ground me and bring some peace to my chaotic ass life, not add to it.”
“Two things. Everything you requested is straightforward and easy to provide. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I can be whatever you need as long as you are all that shit for me in return. Two, you are the prettiest woman in my world. Don’t ever let me hear you say that shit again, Dyami. Fuck a fake ass when our vibe is unmatched.”
“I’m not a little girl anymore. I’ve learned how to navigate this life without any assistance. You know I’ve been through it all, so I’m going to tell you one last time. Don’t come around me if you are not trying to stay and add to my life in a real way. I’m not just talking about money either.” She pointed her finger in my direction.
“Oh, what did you think? I just wanted to make you mine, and that’s it?”
“What else is there?” She looked confused.
“Make you happy. Live the life we both deserve together. You don’t have to do shit you don’t want to do. You can walk out of this muthafucka right now and you still good.”
“I appreciate that, but I love my job.”
“I get it. These past few months have been some of the craziest of my life. I can’t wait to talk to you about all of it, and when it comes to money, I have more than enough to stand taller than any nigga you fucked with. The good part is, after that, I’m still the same nigga I was with the same morals you met as a boy. Just a man now with more wisdom.” It was hard to believe we hadn’t been down that road with our conversation. I yearned to speak to someone about how everything changed. Things I never felt comfortable discussing with Crystal. I suppose, like her, Iwas also looking for an anchor—a place to call home that I could truly find rest in.
“Truth be told, I want to believe that. You can’t imagine the amount of shit I have been through. Words don’t move me like they used to.”
I sealed my lips and looked at her pretty ass. I was still as captivated by her beauty as I had always been. Plus, she was right. Words wouldn’t do it. I had no problem showing her who I could be, and just knowing she was going to be on my arm made me want to do better.
“Okay, lastly.” She took a deep breath, and I suppressed a laugh. She was about to get all this shit clear. That was Dyami, though. “I know what you do. I’m not trying to change you, but I do want more for you, Marcos.”
I frowned, hearing my name on her lips. “Why you look like that?” She asked.
“Because nobody calls me that shit but you and my mom. When you said that shit you sounded just like her.” I admitted.
“That’s your name, what do you mean? What else would I call you?”
“I’m known as Terror now.”
She burst out laughing right in my face. I couldn’t help but throw on a mug for her trying my gangsta. She saw me and tried to compose herself.
“I’m sorry, but you just aren’t somebody I thought to be afraid of. Even when we were younger, you would fight behind me, but you wouldn’t hurt a fly for real.”
“I’m glad you feel that way about me,” I said, pulling her close to me and kissing her cheek. I cupped her chin and turned her face to me, and kissed her lips gently. I felt the beast insideof me fighting to come uncaged just at that hint of passion. Her lips were so soft, and I needed more. In due time, I would have her exactly how I wanted.
“I hear you, and that’s not all I want. Especially with MJ. I don’t know if it’s more businesses or more restaurants, but it will be something.”
